The Samoan sporting community has suffered a tragic loss at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Lionel Fatu Elika, the country’s national boxing coach, died in the athletes’ Olympic Village July 26, the first day of the Games. He was 60 years old.
The coach, who was working with Samoa’s lone 2024 Olympic boxer, heavyweight Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali, died hours before that evening’s Opening Ceremony.
“Elika passed away this morning, local Paris time, in the Games Village,” the Samoa Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee said in a statement, adding that officials met with Samoa’s delegation—made up of 24 athletes—”to reassure them ahead of the Opening Ceremony today and competitions over the next two weeks.”
The International Olympic Committee said in a statement July 27 that Lionel died of natural causes and expressed “its condolences to the entire Samoan NOC, his family and friends,” the Associated Press reported.
Following news of the death of Lionel, also known as Lionel Elika Fatupaito, Ato shared a tribute to his coach.
