Samoa Boxing Coach Passes Away at 2024 Paris Olympics Village
The Samoan sporting community has suffered a tragic loss at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Lionel Fatu Elika, the country’s national boxing coach, passed away in the athletes’ Olympic Village on July 26, the first day of the Games. He was 60 years old.
The coach, who was working with Samoa’s sole 2024 Olympic boxer, heavyweight Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali, tragically died just hours before the 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, and officials met with Samoa’s delegation—comprised of 24 athletes—to provide assurance ahead of the Opening Ceremony and competitions in the following two weeks.
The International Olympic Committee stated on July 27 that Lionel died of natural causes and extended their condolences to the entire Samoan NOC, his family, and friends, as reported by the Associated Press.
Following the news of Lionel’s passing, also known as Lionel Elika Fatupaito, Ato paid tribute to his coach.