Tonga’s Shirtless, Oiled-Up Flag-Bearer is Still the Best Thing About the Olympics

It’s -2 degrees in PeoyongChang, but Tonga’s Pita Taufatofua is HOT. Steamy hot. So hot, in fact, he’s sweating.

You probably remember Taufatofua from a few years back, when he shot to international fame as he walked shirtless and oiled-up into the opening ceremony of the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. In 2016, Taufatofua competed in taekwondo. Now, he’s qualified for the Winter Games in cross-country skiing — and don’t worry, he’s still bare-chested.

Please note: everyone else who marched in Friday’s Opening Ceremony was wearing boots, jackets and winter-weather accessories. But Taufatofua assures us he won’t catch frost bite: “I won’t freeze. I am from Tonga. We sailed across the Pacific. This is nothing,” he was quoted as saying by the Olympic news service. “It’s a little bit warmer being in Rio than in here…but anytime you get to represent your country is a good time.”

Taufatofua wasn’t the only pro-athlete who forgot to check his weather app this morning. Behold Bermuda’s winter Olympic team in all its bare-calf glory.

Hey, at least they’re wearing scarves, jackets and gloves — right? Though, based on their facial expressions and rose-coloured noses, these added accessories don’t seem to be keeping them very warm. Taufatofua on the other hand…

Taufatofua’s presence at the PeoyongChang 2018 Winter Olympics might confuse some spectators. Since, you know, it doesn’t snow in the tropical south Pacific island nation of Tonga, and Taufatofua only took up cross-country skiing last year. But whatever, we’re just glad he made it! The Olympics wouldn’t be the same without a little shirtless Tongan shine.

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