A Short History: 4 Shirtless Olympic Flag Bearers to Know

There are so many reasons to watch the Olympics: it represents the coming together of so many countries; it allows the best of the best to do what they do on a global stage; for some it spurs national pride. Well, and it gives people a new group of individuals to thirst after.

Though the Olympics has always had the ability to get the saliva glands going, this was seemingly brought to new heights in 2016 when Pita Taufatofua, a flag bearer for Tonga, entered the Opening Ceremony. He went viral for that Rio de Janeiro appearance, not for his taekwondo abilities, but for wrapping a traditional Tongan taʻovala around his waist and oiling up. He repeated the stunt for the 2018 Winter Olympics as well where he competed in cross-country skiing.

But he isn't the only one. Throughout the past few years, we've spotted three other shirtless flag bearers at the ceremonies for the Olympics. Check out all their appearances below. 

Josateki Naulu for Fiji at the 2012 London Olympics

Pita Taufatofua for Tonga at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Pita Taufatofua for Tonga at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics

Pita Taufatofua for Tonga at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Riilio Rii for Vanuatu at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Nathan Crumpton for American Samoa at 2022 Beijing Olympics