Opening Ceremony three-peat for shirtless Pita Taufatofua
TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 23: Flag bearers Malia Paseka and Pita Taufatofua of Team To
nga lead their team out during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Ga
mes at Olympic Stadium on July 23, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Hannah McKay
- Pool/Getty Images)
Tokyo 2020, in 2021, marks the third occasion where the Tongan has carried his c
ountry’s flag shirtless, oiled up and in traditional dress.
Would Pita Taufatofua do it a third time?
The Tongan certainly did. During the Parade of Nations the flag bearer came out
shirtless and in traditional dress.
What Taufatofua would do was the question on everyone’s lips just as Tonga em
erged in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Stadium in as part of the Opening ceremony pr
oceedings.
The 37-year-old had dropped hints on his social media hours before the Opening
ceremonies as to what he would be wearing.
He shared photos and relayed their personal significance, before then ominously
telling his social media followers: “Don’t blink.”
Tokyo 2020 marks three shirtless outings from three for the Tongan who became a
viral sensation when in Rio 2016, he appeared shirtless, oiled up and donning h
is tapa cloth.
As he proudly carried his nation’s flag through the Maracana stadium, the inter
net exploded in awe of the man whose smile, and coconut-oiled body, glistened un
der the lights.
Shirtless in the cold of PyeongChang 2018
After he announced he would be targeting the 15km freestyle cross country skiing
event at the winter Games in PyeongChang 2018, the world wondered: would he dar
e the cold and do it again?
He absolutely did.
As Tonga’s sole representative he was once again the flag bearer and once more
topless.
Pita Taufatofua of Tonga competes during the Cross-Country Skiing Men's 15km Fre
e (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Pita Taufatofua of Tonga competes during the Cross-Country Skiing Men's 15km Fre
e (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
2018 Getty Images
Tonga's taekwondo athlete topless again at Tokyo 2020
The Pacific Islander had intended to qualify for Tokyo in both taekwondo and in
the kayak sprint.
Attempting kayaking was something of a personal decision.
Speaking to the Olympic Channel Podcast around his announcement, Taufatofua expl
ained: “I chose kayak because it’s something close to my heart. It’s somethin
g that Polynesians have done a thousand years, travelling from island to island.
”
However, two years of training resulted in disappointment after early failures,
a broken rib and COVID travel restrictions meant Taufatofua did not qualify. Tae
kwondo is to be the sport he competes in at the Games.
Had the Tongan made it in kayaking, he would have been the first person to quali
fy for three different Olympics in three different sports.
It seems that Taufatofua may well just have to settle for two.
Although, as we know, the Pacific Islander is not a man that ever gives up. He h
as brought his paddle with him to Japan’s capital.
Behind Taufatofua statement entrances there is a much deeper meaning to his caus
e. They are not only a nod to his small island nation and the centuries of histo
ry behind it, but also a platform to invite younger generations to push themselv
es and reach the same heights he has.
So, we know a paddle travelled made it with him to Tokyo, the question is: did a
ny shirts?
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東加王國構樹衣驚艷四座
台灣明明也有這種文化 而且非常多參賽選手也是原住民 可惜沒有充分展現台灣文化