Samoan boxing coach dies at Paris Olympics

Field Level Media|published: Sat 27th July, 13:17 2024

Jul 22, 2024, Saint-Denis France; A general overall view of the Olympic rings at Stade de France, the site of the 2024 Paris Olympics rugby and athletics competition and the closing ceremonies. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Lionel Fatu Elika, Samoa's national boxing coach, died at the Paris Olympics, the Samoa Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee announced Saturday.

Elika, 60, died Friday at the Olympic Village. Agence France-Presse said he went into cardiac arrest.

"Lionel was one of Samoa's top boxing coaches and a great believer in the Olympic ideal," said Pauga Talalelei Pauga, the president of the Samoa organization, in a news release. "Our thoughts and those of the entire Samoan sporting community are with Lionel's family, his boxers and friends. He will be missed."

Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali is Samoa's only boxer at the Paris Olympics.

Plodzicki-Faoagali, 25, posted on Facebook that he met Elika as a 15-year-old trying out for Samoa's youth team.

"He was a kind and generous coach, not only with his time, material things, but also his knowledge," Plodzicki-Faoagali wrote. "You will be sorely missed coach ... you've left too early we haven't had our first fight at the Olympics like we planned!"

Plodzicki-Faoagali, a heavyweight, will face Victor Schelstraete of Belgium on Sunday.

--Field Level Media