Samoa national boxing coach Lionel Erica Fatupaito has died at the Paris Olympic Village, officials announced Saturday.
Fatupaito died of cardiac arrest on Friday, just before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics, according to AFP.
Paramedics treated him but were unable to save his life, and local prosecutors said he “died of natural causes.”
“Lionel's dedication and passion for the sport left an indelible mark on the boxing world,” the International Boxing Association said in a news release. “His legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.”
Ato Prozicki Faoagali is the only Samoan athlete competing in boxing.
The 25-year-old heavyweight boxer won a gold medal at the 2023 Pacific Games and also qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.
Prozicki Faoagali said on social media that he first met Fatupaito when he was both playing for Samoa's youth boxing team.
“I first met Coach Lionel when I was 15 and on a trial with the Samoa youth team. He was a kind and generous coach, generous not only with his time, resources but also with his knowledge,” Prozicki Faoagali wrote, along with a photo of him and Fatupaito.
“Coach we will miss you so much…Rest in peace we will miss you so much. You were the calm one and Dad was the storm in our corner.”
Twenty-four athletes from the Pacific island nation will compete in Paris this summer.
