Samoan boxing coach Lionel Elika Fatupaito has unexpectedly passed away at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Samoa Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee announced his death on Friday, July 26, in the Olympic athletes’ village in Saint-Denis.
Subsequent reports indicate that Fatupaito suffered a cardiac arrest on Friday morning at the age of 60.
“Lionel was one of Samoa’s top boxing coaches and a great believer in the Olympic ideal,” President of the Samoa Association, Pauga Talalelei Pauga shared in a statement. “Our thoughts and those of the entire Samoan sporting community are with Lionel’s family, his boxers, and friends. He will be greatly missed.”
Fatupaito was the coach for Samoa’s sole boxer at the Olympics, Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali.
In a heartfelt message on Facebook, the 25-year-old athlete paid tribute to his coach and friend of over ten years.
“I first met coach Lionel when I was 15 trialing for Samoa’s Youth team,” he began. “He was a kind and generous coach, not only with this time, material things, but also his knowledge.
“You will be sorely missed coach, your dream was to attend an 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, gonna miss you out there, you were the calm one and dad the storm of our corner,” Faoagali concluded.
The International Boxing Association expressed their condolences over Fatupaito’s sad passing.
“We at the International Boxing Association (IBA) extend our heartfelt condolences to family, friends, and colleagues of Lionel Elika Fatupaito, the national boxing coach of Samoa, who tragically passed away during the Paris 2024 games,” they wrote in a statement.
“Lionel’s dedication and passion for the sport have left an indelible mark on the boxing community. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations. Our thoughts and prayers are with Team Samoa and all those affected by this profound loss.”
Fatupaito is the sixth coach to die during the Olympics in recent times.
The previous tragic death of a coach occurred in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, when German canoe slalom coach and silver medalist Stefan Henze died following a car crash.