Samoa Olympics Boxing Coach Passes away at Games Village

Apia, Samoa – 28 July 2024 – Samoa’s Olympics mission has been hit with sad news as Boxing Coach Lionel Fatu Elika passed away Saturday morning at the Games Village.

In a statement, the Samoa Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee (SASNOC) announced the passing “with extreme sadness”.

“Lionel was one of Samoa’s top boxing coaches and a great believer in the Olympic ideal,” said Samoa NOC President Mr Pauga Talalelei Pauga.

“Our thoughts and those of the entire Samoan sporting community are with Lionel’s family, his boxers, and friends. He will be greatly missed,” President Pauga said.

A few hours after the passing, President Pauga and Secretary General Ms Maureen Tuimalealiifano met with the Samoa delegation for a briefing and team prayer to reassure the team spirit ahead of the Opening Ceremony and competitions over the next two weeks.

Samoa is represented in Boxing at the Paris Olympics by Commonwealth silver medalist, Ato Plodzicki Faoagali.

“The Samoan NOC will not issue any further statements and requests that the privacy of Lionel’s family and the athletes are respected during this difficult time,” the SASNOC statement ended.