Samoan Boxer Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali Fights Through Grief at Paris Olympics

Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali entered the ring this past week burdened by the recent loss of his longtime coach, Elika Fatupaito. The Pacific Games champion faced Belgium’s Victor Schelstraete in his first Olympic match, which ended in a challenging defeat that left him with visible injuries, including a black eye. Following the bout, Plodzicki-Faoagali took to Instagram to express his emotional struggle, stating, “Samoa, I gave it what I could honestly, it wasn’t my best, but fought my heart out for you!” Despite contemplating withdrawing from the Olympics, Plodzicki-Faoagali chose to honor his coach’s memory by competing. He dedicated his fight to his family, Samoa, and the legacy of Fatupaito, who had nurtured his boxing career. In a heartfelt message, he lamented, “Thinking of you coach, wish you were here in the corner today.” The International Boxing Association acknowledged Fatupaito’s impact on the sport, offering condolences and highlighting his lasting influence on the boxing community. In a poignant memorial post on Facebook, Plodzicki-Faoagali reflected on his coach’s dreams of attending the Olympics with him, expressing deep sorrow over the loss. “You will be sorely missed coach, your dream was to attend an Olympics with me and dad,” he wrote. After the match, Schelstraete praised Plodzicki-Faoagali’s determination, stating that he “honored his coach by fighting,” underscoring the emotional weight of the occasion.