The oiled Tongan flagbearer has bared all about being a professional athlete.
The taekwondo champ Pita Taufatofua shared an honest message with his 135,000 followers on instagram. He tells his fans how he bears the injuries, losing matches, financial strain and breakdown of close relationships to pursue his dream.
"Thetruth isn't glamorous, it isn't shiny.
"The truth is that I have had more injuries than I can count, that I have lost more matches than I have won, that I have gone through massive financial hardship and lost very close relationships in pursuit of the dream.
"What I pride myself in is that I do not quit, I do not stop! Challenge is my training camp.
"Do not go quietly, do not sit in that corner, do not let the World dictate what you can and cannot achieve! Today I got to walk out on the Olympic mats, the mats that I will in a few days be fighting on. What an honour, what a privilege to be here!"
