Off The Record
Lionel Elika Fatupaito, A 60-Year-Old Samoan Boxing Coach, Dies In Olympic Village Hours Before The Opening Ceremony
Lionel Elika Fatupaito, the national boxing coach of Samoa, passed away at the age of sixty, leaving the Olympic world in sadness.
Shortly before the Paris opening ceremony on Friday, at around 10:20 a.m. local time, Fatupaito became ill in his room.
He was with an athlete when he experienced the unexpected medical emergency.
Despite the efforts of emergency responders, he was declared dead at the scene from natural causes.
The event is being looked into by the judicial police of Seine-Saint-Denis.
He was in Paris to assist with the coaching of Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali, an Olympic boxer representing Samoa who was born in Sydney.
With their final picture together, the athlete said, “No words can express how I feel but rest in love, coach Lionel, referring to Fatupaito as Grand Master.”
Plodzicki-Faoagali, who also receives instruction from his father, will launch his campaign and fight through the sadness on Sunday night (Monday AEST).
“I first met coach Lionel when I was 15 and trialing for Samoa’s youth team,” he said.
“He was a kind and generous coach, not only with his time, material things, but also his knowledge. You will be sorely missed, coach.”
“Your dream was to attend the Olympics with me and dad, now you’ve left too early. We haven’t had our first fight at the Olympics like we planned!”
“Rest well, old man, I’m going to miss you out there, you were the calm one and dad the storm of our corner.”
Pauga Talalelei Pauga, President of the Samoan Olympic Committee, honored Fatupaito.
He remarked, “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.”
With “heartfelt condolences,” the International Boxing Association expressed their feelings.
“Lionel’s dedication and passion for the sport have left an indelible mark on the boxing community,” the IBA said.
Future generations will continue to draw inspiration from his legacy.
“Team Samoa and everyone impacted by this deep loss are in our thoughts and prayers.”
Samoan Marist Boxing expressed that it was “heartbroken and speechless” to learn of Fatupaito’s passing.
“A cherished friend, father, brother, and coach, his legacy will live on. Our heartfelt condolences to his family,” the club wrote.
“Fly high, Coach Lionel. Your profound impact on Marist and Samoa boxing will forever be remembered. You will be deeply missed.”
Three years earlier, Plodzicki-Faoagali made his Tokyo debut, but he was hurt in his one and only match.
He won two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games in the light heavyweight division in Gold Coast in 2018 and then advanced to the heavyweight division in Birmingham in 2022.
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