{"id":63932,"date":"2018-02-09T10:20:27","date_gmt":"2018-02-09T15:20:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/oiled-and-shirtless-tonga-athlete-pita-taufatofua-returns-to-the-winter-olympics-opening-ceremony-watch\/"},"modified":"2018-02-09T10:20:27","modified_gmt":"2018-02-09T15:20:27","slug":"oiled-and-shirtless-tonga-athlete-pita-taufatofua-returns-to-the-winter-olympics-opening-ceremony-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/oiled-and-shirtless-tonga-athlete-pita-taufatofua-returns-to-the-winter-olympics-opening-ceremony-watch\/","title":{"rendered":"Oiled and Shirtless Tonga Athlete Pita Taufatofua Returns to the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony: WATCH"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oiled and Shirtless Tonga Athlete Pita Taufatofua Returns to the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony: WATCH<\/b>
\n\"shirtless<\/p>\n

Tongan athlete Pita Taufatofua returned to the Olympics as his country\u2019s flag-bearer in the Opening Ceremonies. Taufatofua has turned in his taekwondo belt for a set of cross country skis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an unusual achievement, since there is no snow in Tonga. He\u2019s just the second Tongan to ever compete in the Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n

\n

Tongan Flag Bearer, @PitaTaufatofua<\/a>, has returned!! #WinterOlympics<\/a>t.co\/jUEL5ejPMA<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/knQnPdVZ3r<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 9, 2018<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Guardian<\/em>\u00a0reported<\/a>:<\/p>\n

The 34-year-old,\u00a0who went viral<\/a>\u00a0when he stepped into the limelight at the opening ceremony in Brazil, told the Olympic Channel that he had made it after a last ditch attempt in Iceland.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have just qualified Tonga for the\u00a0Winter Olympics<\/a>,\u201d he declared in a Facebook live<\/a> interview from near the Arctic Circle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was the last day of the qualification process, this was my last race possible and we did it. We have done it,\u201d beamed the Australian-based athlete, wrapped up against the freezing cold. \u201cI had seven races and they all failed. I did my best but I fell short each time and I thought there\u2019s one race left, it\u2019s at the end of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Royal Tonga Ski Federation\u00a0congratulated him on its Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Taufatofua had announced his intention to become Tonga\u2019s first male<\/a> Olympic cross-country skier at the end of 2016 as he looked for a new challenge after exiting the Rio taekwondo competition in the first round.<\/p>\n

Good luck.<\/p>\n

\n

Tonga! Immune to the cold. #Pyeongchang2018<\/a> #Olympics<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/JX6PYINg0C<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jean H. Lee (@newsjean) February 9, 2018<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

RELATED:\u00a0Pita Taufatofua, Tonga\u2019s Oiled-Up Summer Olympic Hunk, Just Qualified for the *Winter* Olympics<\/a><\/em><\/h2>\n
\n

Two years on from Rio and @PitaTaufatofua<\/a> is topless again! \"?\" Welcome Tonga to the Winter @Olympics<\/a>! \"??\"<\/p>\n

See more on @pyeongchang2018<\/a> here: t.co\/M70cMvG6ul<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/w8IQKpDLgM<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Olympic Channel (@olympicchannel) February 9, 2018<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

This fella from Tonga didn’t get the memo though. pic.twitter.com\/jThbFdrieS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ByTheMinute \"\u23f1\" (@itsByTheMinute) February 9, 2018<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The post Oiled and Shirtless Tonga Athlete Pita Taufatofua Returns to the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony: WATCH<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"
\n<\/p>\n

Oiled and Shirtless Tonga Athlete Pita Taufatofua Returns to the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony: WATCH<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n