Halt! Who goes there? Tonga’s buff, shirtless flag bearer stole the show during the 2016 Rio Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, August 5, causing TV commentators to swoon and Twitter to melt down over his good looks.
The 32-year-old athlete, who has been identified as taekwondo contender Pita Taufatofua, turned heads when he strode into the stadium in a high-concentration of oil that made sure no viewer missed his six-pack abs or bulging biceps.
Taufatofua is Tonga’s first-ever taekwondo athlete, but he actually resides in Brisbane, Australia, where he works with homeless kids and models on the side.
Social media made him an Internet celebrity not long after he walked his way across the international stage at the Maracana stadium during the Parade of Nations.
Tonga’s flag bearer owns all the body oil in Rio.
— Allisøn (@amubalt) August 6, 2016
I can’t even be mad at the Tongan flag bearer.
— Jason Clinkscales (@asportsscribe) August 6, 2016
Tongan flag bearer #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/OWlHmtXkwU
— Emily O’Mahoney (@oh_ma_honey) August 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/amackendrick/status/761741314073436164
Tongo tho #Rio2016 #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/c74W9bIVp5
— Blake (@blakeaparker) August 6, 2016
*shiny, shirtless #Tonga man comes out holding their flag*
“Whoa. Slow that downn” – anchor woman #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/Ns3EyRrzZa— Never Siess (@daniellesiess) August 6, 2016
