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Meet the Tonga flag bearer Pita Taufatofua

Fourth-Place Medal
  • <p>Flagbearer Pita Nikolas Taufatofua (TGA) of Tonga leads his contingent during the athletes’ parade at the opening ceremony. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov </p>
    1/15

    Pita Taufatofua | Tonga | Taekwando

    Flagbearer Pita Nikolas Taufatofua (TGA) of Tonga leads his contingent during the athletes’ parade at the opening ceremony. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

  • <p>Flag bearer Pita Nikolas Aufatofua of Tonga leads his Olympic Team during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) </p>
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    Pita Taufatofua | Tonga | Taekwando

    Flag bearer Pita Nikolas Aufatofua of Tonga leads his Olympic Team during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

  • <p>Pita Nikolas Aufatofua of Tonga carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) </p>
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    Pita Taufatofua | Tonga | Taekwando

    Pita Nikolas Aufatofua of Tonga carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

  • <p>Time to make History! I am ready! Mathew 17:20 – ” If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. And nothing will be impossible for you." Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
    4/15

    Pita Taufatofua | Tonga | Taekwando

    Time to make History! I am ready! Mathew 17:20 – ” If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. And nothing will be impossible for you." Instagram/pita_tofua

  • <p>Fresh sashimi! Love fishing , love eating! Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
    5/15

    Pita Taufatofua | Tonga | Taekwando

    Fresh sashimi! Love fishing , love eating! Instagram/pita_tofua

  • <p>Practicing Guitar on Holiday after a morning swim :) Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
    6/15

    Pita Taufatofua | Tonga | Taekwando

    Practicing Guitar on Holiday after a morning swim :) Instagram/pita_tofua

  • <p>Tongan .. #spearfishing in #Tofua #haapai #tonga ! Never seen soo many #sharks Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
    7/15

    Pita Taufatofua | Tonga | Taekwando

    Tongan .. #spearfishing in #Tofua #haapai #tonga ! Never seen soo many #sharks Instagram/pita_tofua

  • <p>Infinity pool in the Thai jungle… Recovery session! Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
    8/15

    Pita Taufatofua | Tonga | Taekwando

    Infinity pool in the Thai jungle… Recovery session! Instagram/pita_tofua

  • <p>Thank you to everyone who continues to support our quest to motivate and improve the lives in our corner of the World! We can make a difference Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
    9/15

    Pita Taufatofua | Tonga | Taekwando

    Thank you to everyone who continues to support our quest to motivate and improve the lives in our corner of the World! We can make a difference Instagram/pita_tofua

  • <p>New year, new toy :) Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
    10/15

    Pita Taufatofua | Tonga | Taekwando

    New year, new toy :) Instagram/pita_tofua

  • <p>tofuaOne of the best parts of this training camp was that we got the privilege to leave a little part of Tonga and the Pacific in Thailand by planting a tree at the world class Sabai Sabai training resort ! Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
    11/15

    Pita Taufatofua | Tonga | Taekwando

    tofuaOne of the best parts of this training camp was that we got the privilege to leave a little part of Tonga and the Pacific in Thailand by planting a tree at the world class Sabai Sabai training resort ! Instagram/pita_tofua

  • <p>Tonga #poweredbyREFLEX #poweredbyTARO #PoweredbyFAITH Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
    12/15

    Pita Taufatofua | Tonga | Taekwando

    Tonga #poweredbyREFLEX #poweredbyTARO #PoweredbyFAITH Instagram/pita_tofua

  • <p>Mans best Friend! Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
    13/15

    Pita Taufatofua | Tonga | Taekwando

    Mans best Friend! Instagram/pita_tofua

  • <p>Fighting in 8 weeks after a year off tournament with injuries! Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
    14/15

    Pita Taufatofua | Tonga | Taekwando

    Fighting in 8 weeks after a year off tournament with injuries! Instagram/pita_tofua

  • <p>Taekwondo does not help with Golf… Fact :-) </p>
    15/15

    Pita Taufatofua | Tonga | Taekwando

    Taekwondo does not help with Golf… Fact :-)

<p>Flagbearer Pita Nikolas Taufatofua (TGA) of Tonga leads his contingent during the athletes’ parade at the opening ceremony. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov </p>
<p>Flag bearer Pita Nikolas Aufatofua of Tonga leads his Olympic Team during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Pita Nikolas Aufatofua of Tonga carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Time to make History! I am ready! Mathew 17:20 – ” If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. And nothing will be impossible for you." Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
<p>Fresh sashimi! Love fishing , love eating! Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
<p>Practicing Guitar on Holiday after a morning swim :) Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
<p>Tongan .. #spearfishing in #Tofua #haapai #tonga ! Never seen soo many #sharks Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
<p>Infinity pool in the Thai jungle… Recovery session! Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who continues to support our quest to motivate and improve the lives in our corner of the World! We can make a difference Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
<p>New year, new toy :) Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
<p>tofuaOne of the best parts of this training camp was that we got the privilege to leave a little part of Tonga and the Pacific in Thailand by planting a tree at the world class Sabai Sabai training resort ! Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
<p>Tonga #poweredbyREFLEX #poweredbyTARO #PoweredbyFAITH Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
<p>Mans best Friend! Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
<p>Fighting in 8 weeks after a year off tournament with injuries! Instagram/pita_tofua </p>
<p>Taekwondo does not help with Golf… Fact :-) </p>

As the Parade of Nations at the Olympic Opening Ceremony was droning on Friday night, the Tonga flag bearer Pita Taufatofua made a splash by leading his country into the stadium shirtless and covered in oil. Taufatofua is Tonga’s first taekwando Olympian and works as a model on the side.