Is Tongan’s oiled-up topless flag bearer Pita Taufatofua competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics?
PITA Taufatofua n became an overnight sensation when he appeared at his first Olympics.
But is famously oiled up Olympian making an appearance at this year’s games? Here’s everything you need to know about Pita Taufatofua.
Is Pita Taufatofua competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics?
Fans were excitedly anticipating Pita’s return to the 2024 Olympics, but Pita announced that he would not be competing at the games.
Sadly, the fan favourite Taekwondo star did not qualify to compete at the Paris games.
He took to Instagram to tell fans that despite not qualifying, “the show goes on”.
There’s more in store though, as he teased fans by saying “the five gallons of extra virgin coconut oil I’ve been stock piling ‘may’ have to wait”.
When was Pita Taufatofua a flag bearer for the Olympics?
Pita was first bared all at the 2016 Rio Olympics, when he was the flag bearer for Tonga.
The sporting star wore a traditional Tongan ta’ovala around his waist as he paraded alongside his teammates.
The ta’ovala is a mat wrapped around the waist for formal occasions by both men and women.
Its formality is comparable with a tie in Western culture.
Although he did not win a medal in 2016, he returned for the 2018 Winter Olympics where he was once again raising temperatures as Tonga’s flagbearer.
He later left the Winter games without a medal, after coming 114th in the 15km skiing freestyle race.
In 2020, he paid tribute to people who had passed away because of the COVID pandemic.
The pearl necklace featured a single black pearl that he said held a special meaning for his family.
This time he did not walk alone, as he carried the flag alongside Malia Paseka who was competing in Taekwondo.
Where is Pita Taufatofua now?
Pita was born in Australia but was raised in the Polynesian island country of Tonga.
Tonga is actually made up of 171 islands, though people only live on around 45 of these.
Pita now splits his time between Tonga and Brisbane, Australia.
His mother was born in Australia and his father has served as the governor of the Ha’apai group of islands in central Tonga.
The beloved Olympian now works as a UNICEF ambassador, working with homelessness charities and raising awareness of global warming.
In 2022, he announced that his family had been affected by the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai eruption and tsunami.
This led him to launch a fundraiser on the website GoFundMe, to help the people affected.
What's happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY...
Paris 2024 Olympics – Opening Ceremony
Only one show in town today.. just about!
The historic Opening Ceremony which is taking place on the River Seine rather than a stadium ends proceedings on Friday evening.
While there has been football and rugby sevens among events which started before the ceremony this week, they will not be taking place on the day of the big bash.
Only shooting pre-event training will take place on the day of the Opening Ceremony.
Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 today.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.