Why Tonga’s Iconic Flag Bearer Pita Taufatofua Isn't Competing at the 2024 Olympics

Everyone’s favorite flag bearer is staying on the sidelines. 

Pita Taufatofua—who gained fame for his shirtless role during the opening ceremonies in Rio de Janeiro, PyeongChang and Tokyo—will not be competing in the 2024 Olympics as an athlete. 

Unfortunately for his fans, Taufatofua—who has represented Tonga for taekwondo for the summer Olympic games in 2016 and 2020, as well as for cross country skiing at the 2018 winter games in South Korea—cannot make an appearance as a flag bearer in in the opening ceremonies without being an athlete. So he will, quite literally, not be flexing on the competition this year. 

“This time my team and I fell short of competing at the Paris Olympics,” the athlete shared in an Instagram post in April. “I gave my absolute everything in both the Kayak and Taekwondo qualifiers but missed out on a qualification.”

And the 41-year-old used the opportunity to remind his followers of valuable life lessons. 

“Sometimes you shoot for the stars, and sometimes you miss and land on some random moon in some distant galaxy,” he continued. “Either way you've elevated yourself to new heights. You've grown as a person.”

In addition to the Tonga native maintaining a positive attitude through his heartfelt message, he also, naturally, poked fun at where everyone’s disappointment will lie in him not competing. 

“It’s easy to ask for things when you need something, but much harder to give thanks for things when they don't go your way,” he continued. “That's the game of life and of being a dream chaser, sometimes you miss but I wouldn't have it any other way. Sorry Paris, the five gallons of extra virgin coconut oil I've been stockpiling ‘may’ have to wait. The show goes on, onwards and upwards!”

However, fans will still get a glimpse of Tafatofua in Paris—as he is attending the 2024 Olympics as a spectator. 

“While not competing, the spirit of the Games called me, opportunities arose and I couldn't say no,” he wrote in a July 20 Instagram post. “This time the medal I fight for is to be of service, to be there for my fellow athletes, an ear of support or a voice of encouragement. To share what I have learnt and more importantly to hear the stories of the other Olympians, these amazing human beings getting ready to represent their nations.”

Of course, there’s one more reason the opening ceremony icon was hoping to attend this year. 

As he noted in his post, he’s looking for some romance. He noted, “Looks like I might be getting that kiss under the Eiffel tower after all......”

And while fans of Taufatofua will only have the memories to look back on, the past just might be brighter than the future—at least in this regard. After all, the athlete trended on social media in several countries upon his appearances at his respective games—and the audience couldn’t believe how he glowed. 

As one online poster joked in 2016, “Fun fact: #Tonga uses over 90% of the world's oil to keep their flag bearers at maximum glisten."

But it wasn’t just Tafatofua’s body oil that grabbed the world’s attention—it was also his impressive washboard abs. In fact, his physique became such an enigma that he later unpacked how he maintains it. 

“It's not just genetic, it’s how I work and approach life,” he told Cosmopolitan in 2018. “I train whenever I can, so if I’m cooking a meal on the stove and I’m waiting for the toast to pop up, I get 40 pushups in there. I wait for the coffee to brew, that’s 3 minutes, and I get another 40 pushups. Before breakfast is even cooked, I’m on 200 pushups.”

Although Tafatofua won’t be grabbing attention for his country this year, he was happy he was able to gain recognition for the island through his Opening Ceremonies schtick. 

“It’s all funny for me,” Tafatofua added. “The goal isn’t to be this symbol of masculinity, because that’s so surface level. But if that allows me to get a message across to people, then I want to get a message across to people. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, you know?”

While Tafatofua was missing from the 2024 Opening Ceremony, keep reading to see all the highlights. 

Team Australia is all-smiles as their boat passes by the Eiffel Tower.

The masked torchbearer runs along the Musee d'Orsay during the Opening Ceremony.

Despite the wet weather, Team Spain marches forward to the Place du Trocadero.

Team Italy's flag bearers Arianna Errigo and Gianmarco Tamberi snap a selfie together.

The Eiffel Tower is decorated with the Olympic rings.

Swedish athletes greet the crowd during the Parade of Nations.

Team Liberia captures all the sights and sounds from their boat.

The Eiffel Tower awaits the arrival of the world's athletes.

Jordan's Rama Abo-Alrub and Saleh Elsharabaty bear their country's flag together. 

The Bahamian flag waves atop the country's boat on the Seine river. 

Switzerland is ready to bring the heat to this summer's Games. 

Team USA makes their debut on the Seine. 

But that didn't stop these rooftop dancers from turning out a spectacular performance. 

Yet the Cabo Verde Olympic team didn't let it dim their joy. 

Reproductions of some of the most famous paintings from Paris' Louvre Museum decorate the River Seine. 

The athletes proudly wave their nation's flag. 

Athletes from Fiji can't contain their excitement aboard their team's boat. 

Japan's boat makes its way past the Eiffel Tower. 

The delegation from the Cayman Islands are aiming high at this year's Games. 

Dancers perform in front of the Conciergerie, a former prison and part of former royal palace, during the Ceremony. 

The mysery torcherbearer brings the flame ever closer. 

The rain couldn't stop these French athletes from smiling wide. 

Can-Can dancers blow a kiss before their big performance. 

Team Austria, Team Azerbaijan and Team Bahamas all share a boat as they make their way down the Seine. 

Athletes of South Korea shift their gaze skyward with big smiles. 

The Palestinian athletes wave their flah's during the Opening Ceremony. 

Dancers perfom in the water alongside the Seine River.

Team Mexico take in the sights of Paris. 

Aaron Murray Gate and Jo Aleh hold New Zealand's flag aloft. 

The French Air Force draws a heart in the sky.

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