When Pita Taufatofua began the walk towards the stadium at the 2016 Rio Olympics opening ceremony, he was an unknown, unrated athlete from an obscure Pacific island.
He would walk back out a global celebrity. Had it not been for a vat of coconut oil and his flair for flag bearing, he could have passed through the Olympic Games unnoticed and unreported.
In this conversation, Pita gives us the best BTS description of what happened that night at the opening ceremony, that changes his life in an exponential way.
This is also like a TED talk. I felt incredibly inspired listening to pita share his approach to working out, creating discipline and really - his ability to be fearless.
Pita is a Tongan athlete in taekwondo and cross-country skiing. Three time Summer/Winter Olympian, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the Pacific and Team SamsungGalaxy athlete who lives in Brisbane, Australia.
He is also the founder of TongaStrong and has a passion in helping provide opportunities for the youth of the Pacific.
Leanne recorded this conversation with Pita for Leanne Hughes' Work and Live Large podcast: https://podcast.leannehughes.com
