Photos by Caroline Manu-Moli

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 his first Olympics.

He arrived with his coach, Paula Sitapa, yesterday and went straight to work spending a few hours at Digicel Square meeting fans, signing autographs and taking photos.

“We are in Tonga for a reason. To thank everybody, to say thank you for supporting us. We saw all the stuff [social media support, Pita float] while we were over there [Rio].”

Pita added that he is working towards trying to grow Tonga’s exposure to the world, which he started when he carried the Tongan flag at the Rio Olympic opening ceremony in traditional costume, glistening with oil, turning him into an instant celebrity.

He says he now has almost a million viewers on his Instagram weekly.

“We are trying to grow our exposure to the world, not just my exposure, but Tonga, I’m advocating for Tonga.”

When asked to describe his Rio Olympic experience, Pita said, “Rio was meant to happen that way because everything was meant to be”.

While in Rio, Pita did not have the opportunity to see any sporting events or cheer on his team competing in their sports.

“I didn’t see a single sporting event, except mine, just because it was interview after interview. And each of those interviews was me getting Tonga out to the world. So there is a cost to everything and you know I was just doing my part. And it’s only getting started, to be honest.”

As a role model for Tongan youth, he says he hopes to “inspire the next generation to just kick some arse. Not to be so confined by the box of rules.”

His advice to anyone wanting to reach their goals and dreams like he reached his with Rio is to dream as big as you can and to put a timeframe on that dream to make it a goal.

“Dream as big as you can. Throw that goal as high as you can. That’s what I’m encouraging people…is to throw it as high as they can and to hunt it down. When you set a goal that way, everything that you do moves towards that.”

“Just do it. Stop giving up so easy.”

Pita has a busy week in Tonga meeting with officials and visiting friends and family on Tongatapu as well as Ha’apai.

A welcome reception float and a parade through Nuku’alofa is being planned for this Saturday to celebrate the return of Team Tonga from Rio.

After Tonga, Pita is looking to venture into new experiences and opportunities overseas (including continuing to promote Tonga). His future is looking very bright with lots of offers from modeling agencies, magazines, talk shows, commercials, and media interviews.

“Next week I’m off to LA to meet with managers and agents.”