Tongan flag bearer becomes cross-country skier at Winter Olympics

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Pita Taufatofua, the Tongan flag bearer known for walking shirtless in the opening ceremonies of PyeongChang Olympics and the 2016 Summer Games, is about to realize his Winter Olympics dream. The former taekwondo athlete will be competing in a sport he only took up a couple of months ago – cross-country skiing.

The Tongan braved freezing weather conditions at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics last week to repeat the same stunt that thrust him to stardom in the Rio Games, waving his country's flag with his torso again liberally oiled.

"I guess now I’m tied to the Olympics story. My place is the guide that never gives up and hopefully the guide that motivates some people never to give up in their life. That’s my legacy," Taufatofua said. "That’s what I want to pass on to people and we’re now engaging in the whole Olympic journey."

Pita Taufatofua at the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics. /Reuters Photo‍

Not content with being the first person to represent Tonga in taekwondo at an Olympics, Taufatofua is taking part in the Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang as Tonga's first cross-country skier.

"It’s mutual. I mean when I was 12-years-old I dreamed of being in the Olympics. I guess I helped the Olympics in some way, but they’ve been very good to me as well. The Olympics is a struggle and my story is all about the struggle," Taufatofua added.