Photos courtesy Louise Waterhouse

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. 

In a repeat performance of his Rio Olympics "Tonga Man" entrance, Pita again took media by surprise after commenting prior to the ceremony that he would “keep warm” during the Parade of Nations march. 

Pita had an old Tongan remedy for the cold weather up his sleeve.

Pita's plan to go topless again was kept under wrap, says Louise Waterhouse, Tonga's Honorary Consul in Sydney, who is supporting Team Tonga in Pyeongchang, along with two TASANOC officials Takitoa Taumoepeau and Amanaki Fakakovikaetau, and she told Matangi Tonga the back story.

"I was there sitting with Taki and Amanaki - I brought a huge Tongan flag which we held up and cheered our lungs out as Pita came through!

"The lovely thing is that while the whole plan to go topless again was kept completely under wrap – of course, no one in the media thought he could do it," Louise said.

"Pita secretly brought his tiny bottle of coconut oil in his pocket and just before Tonga's marching time, when the march organisers saw what Pita was doing, they were then so helpful and even gave him a little side room to keep warm immediately before the entrance to the stadium!" she explained.

After the march the athletes, including the half-naked Pita, went to sit in the stands to watch the remainder of a fabulous opening ceremony for another hour or so. But Pita didn't suffer from frost bite.

"Pita's honorary coach Thomas Jacob had his jacket in his back pack - ready to put on in the stand. 

"But Pita said to me afterwards at the athletes village: 'I wasn't cold walking - the coconut oil kept me warm! It was only once I was seated that I became cold!'" said Louise. "He is absolutely fine and naturally chuffed that he could pull off his coup again and so proud to do it for Tonga. He has again put Tonga on the world map."

Second winter Olympian

Pita is only Tonga’s second ever winter Olympian, since luger Bruno Banani at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Soche, Russia. Pita is also a double Olympian - he competed in Taekwondo in Rio and, after making an amazing effort in Iceland, qualified as the first-ever Tongan Cross Country Winter Olympian at PyeongChang 2018

"So an incredible result by one man and his support team around him - the team manager, Dr Steve Grundmann, his coach Thomas Jacob and Leafa Mataele Wawryk - who has been a driving force behind the Winter Olympic participation for Tonga," said Louise.

In the athletes village Pita is also a hero among all the other athletes from around the world, with many coming up to say things like 'awesome' 'well done',  'amazing, man'.

Louise Waterhouse said she presented Pita with a personal message of support  from King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau'u.

Every Tongan should appreciate his journey and show their support when he competes in his Tongan Snow Warrior uniform at the 15 kms cross country event on 15 February, she said.

"Pita Taufatofua Jnr shows us that 'nothing is impossible' and as he continues be a wonderful ambassador for Tonga and Tongan sport! He has shown how they too can achieve greatness in sport with initiative, hard work and dedication," said Louise.

Pita has a Go fund me page called help-tonga-to-the-winter-olympics