Yahoo Finance Olympic hopeful killed after being struck by lightning
A 22-year old surfer from El Salvador, Katherine Diaz, has been killed after being hit by lightning while training for a qualifying tournament for the Tokyo Olympics.
"Katherine embodied the joy and energy that make surfing so special and dear to us all, as a global ambassador of the sport," the International Surfing Association (ISA) said.
It is with a heavy heart that the ISA has learned about the passing of El Salvador’s Katherine Diaz. pic.twitter.com/7SQCEHPpu3
— ISA (@ISAsurfing) March 21, 2021
We send our heartfelt condolences to Katherine’s family, the surfers of El Salvador, and to all those in the international surfing community whose lives she touched.
We will never forget you. pic.twitter.com/mIBxCQzRcw— ISA (@ISAsurfing) March 21, 2021
The 22-year-old was struck just after entering the water on Friday at El Tunco Beach, about 10 miles (16km) south of the capital San Salvador, local media reported.
Diaz had been preparing for the ISA World Surfing Games, which will be held from May 29 to June 6 at the La Bocana and El Sunzal beaches in El Salvador.
The top seven women at the event who have not already qualified will earn a place at the delayed Tokyo Olympics, where surfing will be a medal sport for the first time.
With inputs from Reuters
