Samoa boxing coach Lionel Elika Fatupaito died on Saturday at the age of 60 after suffering a heart attack in the Olympic Village, where the delegations for the 2024 Games in Paris are based, the Bobigny prosecutor’s office said.
According to a French police source, the coach was in his room with the athlete when he felt ill at 9:20 a.m. (Lisbon time) in Seine-Saint-Denis.
Despite quick assistance from firefighters and local emergency services, Lionel Elika Fatupaito died of “natural causes,” the state ministry said.
“Lionel’s passion and dedication to the sport left an indelible mark on the boxing community. His legacy will continue to inspire generations to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Samoan team and all those affected by this profound loss,” the International Boxing Association (IBA) wrote on its official website.