AMERICAN Samoa flag-bearer Nathan Crumpton added to a fledgling Olympic tradition by appearing shirtless – with a gleaming torso – despite sub-zero temperatures at the Winter Games opening ceremony in Beijing, China, yesterday.

The skeleton racer took his turn in the athletes’ parade as the sole competitor from the United States territory, wearing only the skirt-like traditional lavalava and sandals.

Crumpton, 36, follows in the footsteps of oiled-up Tongan Olympian Pita Taufatofua, who started the chilly trend.

Despite the mercury falling well below freezing at the “Bird’s Nest” stadium in Beijing, Crumpton appeared unfazed. He was flanked by cheering volunteers decked in thick puffer jackets and gloves.

Taufatofua’s first bare-chested appearance at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Brazil, won him global fans with Tongan media calling him “the hottest man today in a town that is known for its appreciation of the beautiful body”.

Taufatofua, who did taekwondo in Rio, repeated his feat at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, after he qualified as a cross-country skier.

His toned torso was challenged at the Tokyo Games opening ceremony last year by a rival topless parader from Vanuatu, Riilio Rii.

Taufatofua is sitting out this Winter Games, but gives Crumpton his support from afar yesterday, tweeting a photo of the athlete at the ceremony with the caption: “American Samoa holding the fort”. – AFP, February 5, 2022.