Why won’t Tonga flag bearer Pita Taufatofua compete at the 2024 Olympics?
![Everyone'S Favorite Flag Bearer Is Staying On The Sidelines. Why Won'T Tonga Flag Bearer Pita Taufatofua Compete At The 2024 Olympics?](https://viagramof.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/rs_1200x1200-240722135005-winter.jpg)
Everyone’s favorite flag bearer is staying on the sidelines.
Peter Taufatofawa– who gained notoriety for appearing shirtless during the opening ceremonies in Rio de Janeiro, Pyeongchang and Tokyo – will not compete in the 2024 Olympics as an athlete.
Unfortunately for his fans, Taufatofua — who represented Tonga in taekwondo at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics, as well as in cross-country skiing at the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea — cannot appear as a flag bearer at the opening ceremony without being an athlete. So he literally won’t be able to show off his abilities in competition this year.
“This time, my team and I were unable to compete in the Paris Olympics,” the athlete shared in an Instagram post in April. “I did my best in the kayak and taekwondo qualifiers, but I failed to qualify.”
The 41-year-old took the opportunity to remind his followers of valuable life lessons.