Not all heroes wear capes. In fact, some wear barely anything at all. As the world mourned news that Tonga's Pita Taufatofua would be sitting out of the 2022 Winter Olympics, American Samoa's flag bearer Nathan Crumpton made the valiant decision to step up and fulfill our Olympic dreams. Yes, despite the frigid temperatures—we're talking 24 degrees Fahrenheit and -4 Celsius—the skeleton competitor bared his oiled up chest while walking through Beijing's The Bird's Nest during the Opening Ceremony on Feb. 4. When told he's also a model and photographer, Today's Savannah Guthrie said what we were all thinking: "Well, I might have guessed that,...
- 2/4/2022
- E! Online
If you wanted to know how to achieve a three-year viral streak at the Olympics, ask Pita Taufatofua. The 37-year-old Olympian has become the first athlete to compete in three games in a row—and chances are, you noticed him. He first rose to viral fame at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio when he stepped out during the Opening Ceremony bearing the Tongan flag...oiled up and shirtless. In addition to competing in Taekwondo and skiing, he's carried on the flag tradition ever since with headlines hailing his glistening return every time. During an exclusive interview with E! News Aug. 4, we finally got the chance to ask the burning question on everyone's mind: What kind of oil is it?! "Ok,...
- 8/6/2021
- E! Online
Throughout the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Kevin Hart and Snoop Dogg have provided some bonus commentary for the Summer Games on the streaming service Peacock, with the duo interviewing athletes, recapping events and, most notably, doing play-by-play for sports they don’t understand.
In a segment called “Cold Call” uploaded Friday, the comedian and the rapper/budding play-by-play man first gave their insight into synchronized diving and then, hilariously, the equestrian event.
“The horse crip-walking! You see that? That’s sick,” Snoop Dogg joyfully announced as a horse pranced during the event.
In a segment called “Cold Call” uploaded Friday, the comedian and the rapper/budding play-by-play man first gave their insight into synchronized diving and then, hilariously, the equestrian event.
“The horse crip-walking! You see that? That’s sick,” Snoop Dogg joyfully announced as a horse pranced during the event.
- 7/31/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
When beauty and sports collide! There's no doubt the 2020 Tokyo Olympics kicked off on a high note on Friday, July 23. Whether the internet was swooning over Team Tonga's oiled-up flag bearer Pita Taufatofua during the Opening Ceremony or have had people simply in awe of all the talented athletes competing for a gold medal, the games are most definitely proving to be unforgettable. As if that weren't exciting enough, Olympic contenders are proudly showing off their impressive skills while looking good doing so. After all, beauty and fashion go hand-in-hand with sports. Olympian (and fashionista) Florence Griffith Joyner once was...
- 7/28/2021
- E! Online
Fans of the 2016 and 2018 Olympics, hosted by Rio, Brazil and Pyeongchang, South Korea respectively, eagerly awaited the return of Tongan heartthrob, Pita Taufatofua, to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. While he did return, the Taekwondo star might have competition outside of the Olympic arena. Vanuatu’s Riilio Rii turned heads as he walked in the […]
The post Vanuatu’s Shirtless Riilio Rii Marches Into The Spotlight At Tokyo Olympics appeared first on uInterview.
The post Vanuatu’s Shirtless Riilio Rii Marches Into The Spotlight At Tokyo Olympics appeared first on uInterview.
- 7/25/2021
- by Madeline Hoverkamp
- Uinterview
Tonga’s flag bearer, fan-favorite Pita Taufatofua, returned to the Olympics again shirtless with a traditional Tupenu, which is akin to a kilt. Who Is Pita Taufatofua? Viewers first noticed Taufatofua when he walked in the 2016 Rio Olympics sporting the same traditional ensemble, oiled-up chest and all. There, he explained that he wore the Tupenu […]
The post Tonga’s Shirtless Flag Bearer Pita Taufatofua Wows Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony appeared first on uInterview.
The post Tonga’s Shirtless Flag Bearer Pita Taufatofua Wows Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony appeared first on uInterview.
- 7/24/2021
- by Madeline Hoverkamp
- Uinterview
Sports, but make it fashion. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics are officially in full swing with athletes from around the world competing for a coveted gold medal. On Friday, July 23, the Opening Ceremony kicked off the highly anticipated games and proved to be a must-see event—especially thanks to Team Tonga's oiled-up flag bearer Pita Taufatofua. But Pita hasn't been the only one taking the internet by storm. Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin is making fans go wild with her fun and fabulous fashion at the Tokyo Olympics. And we're not talking about the American gymnast's patriotic-themed uniforms either. Taking to Instagram in recent days,...
