Coconut oil kept Tonga's Pita Taufatofua warm last night as the double Olympian ignored sub-zero temperatures, while he carried the Tongan flag bare-chested, wearing only a Tongan dance costume and flip-flops, at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
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Results for Pita Taufatofua
Friday 9 February 2018
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Pita Taufatofua will hold Tonga’s flag aloft again tonight at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The bare-chested and well-oiled Pita who made his name at the 2016 Rio Olympics, intends to wear his shirt this time.
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Monday 22 January 2018
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Isafjordur, Iceland
Pita Taufatofua has stolen the show once again after qualifying for the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. The 34-year-old former Taekwondo Olympian successfully qualified as a cross-country skier after coming 6th place in an Olympic qualifying 10km race held in Iceland last week.
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Thursday 4 May 2017
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's famous Olympic flag bearer Pita Taufatofua has just finished a photo shoot in the Beverley Hills home of an American actress Jessica Alba in an advertising campaign for Cash Warren's underwear brand, where he plays the "perfect man".
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Friday 24 February 2017
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Lahti, Finland
Olympian, Pita Taufatofua, finished his first race representing Tonga in the Cross Country Sprints at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, Lahti, Finland early this morning in memory of Tonga's Queen Mother. “We are dedicating this race to Her Majesty Queen Mother Halaevalu Mata’aho who passed away this week”.
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Thursday 2 February 2017
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Allgau, Germany
Kasete Naufahu Skeen, Olympian Pita Taufatofua, and Makeleta Piukala Stephan, relative newcomers to the sport of skiing, have their eyes set on the FIS World Championships in Europe this month. They will compete against the best skiers in the world in a bid to represent Tonga at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
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Wednesday 7 December 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Move over Taekwondo, Pita Taufatofua is transitioning to another ‘cooler’ sport, cross-country skiing. Famously known as Tonga’s bare chested flag bearer at the Rio Olympics, the taekwondo athlete is taking up skiing in a bid to represent Tonga at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
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Thursday 1 December 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongan Olympian Pita Taufatofua - as an occasional ukulele player - appears on the cover of the new issue of the "Discover Tonga - Tongatapu & Nuku'alofa Maps" published in Nuku'alofa today.
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Monday 24 October 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's first tourism promotion artistic group will represent and promote the country at the 2016 Guangdong Maritime Silk Road Expo to be held from October 27-30.
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Tuesday 20 September 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Six swimmers stepped up to taking part in the inaugural 6km open water swim to Fafa Island on Saturday 17 September, initiated by the Malolo Swim Club. Supporters including Tonga’s famous Olympic flag bearer, Pita Taufatofua, wished them well at Faua Wharf as they prepared for the challenge.
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Monday 19 September 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A colourful parade of floats, joined by Tonga’s famous Olympic flag bearer, Pita Taufatofua, and fellow Olympian Lusi Tatafu, along with the Tonga Police Brass Band, businesses, and sporting associations, went through central Nuku’alofa to mark the 2016 Olympic Day on Saturday 17 September. Photos by Eleanor Gee and Caroline Manu-Moli.
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Tuesday 13 September 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Olympic flag bearer, 32-year-old Pita Taufatofua, is in Tonga this week to say thank you for the opportunity to represent Tonga in Taekwondo at the Rio Olympics. After arriving with his coach, Paula Sitapa, yesterday he went straight to work spending a few hours at Digicel Square in the afternoon meeting fans, signing autographs and taking photos. Photos by Caroline Manu-Moli.
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Monday 22 August 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Surprise! Pita Taufatofua was not carrying Tonga’s flag at the Closing Ceremony of Rio 2016 this afternoon, instead he made a brief appearance on stage, oiled up and ready to party, much to the delight of his fans. The media were looking out for him. Here’s what some had to say:
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Sunday 21 August 2016
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s famous flagbearer Pita Taufatofua (32) was the last of Tonga’s athletes to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic early this morning (Tonga time) in the Round of 16 Taekwondo Men +80kg. He commented on Instagram: "Felt soo privileged to get out on those mats and represent Tonga!"
Tuesday 16 August 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Waving national flags in support of Tonga's Team at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Tongan supporters and sponsors organised a colourful float parade through central Nuku’alofa today, Tuesday 16 August - complete with dark, muscular men with oiled bodies. Photos by Linny Folau and Peter Poulsen.
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Wednesday 10 August 2016
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Brazilians have fallen in love with Pita Taufatofua ever since he made his entrance bare chested and glistening with oil at the Rio Olympics opening ceremony as Tonga’s flag bearer last Friday night (Brazilian time). His fans are so smitten with the good looking 32 year old that a facebook page set up in Rio inviting Brazilians to travel to Tonga after the Olympics in support of Pita has gained over 22k followers, the majority women.
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Saturday 6 August 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Olympic flag bearer Pita Taufatofua became an instant internet sensation when he walked into the Opening Ceremony of the Rio Olympics today [noon-4:00pm Tonga time] dressed like a Tongan dancer glistening with oil. Pita's attracted a lot of attention for Tonga and also for his sport Taekwondo. After this he's sure to win some modelling contracts as the hottest man today in a town that's known for its appreciation of the body beautiful. Here's what Twitter and the news media are talking about:
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Tuesday 2 August 2016
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Pita Taufatofua, Tonga’s first Olympic Taekwondo athlete, will aim for gold at the Rio Olympics competing in the Men’s +80kg division on Saturday 20 August. A lifetime of pain and struggle was worth every moment to reach the Olympics, says Pita when reflecting on his journey to becoming an Olympian. It cost him six broken bones, three torn ligaments, three months in a wheelchair, a year and a half on crutches and hundreds of hours of physiotherapy, and he has no regrets.
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Monday 13 June 2011
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South Korea
A Tongan sportsman Pita Taufatofua (27) received an honorary award in South Korea last week during the visit to the country by Tonga's Prime Minister.
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