The 2024 Olympics had it all: marriage proposals, drama, adorable newbies, athletes falling in love with food, and everything. But nothing is more beautiful than watching a weightlifter dance on stage, and for a good cause too. David Katoatau, a weightlifter from Kiribati, competed in the 2016 Olympics. With his thoughtful gesture, he captured the show and the hearts of the audience. The athlete competed in the 105 kg swimming event at the Olympics and happily showed off a few moves after each attempt. However, those dance moves had a deep meaning. Years later, videos of him dancing are still making the rounds on the internet.
In an interview with Reuters, Katoatau said: “Most people don’t know where Kiribati is. I want people to know more about us, so I use weightlifting and dancing to show the world.” The athlete mentioned that he also dances to raise awareness about a serious problem that needs to be addressed. “I wrote an open letter to the world last year to make people aware of all the homes that have been lost due to rising sea levels. I don’t know how many years it will take for it to sink,” he said.
In his letter, according to Fast Company, Katoatau highlighted his people’s problem and the need for action. He wrote, “Every day my people fear for their lives as their homes are lost to rising sea levels. We live on an atoll surrounded by nothing but flat land and sea. We have nowhere to climb and nowhere to flee. As a sporting representative of my country, I implore you to save us.” He further mentioned that without resources and help, their homes and people would be the first to perish. “I bet the countries of the world will see what happens to Kiribati. The simple truth is that we don’t have the resources to save ourselves. We will be the first to go. It will be the extinction of a race. Open your eyes and look at the other low-lying islands in the Pacific – they will soon go down with us.”
Unfortunately, his newly built house was destroyed by a cyclone in 2015, according to Mashable. When Katoatau competed in the Olympics the following year, he decided to stay true to his mission and think of home as well. In a video shared by the Olympics, Katoatau can be seen making his final attempt. Although he did not complete the attempt, he started dancing happily as he usually does after his performance. After continuing for the next few seconds with full sportsmanship, he left the race.
It was Katoatau’s dance that made the connection and drew attention to the problem of rising sea levels. Although his attempt failed and it was a great loss for him and his country, he performed his famous dance smiling and full of enthusiasm before he could leave. Although Katoatau did not take home a medal, he left everyone with a priceless feeling by marking a victory with a plea for his country. His cheerful and humble attitude is a true and inspiring definition of a sportsman.
