Coconut Oil Warmed Topless Tongan’s Flag-Bearer at Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremony

Tonga’s flag-bearer, Pita Taufatofua, led the delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the Pyeongyang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Pyeongchang Stadium on February 9, 2018, Agence France-Presse reported.  He braved bitter cold to go topless at the opening ceremony, where real-feel temperatures were down at minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 Fahrenheit). 

But while many wondered how he could march in only a traditional skirt and sandal’s without getting frostbite, the answer lies in the oil he had liberally applied to his torso.  The Tongan flag-bearer’s secret was coconut oil. Coconut oil is, apparently, a traditional Tongan remedy to ward off cold.