From: NewNowNext
Out Tongan swimmer Amini Fonua spread cheer around the Olympic Village in Rio yesterday, handing out ice cream to the volunteers who’ve worked so tirelessly to keep things running there.
“This is how we do in Tonga, show our appreciation to the workers with ice cream,” he said, handing an ice cream bar over to a volunteer maintaining the tennis courts.
Said Fonua: “We love you Brazil, we love the volunteers. Thank you for all the hard work you’re doing; some of us appreciate what you do for us. So we give you ice cream— the easiest way to make friends is with ice cream.”
Walking away in search of another volunteer, Fonua added: “It’s hot, and he needed an ice cream. And a thank you.”
Fonua is one of the bravest athletes competing at the Olympics in 2016, representing Tonga even though homosexuality is illegal and punishable by up to ten years in prison there.
He first made headlines in 2013 when he came out as gay at conservative Texas A&M University, and again last week when he publicly condemned the Daily Beast’s infamous Olympic Grindr article, which was taken down after critics — including Fonua — pointed out that it potentially outed closeted LGBT athletes from homophobic countries.
He’s also a pretty incredible Instagrammer. Check out more of his finest work below:
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