Why Tonga’s Iconic Flag Bearer Pita Taufatofua Isn’t Competing at the 2024 Olympics

by Thad Macejkovic
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Why Tonga’s Iconic Flag Bearer Pita Taufatofua Isn’t Competing at the 2024 Olympics

Why Tonga’s Iconic Flag Bearer Pita Taufatofua Isn't Competing at the 2024 Olympics

Pita Taufatofua, a Tongan Olympian identified for his greased-up abs in previous Olympics isn’t taking piece in the 2024 Paris Video games.

Every person’s popular flag bearer is staying on the sidelines.

Pita Taufatofua—who gained status for his shirtless function through the opening ceremonies in Rio de Janeiro, PyeongChang and Tokyo—may perhaps not be competing in the 2024 Olympics as an athlete.

Unfortunately for his followers, Taufatofua—who has represented Tonga for taekwondo for the summer season Olympic video games in 2016 and 2020, moreover to for wicked country skiing at the 2018 frigid weather video games in South Korea—can not do an look as a flag bearer in in the opening ceremonies with out being an athlete. So he will, moderately actually, not be flexing on the rivals this year.

“This time my workforce and I fell wanting competing at the Paris Olympics,” the athlete shared in an Instagram publish in April. “I gave my absolute every thing in both the Kayak and Taekwondo qualifiers but overlooked out on a qualification.”

And the 41-year-aged aged the chance to remind his followers of treasured lifestyles classes.

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2024 Paris Olympics: Concept the U.S. Team’s Uniforms for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies

“Now and again you shoot for the celebrities, and typically you leave out and land on some random moon in some distant galaxy,” he persisted. “Either manner you've elevated your self to original heights. You've grown as a particular person.”

To boot to the Tonga native asserting a explicit perspective through his heartfelt message, he also, naturally, poked enjoyable at the build everybody’s disappointment will lie in him not competing.

“It’s easy to demand for things while you will want something, but powerful more challenging to give thanks for things after they don't fling your manner,” he persisted. “That's the recreation of lifestyles and of being a dream chaser, typically you leave out but I wouldn't like it any assorted manner. Sorry Paris, the five gallons of extra virgin coconut oil I've been stockpiling ‘may perhaps’ need to relieve. The expose goes on, onwards and upwards!”

JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP by draw of Getty Pictures

Then all over again, followers will unexcited web a gaze of Tafatofua in Paris—as he is attending the 2024 Olympics as a spectator.

“Whereas not competing, the spirit of the Video games referred to as me, alternatives arose and I couldn't yell no,” he wrote in a July 20 Instagram publish. “This time the medal I fight for is to be of carrier, to be there for my fellow athletes, an ear of enhance or a negate of encouragement. To part what I truly like learnt and extra importantly to hear the tales of the lots of Olympians, these unbelievable human beings on the level of represent their countries.”

For optimistic, there’s one extra motive the opening ceremony icon used to be hoping to relieve this year.

As he illustrious in his publish, he’s shopping for some romance. He illustrious, “Appears like I will likely be getting that kiss below the Eiffel tower in any case……”

And while followers of Taufatofua will very finest just like the memories to behold relieve on, the previous magnificent will likely be brighter than the long term—as a minimal in this regard. Finally, the athlete trended on social media in numerous international locations upon his appearances at his respective video games—and the viewers couldn’t imagine how he glowed.

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Pictures

As one on-line poster joked in 2016, “Relaxing truth: #Tonga makes employ of over 90% of the sector's oil to withhold their flag bearers at maximum glisten.”

Then all over again it wasn’t magnificent Tafatofua’s physique oil that grabbed the sector’s consideration—it used to be also his spectacular washboard abs. In fact, his physique grew to turn out to be such an enigma that he later unpacked how he maintains it.

