Pyeongchang’s 2018 Winter Olympics just got a bit hotter: The Shirtless Tongan has returned! And yes, the flag-bearer for Tonga went topless again, despite the sub-freezing temperatures in South Korea.
Pita Taufatofua originally set the Internet ablaze during the 2016 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, when he went bare-chested ahead of his participation in the Summer Games’ taekwondo competition. Well, now he’s a cross-country skier at the cold ones — but he’s still wearing sandals.
Watch the video below.
“he has taken the shirt off” pic.twitter.com/1wpBh5j2BV
— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) February 9, 2018
Twitter sure appreciated the moment — especially considering the weather. Here are some choice reactions:
OMG!!!! #Tongan flagbearer Pita Taufatafua is once again shirtless & glistening w/coconut oil, just like in Rio when he went viral. BUT IT’S 17 DEGREES HERE. ❄️❄️❄️He’s qualified in x country skiing btw. Can’t make this stuff up. pic.twitter.com/6FyNS937P5
— melissa block (@NPRmelissablock) February 9, 2018
Shirtless Tongan bloke is back…what a rig!#OpeningCeremony #PyongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/E5ElltuR8A
— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) February 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/AlfieSpenceley/status/961935886563749888
The shirtless Tongan Olympian made the Winter Olympics too and HE IS STILL SHIRTLESS at the #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/gjyMiQcxFJ
— SB Nation (@SBNation) February 9, 2018
Shirtless Tongan is back in freezing temperatures ? #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/HDTZcC1iCi pic.twitter.com/373oYijlTJ
— Bitcoin Sportsbook ? (@SportsbookBTC) February 9, 2018
He Did It Again – Tongan Pita Taufatofua, last seen representing his country in taekwondo at the Rio Summer Games, is in Pyeongchang to compete in cross-country skiing at these Winter Olympics. He’s once again shirtless and oiled-up, despite the sub-f… https://t.co/YiMXYxXpMk
— Rob K (@Robkishere) February 9, 2018
Reward the Tongan flag bearer a GOLD for coming out shirtless at #PyongChang2018 #Minus1 #getajacket
— Chetan Arjun (@chetanarjun1) February 9, 2018
Omg. Shirtless Tongan flag bearer. Legend. #WinterOlympics #pyeongchang #2018Olympics
— Jillian Pancott (@ISojournI) February 9, 2018
I like to think that the Tongan flagbearer spends his whole life oiled up and shirtless. #TaufatofuaForever #OpeningCeremony
— f ❤️? (@pluckyloser) February 9, 2018
Tongan is out here shirtless in 26 degree weather and I’m bundled up to the gills freezing like pic.twitter.com/m57j15TWkO
— Jo Salah ?? (@MrStealYaRice) February 9, 2018
Those not live-streaming the Opening Ceremony along with us can catch it with commentary tonight at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC.