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The flag-bearer who represented Tonga at the 2016 Summer Olympics, 2018 Winter Olympics, and 2020 Summer Olympics has raised more than $340,000 in relief funds for the country to recover from a recent tsunami and volcanic eruption.
The small island nation of Tonga lost most of its communication with the rest of the world on January 15, 2022, after a devastating tsunami hit its islands following an enormous volcanic eruption.
Olympian Pita Taufatofua, who rose to international prominence for baring his chest, slathering himself with oil, and wearing traditional Tongan dress for three Olympic opening ceremonies, created the fundraiser through GoFundMe on the same day the disasters hit.
In a description on the fundraising page, Taufatofua wrote that while there was only a "trickle of information" coming out of the country, "inevitably there will be a catastrophic financial cost to our little country."
There have been at least three deaths in connection to the Tongan tsunami and volcanic eruption so far. The tsunami destroyed all of the homes on one of its islands, as well.
Taufatofua, who is currently training in Australia, wrote that the initial priority for the money brought in by the fundraiser would be for "those most in need, infrastructure and damage to schools, hospitals etc."
The athlete's father is also the governor of Ha'apai, a group of islands in Tonga.
Taufatofua wrote in an Instagram post that his family living in Ha'apai are safe, though he has not heard anything from his father or his family on the island of Kotu.
The flag bearer has continued to share updates on the state of the island nation on his GoFundMe and Instagram, including when new deaths are reported or missing people are located.
Taufatofua is currently training in Australia. He represented Tonga in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics as a taekwondo athlete and in 2018 as a cross-country skier.
