Tonga’s flag-bearer now chasing Winter Games dream

Pita Taufatofua — the man who broke the internet as the bare-chested, greased-up Tongan flag-bearer at the Rio Olympics — is pulling a Cool Runnings.

Having competed in the Summer Games, the taekwondo competitor is aiming to become the tropical islands’ first male cross-country skier at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

But with the South Pacific islands’ highest peak at just 1000m and the humid, wet climate not known for producing much snow, the athlete will have to look elsewhere for a training ground . . . and warm-weather clothing.

But those are minor obstacle considering that until last week Taufatofua had never set foot on snow or strapped on a pair of skis.

But what the 33-year-old lacks in skill he certainly makes up for in ambition.

He told Channel 7's Sunrise this week that he had wanted to be an Olympian since he was a kid.

“Ever since I was 12 the dream was to become an Olympian but to also get Tonga’s first gold medal,” he said.

“This is just getting started for us and I’m very excited.”

Footage of Taufatofua hitting the slopes emerged this week, and while many will no doubt applaud his unflinching desire to get to the Winter Games, the early signs are not promising, with him slipping and sliding his way along even the flattest of alpine terrain.

But he has time on his side.

“That was my first time ever to put on skis (last week) and I thought I did very well,” he said.

“I’ve been on skis for three or four minutes and was sort of half running so give me three or four days I’m sure I’ll be doing a lot better than that.

“I’ve got one year to qualify. I’ve got to get under 300 points. The further I am from the winners the higher my points are, so my goal is to get as little points as possible within a year and that’ll get me a position at the Winter Olympics.”

And his efforts hold a subtle message for us all about chasing your dreams.

“I’ve been an athlete my whole life,”he said. “I’m excited to go and give it a shot.

“It’s very import for me to try to do something which is completely out of my comfort zone. I think there’s so many people out there who need to be doing something similar, to be challenging themselves.

“I’m putting myself out there. I believe I can do it., I just want other people to come and enjoy the journey with us.”