Death of Lise Vidal, 43, double European windsurfing champion

A figure in French windsurfing has died out.

Lise Vidal, double European champion in 1999 and 2004, died “suddenly” on Friday at the age of 43, announced this Sunday the French Sailing Federation (FFV).

The former athlete died of a brain hemorrhage, the statement said.

"It is the whole sailing family and more particularly windsurfing lovers who are in mourning with his disappearance", underlines the FFV.

Member of the French sailing team from 1999 to 2007, Lise Vidal had notably participated in the Olympic Games in Sidney, where she finished ninth The windsurfer, originally from Marseille, had also taken third place in the Mistral OD world championships - a type of windsurfing - in 1999. Since then, she had reconverted as a national technical manager and coach of athletes destined to shine at the Paris Olympics in 2024. She recently supervised a training course for young sportswomen.

🖤 ​​She had represented France at the Sydney Olympics and supported future sailing talents, Lise Vidal left us abruptly this Friday.

All our thoughts are with those close to them in this ordeal.

📰 "Lise Vidal, shared passion": https://t.co/SfpIHoum4U pic.twitter.com/5xkBiKPfSr

- FFVoile (@FFVoile) July 4, 2021

“So it's a whole generation that has lost one of its guardian angels,” emphasizes the FFV.

His passion, his smile, his kindness will be missed by all but his legacy will continue with the many talents that will shine on international waters in the years to come.

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Olympic windsurfing champion in Rio in 2016, Charline Picon paid tribute to her on Twitter.

"We will miss you Lisou," wrote the athlete who will still represent France at the Tokyo Olympics.

The president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, Renaud Muselier (LR), expressed his "great sorrow".

💖 you will be missed lisou https://t.co/zRVgw1Y8Iy

- picon charline (@piconcharline) July 4, 2021