- 7/24/2021
- E! Online
The Covid tests have been administered, quarantines completed, myths about organizers discouraging sex by filling the Olympic Village with cardboard anti-sex beds debunked. It's time to let the games begin! As the Opening Ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics finally gets underway after a year-long delay and we all begin to memorize fun facts about, say, the super attractive oiled-up flag carrier from Tonga, it's time to get to know some of the standout athletes that will be competing for the red, white and blue. So we chatted with, Zoomed, emailed and dug deep into the histories of some of the 621 members of the U.S....
- 7/23/2021
- E! Online
No shirt? No problem! As the Tokyo Olympic Games kicked off Friday, July 23, all eyes were on the Opening Ceremony where athletes from around the world safely participated in the Parade of Nations. And, guys? He's baaaaaack. Before the United States team walked around Olympic Stadium, Team Tonga took center stage thanks to flag bearer Pita Taufatofua. The Internet quickly started to buzz as the 37-year-old's oiled-up abs and impressive physique reignited memories from Olympics past. For those curious about the coconut oil, Pita previously revealed to the Today show that the substance has cultural roots and is considered an expression of ancestral ties to Tonga...
- 7/23/2021
- E! Online
Great news if you're a fan of greased up topless men ... the "Shirtless Tongan" dude from the Olympics tells TMZ Sports he's gunning for a career in topless modeling! "I've got a few things lined up," Pita Taufatofua told us at Lax. Of course, Pita shot to stardom during the 2016 Olympics in Rio (he competed in taekwondo) when he carried the flag of Tonga during opening ceremonies ... sans top. You might know him as "shirtless Tonga guy,...
- 2/27/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Congrats to all the 2018 Olympians! Say cheese! Olympic alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy and yes, the shirtless wonder and Tongan flag bearer and cross-country skier Pita Taufatofua posed for selfies on Sunday after the 2018 Winter Olympics' Closing Ceremony in Pyeongchang, South Korea. "Wow, what an amazing night!" Vonn, who won a bronze medal in the downhill event, wrote on Instagram. "Loved the energy that everyone brought to closing ceremonies. It was a privilege to walk with all of these amazing athletes ❤️." Vonn posted selfies with Kenworthy—who did not medal but is leaving Pyeongchang with a puppy he...
- 2/25/2018
- E! Online
Who better to help close out the 2018 Winter Olympics than everyone’s favorite hunky Tongan?
Pita Taufatofua was back —and shirtless — at Sunday’s closing ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea, and posed for photos alongside fellow Olympians including Lindsey Vonn.
During a series of speeches from Olympic officials, several well-known athletes, including Vonn, 33, and Taufatofua, 34, posed for a group photo with Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee.
As the smiling athletes made heart gestures with their hands, Taufatofua (in all his oiled-up glory) dropped to one knee and stretched out his arms. The display marks the Polynesian athlete...
Pita Taufatofua was back —and shirtless — at Sunday’s closing ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea, and posed for photos alongside fellow Olympians including Lindsey Vonn.
During a series of speeches from Olympic officials, several well-known athletes, including Vonn, 33, and Taufatofua, 34, posed for a group photo with Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee.
As the smiling athletes made heart gestures with their hands, Taufatofua (in all his oiled-up glory) dropped to one knee and stretched out his arms. The display marks the Polynesian athlete...
- 2/25/2018
- by Char Adams
- PEOPLE.com
Tonga's Pita Taufatofua Finishes in 114th Place in Cross-Country Event (with His Shirt Very Much On)
Despite coming in 114th place in the 15km cross-country skiing event during the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics on Friday, Pita Taufatofua – known to many as the shirtless Tongan — isn’t disappointed.
Instead, he hopes to inspire others from his home country.
“People from the Pacific, these kids who are watching now, they’ll have access to something that they never knew existed before,” he said in a press conference, according to the Huffington Post. “And to me, that’s why I’m here.”
At 34, the skier who took 56:46.1 to complete the entire course, joked about his less-than-stellar finish: “The first...
Instead, he hopes to inspire others from his home country.
“People from the Pacific, these kids who are watching now, they’ll have access to something that they never knew existed before,” he said in a press conference, according to the Huffington Post. “And to me, that’s why I’m here.”
At 34, the skier who took 56:46.1 to complete the entire course, joked about his less-than-stellar finish: “The first...
- 2/16/2018
- by Caitlin Keating
- PEOPLE.com
we all have that one friend pic.twitter.com/ZPdPJwzC4U
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 9, 2018
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The Olympics are known for creating stars out of its athletes. But one attendee has captured the internet’s attention without competing for a single medal.
On Friday, NBC cameras spotted a little boy who was walking through Olympic Park.
He was equally enamored by the NBC cameras, and seized his moment.
