--- title: Tonga Flag Bearer Goes Shirtless at Winter Olympics 2018 description: Fans of Pita Taufatofua, the oiled-up flag bearer during the Rio 2016 Summer Games, were not disappointed during the opening ceremony canonical: https://time.com/5141296/tongan-flag-bearer-shirtless-winter-olympics/ author: Tara John article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-02-09T13:52:48.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-01-15T18:57:46.000Z og:title: The Internet Is Loving Tonga Flag Bearer's Shirtless Return og:description: He marched the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony tanned and topless og:url: https://time.com/5141296/tongan-flag-bearer-shirtless-winter-olympics/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc86c47daf90bc617/698926e67cdbacd233d5be5a/tonga-flag-bearer-opening-ceremony-olympics.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2405 og:image:height: 1353 og:image:alt: 2018 Winter Olympic Games - Opening Ceremony og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The Internet Is Loving Tonga Flag Bearer's Shirtless Return twitter:description: He marched the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony tanned and topless twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc86c47daf90bc617/698926e67cdbacd233d5be5a/tonga-flag-bearer-opening-ceremony-olympics.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Freezing Cold Couldn't Stop the Tongan Flag Bearer From Going Shirtless Again at the Winter Olympics > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: Meet Team USA: Oksana Masters, Susan Dunklee, and Lowell Bailey [Watch (HLS stream): Meet Team USA: Oksana Masters, Susan Dunklee, and Lowell Bailey](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/DABmtWB3.m3u8) (1:49)  _Published 2018-01-29. Get to know Team USA paranordic and biathlon athletes Oksana Masters, Susan Dunklee, and Lowell Bailey._ by [Tara John](https://time.com/author/tara-john/) ## Tara John Updated: Jan 15, 2026 6:57 PM UTCPublished: Feb 9, 2018 1:52 PM UTC The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea officially kicked off on Friday, Feb. 9 with a highly-anticipated opening ceremony. by [Tara John](https://time.com/author/tara-john/) ## Tara John Updated: Jan 15, 2026 6:57 PM UTCPublished: Feb 9, 2018 1:52 PM UTC Fans of [Pita Taufatofua](http://time.com/5112498/olympics-2018-tongan-flag-bearer-pita-taufatofua-returning/), the oiled-up flag bearer who became a [viral sensation](http://time.com/5128627/31-athletes-to-watch-at-the-pyeongchang-winter-olympics/) during the Rio 2016 Summer Games, were not disappointed during the opening ceremony of [2018 Winter Olympics](http://time.com/5064263/winter-olympics-2018-pyeonchang-ticket-sales/) in [PyeongChang, South Korea,](http://time.com/5070315/winter-olympics-2018-location/) when he marched once-again bare chested. The martial artist braved subfreezing temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday and as he marched tanned and topless, wearing only a traditional Tonga mat, into the Olympics stadium. In order to qualify for the games twice in the space of two years, the 24-year-old Pacific-Islander transformed himself from an Olympic taekwondo competitor into an Olympic cross-country skier. A feat he has described as a “miracle.” “After Rio I decided to find the hardest sport possible, because I needed a new challenge, and the hardest sport possible was cross country skiing,” Taufatofua [told the Olympic Channel](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-22/tonga-pita-taufatofua-secures-pyeongchang-winter-olympics-spot/9348464) in Jan, after qualifying. “The goal was to do it in one year. And we did it in one year” he said. “Twenty years I sacrificed to become a summer Olympian, and one year to become a winter Olympian.” According to the [Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/articles/shirtless-tongan-flag-bearer-goes-shirtless-in-pyeongchang-1518178036), Taufatofua’s German coach, Thomas Jacob, got someone who sews his curtains to create a sack for Taufatofua’s layers. The athlete reportedly wrapped himself in warmer clothing as soon as the cameras panned to the delegation behind him. Taufatofua is the second athlete from the balmy nation of Tonga to ever to compete at a Winter Olympics. Tonga’s entire delegation on Friday consisted of three coaches, officials and Taufatofua. > [](https://twitter.com/HillaryWarnedUs/status/961950636983160833) > [](https://twitter.com/gagacakke/status/961960085659504640) > [](https://twitter.com/Olympics/status/961937762449420291) > [](https://twitter.com/cmdnguyen/status/961935839910612992) > [](https://twitter.com/Verena2607/status/961934830354272257) ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] My first real memory of the Olympics was the shots from Lillehammer in 1994. I think over 100, 000 spectators for that games. And as a kid in upstate New York watching those pictures, it was inspirational to me. And it made me realize that. The sport that I was involved in which by and large involved skiing around in the woods, that it had other elements which included a ski race in Norway that had 100, 000 spectators so I think that was very inspirational to me, and it's one of my first memories of the Olympics. [ MUSIC ] So, I grew up in a family that was big Olympic fans. My father was an Olympian. He competed in '76 and '80 in cross- country skiing. So, I thin kit makes a difference to come from a family like that because you see a role model in front of you on a day to day basis who did. And that makes it that much more real and attainable in a way. [ MUSIC ] That's great. Just chin up for me a little bit. I am so excited just to get out and Ski in Pyeongchang because I've raced in South Korea twice, and every single time it was really, really, good organization, tracks and everything were set really well. And I'm just really excited to hopefully upgrade some medals that I got from Sacheon in South Korea. [ MUSIC ] I'm most excited about the opportunities we have with US biathlon right now. We have a depth on the team that we've never had before, both on the men's and the women's side, and for the first time ever, a US biathlon team has a legitimate chance of winning a medal. 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