Ⓒ JoongAng Ilbo / JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version2022.01.18 18:03
“Tonga is desperate for help …”.
Pita Taufatofu, 38, the national representative of Taekwondo in Tonga, has taken a break toward his homeland, which was damaged by the volcanic eruption and tsunami. A large-scale submarine volcanic eruption occurred on the 15th in Tonga, an island country in the South Pacific with a population of 100,000. The range of volcanic ash ejected from near Ha’apai Island, 65 kilometers north of the capital Nuku’alofa, reached a diameter of 300 kilometers. Due to the volcanic ash, the site is dark like night even in the daytime. Immediately after the eruption, Tongan authorities issued a tsunami warning. A 1.2 meter high tsunami was observed in Nuku’alofa.
Fortunately, Taufatofu is staying in Adelaide, Australia and has not been directly affected. However, communication with Tonga has been cut off and there is no contact with his family. It’s a desperate situation where you don’t even know if you’re alive or dead. I managed to get in touch with Taufatofu, who was running east and west to help Tonga and his family. In a written interview with JoongAng Ilbo, Taufatofu said, “I escaped the dangerous situation, but it doesn’t matter. At this moment, my mission is only one. Let people know. ” He said, “Keep an eye on Tonga, which has been in trouble even in South Korea and other Asian countries.”
Taufatofu is the most famous Tongan in the world who has stepped on the stage of the Olympics for three tournaments in winter and summer. At the 2016 Rio Games, which was the first Olympics, he appeared as a flagman at the opening ceremony wearing the traditional Tongan costume “Tupenu” that revealed his upper body and became a celebrity. He was 190 centimeters tall and weighed 90 kilograms, boasting a muscular style with a solid physique and coconut oil. It became a hot topic among Korean fans as “Tongan’s muscular man” and overseas as “Tongan people who took off their jackets”. At the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, he took off his jacket and appeared at the opening ceremony even in the severe cold of 8 degrees below freezing.
In Pyeongchang, he participated in the cross-country men’s 15km free race instead of Taekwondo, and remained in 114th place out of 116 people. At that time, he left the words “Do your best to the end and never give up” in an interview with JoongAng Ilbo, and it became a hot topic as an “icon of hope”. He also participated in the Tokyo Games in Taekwondo, exposing his upper body again without disappointing, and was selected as one of the 11 main scenes of the opening ceremony of the British Guardian. The British Daily Mail said, “The amount of oil Taufatofu applied to his body was too much to fry fried chicken.”
He decided not to give up, as he did in sports. Taufatofu is using his name to help his country in crisis. He started a fundraising campaign through Instagram. This is to rebuild the heavily damaged hospitals and infrastructure in Tonga. Up to now, 180,000 dollars (about 20 million yen) have been raised. The first relief supplies support began three days after he took off his skin.
On the 18th, UNICEF and the Australian government decided to send drinking water and daily necessities to Tonga. Taufatofu said, “I have received a lot of support and encouragement in the process of preparing and participating in the Olympics. I need your help again.” “I’m okay to participate in the fundraising, but I’m grateful for any form of support,” he said.
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