Tongan luger Bruno Banani has qualified to compete at the 22^nd Winter Olympics in February next year in Sochi, Russia. He becomes Tonga's first winter olympian.

He qualified after finishing in 28^th position out of 42 competitors at the World Cup Championship race final held last weekend in Park City, USA.

TASANOC stated today that after five-years of training, the talented Bruno qualified as the first and only luger from Tonga for a Winter Olympic Games. A total of 110 lugers (men, women and doubles) will compete at the Winter Olympics next year. He has been greatly assisted by his sponsor, German clothing company also called Bruno Banani over the past five-years.

The Executive Committee also announced it has appointed Bruno’s manager, Mathias Ihle as the Sochi 2014 Chef de Mission and Isabel Barchinski as his coach for the Winter Olympics.

It is understood the Government of Tonga approved $50,000 pa’anga to assist the athlete at the Games.

“Bruno had a good 2013-14 season…it has been a long road to Sochi but we finally made it. Bruno has an outstanding personality as an ambassador of Tonga and managed to become an accepted member of the international luge family," stated Mathias.

Tonga is expected to march into Sochi wearing specially designed and flamboyant snow proof uniforms sponsored by German firm Bogner.

The Tonga Luge Association looks forward to further support for Bruno's participation as the dates for next year's Olympics draws near.