He’s never skied in his life, but that little detail doesn’t matter to Tonga’s Olympic flag-bearer.
You know him. Pita Taufatofua, the summer Olympian who made headlines for his shirtless and shiny entrance at the Rio de Janeiro Games.
A self-described “complete underdog,” the taekwondo competitor announced Tuesday he wants to be the first-ever male cross-country skier to represent Tonga at the 2018 Winter Games.
“I spent my whole life chasing my Olympic dream,” the 33-year-old athlete said. After not winning a medal in Rio, Taufatofua said he wants to evolve his dream into a different season.
“It’s a little bit colder,” he joked.
After bailing onto his face on a flat patch of snow, the Tongan flag-bearer said he’s not motivated by a gold medal. He just wants to inspire people.
“My goal is to let people see: if I can do it, they can do it,” he said.
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Baby Names Inspired By The Summer Olympics
Olympia(01 of15)
Meaning: “from Mount Olympus”Olympia is a historical place in Greece where the first ancient Olympic Games were held. We love that this name is rooted in the games’ history and has a strong, goddess-like feel. (credit:Marcus Mok via Getty Images)
Simone(02 of15)
Meaning: “hearkening”Simone might be the French feminine form of Simon, but it doesn’t feel like it. The name has an air of sophistication on its own and has a pretty sound. It’s also the name of first-time U.S. Olympian Simone Biles. The 19-year-old is an exceptional gymnast and is expected to win gold for the U.S. women at the 2016 Summer Olympics. If you want an even more feminine variation of this name, try Simona. (credit:Phil Noble / Reuters)
Manu(03 of15)
Meaning: “bird”We love this beautiful Hawaiian name for its subtle connection to nature. Manu also comes from professional Argentine basketball player Emanuel David “Manu” Ginóbili, who is “one of the best non-American players in basketball history,” according to Yahoo. Ginóbili plays for the San Antonio Spurs and will be competing at the 2016 Summer Olympics. (credit:Marcelo Endelli/STR via Getty Images)
Ariya(04 of15)
Meaning: “air, lioness” Ariya is the perfect moniker for parents who want a trendy, but meaningful name for their baby girl. The name is a variation of Arya, which became highly popular thanks to a character on HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Ariya also comes from summer Olympian Ariya Jutanugarn, who is the first professional golfer from Thailand to win a major championship. And did we mention she’s only 20 years old? (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Laszlo(05 of15)
Meaning: “glorious ruler”Laszlo is a Hungarian name that can also be spelt Lazlo. It comes from Laszlo Cseh, a Hungarian swimmer who is also an impressive five-time Olympic medalist. We love this name because it’s quite unique in the Western world and has a trendy “o” ending. (credit:Reuters Staff / Reuters)
Brianne(06 of15)
Meaning: “strong, virtuous and honorable”Brianne is a great Olympic name. Not only is it a variation of Brianna, which means “strong,” but it comes from Canadian athlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton, who is a track and field star. Theisen-Eaton, 27, came in 11th place in the heptathlon at the 2012 London Olympics. Since then, she’s won silver at both the 2013 and 2015 world championships, and gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. She will also compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics. (credit:Cameron Spencer via Getty Images)
Ashton(07 of15)
Meaning: “ash trees place”Thanks to Olympic champion Ashton Eaton, the name Ashton is associated with strength, endurance and victory. Eaton is a U.S. decathlete who won gold at the 2012 London games. He is also currently the decathlon world record holder. Fun fact: Eaton is married to Canadian Olympic athlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton. (credit:USA Today Sports / Reuters)
Elena(08 of15)
Meaning: “bright, shining light”This pretty name has an inspiring meaning and is the Spanish variation of Helen. While the name is short and sweet, don’t be fooled! It is also associated with strength and perseverance thanks to U.S. basketball player Elena Delle Donne (right). The 26-year-old was named Women's National Basketball Association’s MVP for 2015. This year marks her debut at the Olympics. (credit:Nathaniel S. Butler via Getty Images)
Pascal(09 of15)
Meaning: “Easter”If you want to name your baby boy after a Canadian Olympian, then Pascal is a great choice. This charming French moniker is the name of Olympic weightlifter Pascal Plamondon from Sherbrooke, Québec. In 2014, the 23-year-old won bronze in the 85 kg competition at Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games. This year, he is set to make his Olympic debut in Rio. (credit:ANDY BUCHANAN via Getty Images)
Ren(10 of15)
Meaning: “water lily, lotus”We’re loving this beautiful Japanese name for its soft sound and connection to nature. It also happens to be the name of Chinese diver Ren Qian. Last year, at just 14 years old, Qian won silver at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships. This year will be the first time she will compete in the Olympics.This moniker can also be spelt Wren, which is a bird name. (credit:Matthias Hangst via Getty Images)
Venus(11 of15)
Meaning: Roman goddess of love and beautyIf you want to name your daughter after a winner, then try Venus after Olympic gold medalist Venus Williams. The 36-year-old tennis star and her younger sister, Serena, have the most Olympic gold medals than any other tennis player. The pair won gold in doubles at the past three Olympic games in Sydney, Beijing and London. Venus is a particularly trendy moniker now as well since celestial names have become a fad among parents. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Sun(12 of15)
Meaning: “obedient”In Korean, Sun means “obedient.” While this is traditionally a girls’ name, we’re digging it for boys thanks to Chinese Olympic swimmer Sun Yang. In 2008, at the age of 17, Yang became the first Chinese male swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal. Yang also won gold at the 2012 London Olympics and is expected to compete in the games again this year in Rio de Janeiro. (credit:Michael Dalder / Reuters)
Leandro(13 of15)
Meaning: “lion man”This name has a romantic feel that we love, plus some pretty adorable nicknames such as Lee, Leo and Andro. The name comes from Leandro Barbosa (middle), a Brazilian professional basketball star who plays for the Phoenix Suns and who will compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Barbosa is nicknamed “The Brazilian Blur” in the U.S. for his speed. Another reason we love this name is that it’s cross-cultural. Leandro is the Portuguese, Italian and Spanish variation of Leander. (credit:USA Today Sports / Reuters)
Wyatt(14 of15)
Meaning: “little warrior”This strong (but adorable) name is perfect for your future Olympian. We love the quirky, cool charm of Wyatt, as well as its winning meaning. (credit:Marcus Mok via Getty Images)
Bonus: Rio(15 of15)
Meaning: “river”Since the 2016 Summer Olympics is being hosted in Rio de Janeiro this year, Rio seems like an obvious name to throw onto this list. However, we not only love this name for its direct connection to the Olympic Games, but because it's trendy for multiple reasons; it’s a unisex nature name and it’s short and sweet. (credit:Paulo Whitaker / Reuters)