Tonga’s glistening flag bearer Pita Taufatofua returns to Olympics

There’s no masking those oiled-up muscles.

Tongan flag bearer Pita Taufatofua set pulses racing yet again Friday as he returned shirtless and slathered in oil for his third Olympics — this time with some competition.

The 37-year-old martial artist — who first went viral in Rio in 2016 before a repeat performance in South Korea for the 2018 Winter Games — once again led the way for his Polynesian nation at the parade of nations.

While forced to wear a mask, there was no mistaking the taekwondo black belt’s ripped torso as he again glistened in the ceremony lights while walking beside co-flag bearer Malia Paseka.

“It’s time,” Taufatofua had tweeted hours before the ceremony alongside a photo of him shirtless but oil-free. “You don’t wanna miss it,” teased the martial artist, who is also an engineer and UNICEF Ambassador.

Pita Taufatofua (right) first went viral with his glistening physique at the Rio Olympics in 2016.HANNAH MCKAY/AFP via Getty Images

“It’s not an Olympics opening ceremony without an oiled-up man from Tonga!” one of many admirers tweeted as Taufatofua once again set pulses racing ahead of his latest attempt to medal.

Australian commentator Bruce McAvaney joked that the black belt had become “the Usain Bolt of flag bearers,” while another admirer noted how he had made “shirtless and oiled for the gods” a signature look.

He soon had some unexpected competition, however — with the flag bearer from Vanuatu, rower Rillio Rii, coming out soon after him sporting an almost identical look of rippling oiled-up muscles.

Vanuatu flag bearer Riilio Rii leads the team out during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Games.PA Images via Getty ImagesVanuatu rower Rillio Rii provided some unexpected competition for Pita Taufatofua.AFP via Getty Images

“*Tonga goes viral at #Olympics* Vanuatu: ‘hold my flag…'” one person tweeted of the 27-year-old Rii, who is competing in the men’s single sculls for the fellow Pacific Island.

While Taufatofua is returning to compete in taekwondo, he had tried to make Tonga’s sprint kayaking team with a goal to compete in three different events at three games, having skied in the Winter Olympics.

Despite being an outsider for making it to the podium, many admirers insisted that he had already scored a victory with his return as a flag bearer.

Pita Taufatofua first garnered international attention as Tonga’s flag bearer at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. PEDRO UGARTE/AFP via Getty Images

“***BREAKING*** TONGA HAS WON THE OLYMPICS. We can all go home now,” one admirer tweeted alongside a photo.