San Antonio resident Aki Epenisa carries Tonga’s flag at Summer Olympics’ opening ceremony

SAN ANTONIO – A few weeks ago, KSAT shared the remarkable story of Aki Epenisa, the first female Olympic boxer to represent Tonga.

During the 2024 Summer Olympics’ opening ceremony Friday in Paris, Epenisa was chosen to be a flag bearer and hold her island’s flag as she and her teammates went down the Seine River.

Before she left for Paris, Epenisa told KSAT how she was mentally preparing for the moment she would make Tongan history.

“Staying humble, staying true to my roots, staying to myself and my core values and making sure that everything that I do is with a purpose,” Epenisa said. “I need to understand I’m not just carrying myself. I’m carrying the people who have stepped in to help me. I’m carrying, you know, my island. I’m carrying a lot of people with me. This journey is just not about me.”

Epenisa will be competing in the women’s lightweight division. Her first bout will be against Vietnam’s Ha Thi Linh on Saturday morning.

More 2024 Paris Olympics-related coverage on KSAT:

• Meet the Olympic athletes with ties to San Antonio and Texas
• Tonga’s first-ever female Olympic boxer calls San Antonio home, hopes to inspire future generations
• Former UTSA hurdler Alanah Yukich’s fierce pursuit of 2024 Paris Olympics pays off
• McAllen native Shaine Casas finally makes U.S. Olympic team, Chris Guiliano’s big week continues at swim trial