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More than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries are competing for medals at the Milan Cortina Olympics, where Pita Taufatofua, famously known as the shirtless Tongan, has returned for the 2026 Games — this time fully clothed.The 42-year-old became a viral sensation starting at the 2016 Games in Rio when he represented his island nation home in the taekwondo competition. Taufatofua is one of a small group of athletes who have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympics. He was at the 2018 Games in South Korea as a freestyle skier, and the freezing temperatures couldn’t keep him from wearing traditional clothing.At the Tokyo Olympics, more Pita, and while he didn’t carry a flag for the 2022 or 2024 Olympics, he did take part in the torch relay for the Paris Games.This year, he appeared near the end of the opening ceremony with seven others carrying the Olympic flag as a “messenger of peace.” He was fully clothed, wearing fashionable all black in Milan.When he’s not making headlines at the Olympics, Taufatofua is a motivational speaker who’s written books on becoming the best version of yourself.
More than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries are competing for medals at the Milan Cortina Olympics, where Pita Taufatofua, famously known as the shirtless Tongan, has returned for the 2026 Games — this time fully clothed.
The 42-year-old became a viral sensation starting at the 2016 Games in Rio when he represented his island nation home in the taekwondo competition. Taufatofua is one of a small group of athletes who have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympics. He was at the 2018 Games in South Korea as a freestyle skier, and the freezing temperatures couldn’t keep him from wearing traditional clothing.
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At the Tokyo Olympics, more Pita, and while he didn’t carry a flag for the 2022 or 2024 Olympics, he did take part in the torch relay for the Paris Games.
This year, he appeared near the end of the opening ceremony with seven others carrying the Olympic flag as a “messenger of peace.” He was fully clothed, wearing fashionable all black in Milan.
When he’s not making headlines at the Olympics, Taufatofua is a motivational speaker who’s written books on becoming the best version of yourself.
