Rio Rii
Personal information
Full nameRiilio Rii
NationalityVanuatu
Born (1994-06-22) 22 June 1994
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Height1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight79 kg (174 lb)
Sport
Country Vanuatu
SportRowing
EventMen'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]

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.


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