He’s never skied in his life, but that little detail doesn’t matter to Tonga’s Olympic flag-bearer.
You know him. Pita Taufatofua, the summer Olympian who made headlines for his shirtless and shiny entrance at the Rio de Janeiro Games.
A self-described “complete underdog,” the taekwondo competitor announced Tuesday he wants to be the first-ever male cross-country skier to represent Tonga at the 2018 Winter Games.
“I spent my whole life chasing my Olympic dream,” the 33-year-old athlete said. After not winning a medal in Rio, Taufatofua said he wants to evolve his dream into a different season.
“It’s a little bit colder,” he joked.
After bailing onto his face on a flat patch of snow, the Tongan flag-bearer said he’s not motivated by a gold medal. He just wants to inspire people.
“My goal is to let people see: if I can do it, they can do it,” he said.
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