“It's not magnificent genetic, it’s how I work and manner lifestyles,” he told Cosmopolitan in 2018. “I direct whenever I’m in a position to, so if I’m cooking a meal on the stove and I’m attempting forward to the toast to pop up, I web 40 pushups in there. I await the espresso to brew, that’s 3 minutes, and I web but any other 40 pushups. Sooner than breakfast is even cooked, I’m on 200 pushups.”

Despite the indisputable truth that Tafatofua gained’t be grabbing consideration for his country this year, he used to be satisfied he used to be ready to assign recognition for the island through his Opening Ceremonies schtick.

“It’s all funny for me,” Tafatofua added. “The purpose isn’t to be this symbol of masculinity, because that’s so floor stage. But if that permits me to web a message during to folks, then I need to web a message during to folks. A spoonful of sugar helps the treatment fling down, you already know?”

Whereas Tafatofua used to be lacking from the 2024 Opening Ceremony, withhold finding out to glimpse your total highlights.

Sharing The total World

Pianist Sofiane Pamart and singer Juliette Armanet produce “Imagine” from a fling alongside with the circulation on the Seine.

Athletic Spirit

The Refugee Olympic Team—which is made up of 37 athletes representing millions round the sector who like been forcibly displaced—part a loving message.

Play On

Musicians at the Opening Ceremony withhold dry in their rain ponchos.

Speed to the Enact Line

The Olympic flag is carried down the Seine on a galloping metal horse.

Scenes From the Seine

Team Australia is all-smiles as their boat passes by the Eiffel Tower.

Fanning the Flames

The masked torchbearer runs alongside the Musee d'Orsay through the Opening Ceremony.

Can't Rain on Their Parade

Despite the wet weather, Team Spain marches forward to the Contrivance du Trocadero.

Smile for the Digicam

Team Italy's flag bearers Arianna Errigo and Gianmarco Tamberi snap a selfie together.

Coronary heart of Paris

The Eiffel Tower is decorated with the Olympic rings.

Hej!

Swedish athletes greet the team through the Parade of Nations.

Making Recollections

Team Liberia captures your total sights and sounds from their boat.

The Metropolis of Lights

The Eiffel Tower awaits the appearance of the sector's athletes.

Teamwork

Jordan's Rama Abo-Alrub and Saleh Elsharabaty undergo their country's flag together.

Native land Satisfaction

The Bahamian flag waves atop the country's boat on the Seine river.

Provocative for the Competition

Switzerland is animated to raise the warmth to this summer season's Video games.

Right here Attain the Red, White and Blue

Team USA makes their debut on the Seine.

Raindrops Tackle Falling on Their Heads

But that didn't end these rooftop dancers from turning out a spectacular efficiency.

When It Rains it Pours

But the Cabo Verde Olympic workforce didn't let it dark their joy.

Shiny Art

Reproductions of some of doubtlessly the most renowned artwork from Paris' Louvre Museum enhance the River Seine.

Team Ivory Plug

The athletes proudly wave their nation's flag.

Sunny Vibes

Athletes from Fiji can't bag their pleasure aboard their workforce's boat.

Image Good

Japan's boat makes its manner previous the Eiffel Tower.

Diminutive But Mighty

The delegation from the Cayman Islands are aiming high at this year's Video games.

Paint the Metropolis Red

Dancers produce in front of the Conciergerie, a frail detention center and piece of frail royal palace, through the Ceremony.

On a Mission

The mysery torcherbearer brings the flame ever closer.

Staying Dry

The rain couldn't end these French athletes from smiling wide.

Shiny in Red

Can-Can dancers blow a kiss earlier than their tremendous efficiency.

A Delegation of Nations

Team Austria, Team Azerbaijan and Team Bahamas all part a boat as they do their manner down the Seine.

Having a scrutinize Up

Athletes of South Korea shift their notice skyward with tremendous smiles.

Flags Aloft

The Palestinian athletes wave their flah's through the Opening Ceremony.

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Leer More Photos From 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony
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Source credit : eonline.com

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