Lionel Elika Fatupaito dead at 60: Samoa boxing coach passes away after suffering cardiac arrest in Olympic village
SAMOA boxing coach Lionel Elika Fatupaito has died after suffering a cardiac arrest in the Olympic village.
He sadly passed away at the age of 60 on Friday morning.
The Samoan Olympic committee confirmed the devastating news in a statement.
Committee president Pauga Talalelei Pauga said: “Lionel was one of Samoa’s top boxing coaches and a great believer in the Olympic ideal.
“Our thoughts and those of the entire Samoan sporting community are with Lionel’s family, his boxers and friends. He will be greatly missed.”
Athletes paid their respects and remembered Elika with a team prayer ahead of the opening ceremony.
The statement added: “The Samoan NOC will not issue any further statements and requests that the privacy of Lionel’s family and the athletes are respected during this difficult time.”
Samoa have entered one boxer at the Paris Olympics, with Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali competing in the men’s heavyweight event.
The 25-year-old is the top seed in the 92kg weight class, which begins on Sunday.
He will face Belgium’s Victor Schelstraete in the round of 16 as he eyes a medal.
Plodzicki-Faoagali is a two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist and is the reigning Pacific Games champion.
In total, 24 athletes will represent Samoa across nine sports in the French capital.
The Olympics officially got underway on Friday with the opening ceremony.