You probably remember him as the oily Tongan flag holder from the 2016 Rio Games. This overnight star has worn a traditional costume and suddenly the internet went wild over his look. This is his third appearance in the Olympics and he returned to the spotlights.
This Olympic medalist in Taekwondo is more than just eye candy for the ceremony. Right now this athlete will compete again, hoping that he will bring a second medal to his country. During the games in Rio he was eliminated in his first round, therefore, he wants to win a medal this year.
¿What do we know about Taufatofua?
Overall we know that this is his third appearance with his country in the Olympics. Even though he already has been the flag holder, this time he didn’t expect the honor, saying that “When the Chef de Mission announced that the one officially chose to be the flag bearer was from taekwondo, I was like “oh yeah, it will be Pita, but to my surprise, they said it would be me”.
After watching the internet reaction to his third appearance, he decided that he will embrace all of the attention. For now, Taufatofue became a UNICEF ambassador and he is a motivational speaker to everyone who might need help.
About the representation, he said “When we’re walking out, we’re representing a country. We’re not representing 80 years of history; we have to represent hundreds and hundreds of years of history. May it’s time for everyone in the world to listen to what us native and cultural people have had to offer”.
Thanks to being a taekwondo athlete as a child, he said that he rejects the notion that he is trying to catch fame with the Olympics. He wants to win a medal and honor “the best in the world” by trying to b the best version of himself as an athlete.
