RIO DE JANEIRO -- Tonga is mostly an overlooked country at the Olympics, with a rather small delegation and just one medal in its entire history, a silver back in 1996.
But it provided perhaps the most memorable moment of the Parade of Nations on Friday when its flag-bearer came out bare-chested and dressed in nothing but a ta’ovala (Tongan mat) wrapped around his waist and copious amounts of oil on his torso.
Who is the mystery man?
It’s Pita Nikolas Taufatofua, who qualified for the Olympics through the Oceania Takwondo qualification tournament in April. The 32-year old had fallen short in his two previous attempts to make the Olympics.