Eya Guezguez dead at 17: Youngest female athlete of Tokyo Olympics dies in sailboat tragedy while out at sea with twin
OLYMPIC sailor Eya Guezguez has died after her boat sank while she was training out at sea.
Guezguez, 17, became the youngest female to compete at last year's Olympics in Tokyo when she represented Tunisia in the 49er FX event.
The teenager tragically passed away while she was training with her twin sister Sara, who had been in the boat alongside her at the Games.
Reports claim high winds while they were out at sea practising with the national team caused the vessel to capsize on Sunday.
Eya's sister Sara is understood to have survived the accident.
The news was first reported by Tunisian journalist Souhail Khmira.
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Eya and sister Sara finished last in the 49er FX event at the Tokyo Olympics last year.
But competing at just 16-years-old, they were the youngest females to participate in the Games.
The 49er FX event sees a skipper steer the boat, while the other person on board works the sails to determine the speed.
The siblings had hopes of going on to represent Tunisia at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and beyond following their Olympic debuts in Tokyo.
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Twitter account for Tunisian sport Ettachkila wrote following the accident: "Barely 16 years old, our sailing champion, Eya Guezguez died today following an accident during training for the national team.
"We extend our condolences to her family and love ones."