Katherine Diaz, one of El Salvador’s top surfers, was killed while training for a qualifying tournament for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, officials said.
The International Surfing Association – the world’s governing authority for surfing – released a statement Saturday after the 22-year-old’s death, saying she “embodied the joy and energy that make surfing so special and precious to all of us.”
“She excelled at the international competition level and proudly represented her country in both the ISA World Surfing Games and the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship,” the organization said. “We offer our sincere condolences to Katherine’s family, the surfers of El Salvador, and to everyone in the international surfing community whose lives she has touched.”
The surfer was hit after entering the water on El Tunico beach, about 10 miles from San Salvador’s capital, on Friday, according to local media. Her uncle Beto Díaz, who is also a surf coach, told ElSalvador.com that he was going with her and that she was meeting a friend to practice with.
“Katherine came close to hug her friend, and as soon as she hugged her, you heard the lightning bolt,” he told the outlet. ‘Her friend took to flying because of the force of lightning and it toppled my surfboard. Katherine died instantly. ‘
Diaz was preparing for the ISA World Surfing Games, to be held from May 29 to June 6 on the beaches of La Bocana and El Sunzal in El Salvador. The top seven women of the event who have not yet qualified will earn a seat at the postponed Olympic Games in Tokyo, where the sport will make its official Olympic debut.
Jose Diaz, her brother, posted a photo with her on Instagram, saying, “You will be in our hearts forever. God has decided to take you now. We already miss you.”
A funeral was held for Diaz over the weekend, and photos show her coffin was surrounded by trophies and a surfboard. Rosa Amelia Hernández, Diaz’s mother, told ElSalvador.com that despite her daughter wanting to be cremated, they buried her across the ocean where she died.
“I couldn’t cremate her remains, but I made sure she would rest in front of the sea, because the sea was her life,” Hernandez said.
Yamil Bukele, the president of the Salvadoran Sports Institute and brother of the country’s president, mourned her loss on Twitter.
“It is a big loss for our sport,” says Bukele tweeted‘All our solidarity with our surfing family. I am with you in your pain. ‘