Summer and Winter Olympic athlete aiming to compete in a third sport in Tokyo next year. His positive attitude and goal-oriented mindset make him a role model for others. Interview with the Tongan warrior, Pita Taufatofua.
The Tongan taekwondo fighter stole the show in 2016 when, in quite a unique fashion, he carried his country’s flag at the Rio Opening Ceremony oiled up, shirtless, in traditional Tongan grass skirt. Then he hit the headlines again in 2018 when he successfully qualified for the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in cross-country skiing. He would not let freezing sub-zero temperatures stop him from doing the same feat again and wore his trademark Tongan attire at the Opening Ceremony. Now he is preparing for the Summer Olympics, planning on competing in canoe sprint at Tokyo 2020. Taufatofua came to Hungary to learn the subtleties from the very best at the ICF Canoe Sprint Championships in Szeged. The Hungarian Olympic Committee asked him and he answered, touching on the importance saving our planet, changing between sports and the Polynesian outlook on life.
(HOC; Photo: MTI)