Rio Rii Explained

Rio Rii
Full Name:Riilio Rii
Birth Date:22 June 1994
Birth Place:Port Vila, Vanuatu
Height:1.76 m
Weight:79 kg
Sport:Rowing
Event:Men's Single Sculls

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]

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rowing - RII Riilio . dead . 2021-09-04 . Tokyo 2020 Olympics . . en-us . https://web.archive.org/web/20210728175543/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/rowing/athlete-profile-n1303492-rii-riilio.htm . 28 July 2021.
  2. Web site: 'Shirtless Tongan' makes Olympic history | NBC Olympics . 2021-09-04 . nbcolympics.com . en . 28 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210728134432/https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/shirtless-tongan-makes-olympic-history . live.
  3. Web site: Sport: Vanuatu rower Rio Rii begins training stint in Queensland . 14 January 2020 . RNZ . 19 July 2021 . 4 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210804100839/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/407262/sport-vanuatu-rower-rio-rii-begins-training-stint-in-queensland . live.
  4. Web site: Rower Rillio Rio Rii to carry Vanuatu’s flag at Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony . 9 July 2021 . Loop Vanuatu.
  5. Web site: Vanuatu’s Riilio Rii steals hearts at Tokyo Olympics as he carries country's flag . Fox News . 9 August 2021 . 9 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210809050000/https://www.foxnews.com/sports/vanuatu-riilio-rii-tokyo-olympics-flag . live.
  6. Web site: Rower Rillio Rii on his path to Tokyo 2020 . Anasilini . Natoga . Vanuatu Daily Post . 19 July 2021 . 29 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210629031105/https://dailypost.vu/vanuatu_sports/rower-rillio-rii-on-his-path-to-tokyo-2020/article_9e4e3e46-3b0d-11ea-8c71-7fe52c2b476d.html . live.
  7. Web site: Rio to Tokyo: Vanuatu rower's inspiring Olympic journey . RNZ . 9 August 2021 . 9 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210809050005/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/programmes/champions-of-the-pacific/audio/2018805687/rio-to-tokyo-vanuatu-rower-s-inspiring-olympic-journey . live.
  8. Web site: Rillio Rii . World Rowing . 9 August 2021 . 9 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210809045958/https://worldrowing.com/athlete/1fa293ff-2b31-44d5-a01c-5dfd91d2f2ab . dead.