Rio Rii

Riilio "Rio" Rii^[1][2] (born 22 June 1994) is a Ni-Van rower.^[3] He was the flagbearer of Vanuatu at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo,^[4] earning attention for his shirtless, oiled get-up compared to Tongan fighter Pita Taufatofua.^[5] In the men's single sculls race, Rii finished 30th overall.^[6]

Rio Rii

Personal information
Full name	Riilio Rii
Born	(1994-06-22) 22 June 1994 (age 30) Port Vila, Vanuatu
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	79 kg (174 lb)
Sport
Country	Vanuatu
Sport	Rowing
Event	Men's Single Sculls

Career

He started in the sport at 19, having taken up cricket before, and has won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Rowing Championships,^[7] as well as appearing at three World Rowing Championships.^[8]

References

1. "Rowing - RII Riilio". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
2. "'Shirtless Tongan' makes Olympic history | NBC Olympics". nbcolympics.com. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
3. "Sport: Vanuatu rower Rio Rii begins training stint in Queensland". RNZ. 14 January 2020. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
4. "Rower Rillio Rio Rii to carry Vanuatu's flag at Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony". Loop Vanuatu. 9 July 2021.
5. "Vanuatu's Riilio Rii steals hearts at Tokyo Olympics as he carries country's flag". Fox News. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
6. Natoga, Anasilini. "Rower Rillio Rii on his path to Tokyo 2020". Vanuatu Daily Post. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
7. "Rio to Tokyo: Vanuatu rower's inspiring Olympic journey". RNZ. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
8. "Rillio Rii". World Rowing. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.

External links

• Rio Rii at World Rowing
• Riilio Rii at Olympics.com
• Riilio Rii at Olympedia (archive)