Glistening Shirtless Tongan Athlete Pita Taufatofua Returns for Rio 2016 Closing Ceremony
From: Towleroad Tongan taekwondo athlete Pita Taufatofua , who caused a stir two weeks ago when he appeared during the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremonies shirtless and glistening with oil, made a repeat performance at last night’s closing ceremonies. Wrote Taufatofua on Instagram: “And now they know!!#WhereisTonga Congratulations to the best ever Tongan Olympic team! And to the beautiful people of Brazil for a Marvelous Olympics… We did it!” Taufatofua did not win a medal, but he became more famous than many who did, and was perhaps the most popular ambassador for Tonga that the nation has ever had. Sports Illustrated reports: “I was here because it took me 20 years to get here,” he said. “People thought I walked out with a shiny body and was an overnight success. F— that. … It was 20 years of work to walk out on that stage and be chosen as the flag bearer.” The crowd at Carioca Arena 3 chanted “Tonga! Tonga!” Saturday, at a volume that Taufatofua never imagined hearing before he got to Bra...