Tonga’s flag bearers Malia Paseka (L) and Pita Taufatofua lead the delegation during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games opening ceremony’s parade of athletes, at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on July 23, 2021. (Photo by HANNAH MCKAY / POOL / AFP)
TOKYO, Japan – Tonga’s Pita Taufatofua was feeling the love on Saturday after oiling up to cause an online sensation at a third straight Olympic opening ceremony, but this time he was challenged by an equally ripped rower from Vanuatu.
Taufatofua first captured world attention when the Rio Games opened in 2016, appearing topless and glistening with body oil while enthusiastically waving the banner of his tiny South Pacific nation.
He racked up 45 million Twitter mentions within hours, then went on to repeat his chest-bearing feats at the curtainraiser for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games, despite freezing conditions.
The 37-year-old, competing in taekwondo in Tokyo, again proved a popular online focal point at the stripped-back ceremony to kick off the Games on Friday, acting as Tonga’s co-flagbearer with fellow martial artist Malia Paseka.
This time, however, there was a fly in the ointment in the form of Vanuatu rower Riilio Rii, a 27-year-old Games debutant who also showed off his glistening torso while wearing a traditional multi-coloured grass skirt.
Vanuatu’s flag bearer Riilio Rii parades during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, at the Olympic Stadium, in Tokyo, on July 23, 2021. (AFP)
The head-to-head inevitably led to a series of “who wore it better?” debates online, with the official Olympic Twitter account weighing in.
“It if ain’t broke don’t fix it,” the Games feed posted alongside a picture of Taufatofua, following up by saying “Pita, we see you and we raise you” after Rii’s appearance.
Both athletes had their supporters, with specialist publication Rowing Voice declaring Rii “won the night… looking regal to his toes”.
Taufatofua appeared unfazed by the competition as he posted a message to supporters on Saturday.
“Thanks all for the tags and love,” he wrote. “Not sure if going viral during a pandemic is a good thing but I appreciate all the messages and support.”
Brisbane-based Taufatofua qualified for taekwondo in Rio, then cross-country skiing in Pyeongchang, hoping to compete in kayaking in Tokyo to become the first athlete to contest three different Games in three different sports.
The kayak bid failed but he told AFP before the Games that he was bringing his paddle to Japan just in case an opening emerged after the taekwondo was finished.
“If there’s a spare lane there and an old rubber duckie for me to get on and paddle, I’ll be on it,” he said.
He also revealed he was mulling offers from filmmakers and hoped to see his underdog story portrayed on the big screen.