Samoan Boxing Coach Lionel Elika Fatupaito Passes Away at Paris 2024 Olympic Village

The Olympic community is in mourning following the untimely death of Samoan national boxing coach, Lionel Elika Fatupaito, who passed away on Friday morning at the Olympic Village in Paris. Lionel, aged 60, suffered a cardiac arrest mere hours before the grand Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Games.

This somber event has cast a shadow over the Samoan delegation and the boxing fraternity at large. As an experienced coach, Fatupaito’s presence at the Games was vital, particularly for Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali, the sole boxer representing Samoa. Plodzicki-Faoagali, who is set to compete in the 92-kilogram category, will now contend with the emotional challenge of entering the ring without his mentor.

The International Boxing Association (IBA) released a heartfelt statement expressing their deepest condolences to Lionel Elika Fatupaito's family, friends, and colleagues. Acknowledging his passionate contribution to the sport, the IBA emphasized Lionel’s influence on boxing and its enduring legacy that will motivate athletes for years to come. His death has left a profound impact on all who knew him, including the young boxer he traveled to France to support.

The Paris 2024 organizing committee also expressed their sorrow, extending sympathies to Lionel's grieving family and the entire Samoan delegation. The loss of such a prominent figure has indeed resonated deeply with the Olympic family, and his memory will be honored throughout the course of the Paris Games.

As Team Samoa grapples with this loss, the unity and strength of the Olympic spirit are expected to provide some comfort. The focus also turns to ensuring the well-being of Lionel's charge, Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali, as he prepares to honor his late coach through his performance in the ring, which presents an emotional but defining moment for the young athlete.

The global sports community joins in remembrance of a coach who was much more than a cornerman; he was a teacher, a mentor, and a beacon of guidance that will be profoundly missed.