The entire country was excited to be selected to attend the upcoming 2024 Olympics but, unfortunately, Samoan boxing coach Lionel Elika Fatupaito died in the Paris Olympics village on the day of the opening ceremony. He had a cardiac arrest at the age of 60, and the incident caused his demise. Even though they tried their best to rescue him with the help of a professionally trained emergency service, which reached the scene in record time, it was to no avail. The local prosecutor said that Fatupaito’s death was natural, with no signs of foul play.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) stated that it was shocked by the demise of Fatupaito and commiserated with the deceased’s family, friends, and everyone who worked with him. The organization also complimented Fatupaito for his love and devotion to boxing, saying that through his input, he has created a mark within the sport. In a statement, the IBA was able to capture how their dedication to pool will not cease as he inspires future generations.
A Legacy to be Remembered
Lionel Elika Fatupaito would have loved to participate in the fights today (Saturday) that mark the opening of the Olympic boxing events. His mark, though, will remain indelible as a sign of his accomplishment and responsibility to the boxing fraternity. There is no doubt that, by extending a helping hand during these challenging times, Fatupaito has shown how much he touched the lives of people in the sporting world.
After the mishap in Paris, there was a boxing competition that took place during the Olympic events, with the athletes and fans paying tribute to Lionel Elika Fatupaito.
The beginning of the boxing tournament also symbolizes the beginning of highly competitive fighting and the desire of the athletes involved. On a positive note on the day, the host nation, the French team, succeeded in booking its place in the rugby sevens finals. The French team, which arguably has no peer in the world in terms of creativity, came from behind to pull off the great upset.
Samoan NOC Reacts to Coach’s Passing
Samoan National Olympic Committee has also released a statement addressing the incident. The NOC conveyed a deep sense of loss and asked that the family of Lionel Elika Fatupaito be left alone to mourn, as well as the athletes, who must also be dealing with such a loss. It highlighted how it is necessary to recognize the distance and grieving of the close ones of individuals in this tragedy.
Like in previous games, boxing is still the only sporting discipline that Samoa has to offer at the Olympics, this time in the form of heavyweight Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali, who will advance to the quarterfinals of his event. Plodzicki-Faoagali is the only boxer from the small island country who will be sporting his country’s colors in the Paris Games, having qualified for the heavyweight category of the sport.
The 25-year-old is the highest-ranked boxer in his class and will fight with Belgian boxer Victor Schelstraete in the round of 32 on Sunday. The match is close, people are looking forward to the match result, and Plodzicki-Faoagali pays tribute to Fatupaito by performing in the ring. The further games will make an eternal reference to the legacy of the great Fatupaito and the spirit of hard work and devotion to the sport that he had inspired in his athletes.
The opening ceremony and other subsequent events have called for the continuous legacy of Fatupaito’s work, which will continue to be commemorated during the Olympic Games.
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