Deadspin | 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.Deadspin | Samoan boxing coach dies at Paris Olympics

Elika, 60, died Friday at the Olympic Village. Agence France-Presse said he went into cardiac arrest.Deadspin | Samoan boxing coach dies at Paris Olympics

"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