Keep Following People’s Complete Coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics
Running toward the camera, he posed with his arms out on each side — sticking his tongue out and flashing two peace signs.
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 9, 2018
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The Olympics are known for creating stars out of its athletes. But one attendee has captured the internet’s attention without competing for a single medal.
On Friday, NBC cameras spotted a little boy who was walking through Olympic Park.
He was equally enamored by the NBC cameras, and seized his moment.
Keep Following People’s Complete Coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics
Running toward the camera, he posed with his arms out on each side — sticking his tongue out and flashing two peace signs.
- 2/9/2018
- by Dave Quinn
- PEOPLE.com
South Korea opened the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang on Friday night (Friday morning here in the states) with a bevy of lights and stunning moments in a display that set the internet ablaze.
In frigid temperatures and under the watch of spectators around the world, the opening ceremony began at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium in the mountains of Pyeongchang County. From an applause-inducing drum performance to the highlyanticipated return of Tonga’s shirtless Pita Taufatofua, the Twittersphere was completely enraptured by South Korea’s Olympic opening.
“That was an awesome opening ceremony #Rise #OpeningCeremony,” one person tweeted as the ceremony concluded.
In frigid temperatures and under the watch of spectators around the world, the opening ceremony began at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium in the mountains of Pyeongchang County. From an applause-inducing drum performance to the highlyanticipated return of Tonga’s shirtless Pita Taufatofua, the Twittersphere was completely enraptured by South Korea’s Olympic opening.
“That was an awesome opening ceremony #Rise #OpeningCeremony,” one person tweeted as the ceremony concluded.
- 2/9/2018
- by Char Adams
- PEOPLE.com
Everyone’s favorite hunky Tongan is back — and despite the frigid temperatures Pita Taufatofua is shirtless once again.
The 34-year-old Polynesian athlete was back in all his oily glory at the opening ceremony of the 23rd Winter Olympics as the teams entered the massive stadium for the Parade of Nations, once again carrying the flag for Tonga.
Wearing a traditional outfit from his nation, the athlete was once again greased up and sans top as he proudly hoisted his nation’s flag.
Taufatofua shocked the world in 2016 when he revealed that he would give taekwondo a rest and pick up...
The 34-year-old Polynesian athlete was back in all his oily glory at the opening ceremony of the 23rd Winter Olympics as the teams entered the massive stadium for the Parade of Nations, once again carrying the flag for Tonga.
Wearing a traditional outfit from his nation, the athlete was once again greased up and sans top as he proudly hoisted his nation’s flag.
Taufatofua shocked the world in 2016 when he revealed that he would give taekwondo a rest and pick up...
- 2/9/2018
- by Char Adams
- PEOPLE.com
Pita Taufatofua nearly busted the internet the last time he showed up at the Olympics, slathered in coconut oil and carrying the Tongan flag during the opening ceremonies for the 2016 summer games in Rio.
“That was a complete surprise,” Taufatofua, who competed in taekwondo in Rio, tells People.
“I had no idea how much attention that would get. In Tonga where you have a lot of traditional dances, the oil and the outfit I was wearing was quite normal. But in Rio it turned out to be a pretty big deal.”
Keep Following People’s Complete Coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics
Flash forward two years,...
“That was a complete surprise,” Taufatofua, who competed in taekwondo in Rio, tells People.
“I had no idea how much attention that would get. In Tonga where you have a lot of traditional dances, the oil and the outfit I was wearing was quite normal. But in Rio it turned out to be a pretty big deal.”
Keep Following People’s Complete Coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics
Flash forward two years,...
- 2/8/2018
- by Johnny Dodd
- PEOPLE.com
Although the PyeongChang Winter Olympics unofficially kick off mid-week with several events — and NBC’s live coverage begins Thursday evening — the ceremonial start of the highly anticipated Games begin at 6 a.m. E.T. with the opening ceremony.
Here are some things to watch for:
Cold
Forecasters are predicting a possible record-setting chill, with real-feel temperatures as low as 7 degrees Fahrenheit at the open-air PyeongChang Olympic Stadium, which sits nearly a half-mile above the Sea of Japan and gets blasted with Siberian winds from the north. Organizers are so worried about spectators’ safety that they’ll be handing out poncho-style windbreakers,...
Here are some things to watch for:
Cold
Forecasters are predicting a possible record-setting chill, with real-feel temperatures as low as 7 degrees Fahrenheit at the open-air PyeongChang Olympic Stadium, which sits nearly a half-mile above the Sea of Japan and gets blasted with Siberian winds from the north. Organizers are so worried about spectators’ safety that they’ll be handing out poncho-style windbreakers,...
- 2/8/2018
- by Kurt Pitzer
- PEOPLE.com
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