Samoa’s boxing hopes were dashed at the Olympic Games in Paris as Tupuola Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali lost to Belgium’s Victor Schelstraete.

The judges score the 92-kilogram weight category fight 5-0 to the Belgian. Schelstraete is an experienced fighter. He competed at the 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championships, being awarded the bronze medal in the cruiserweight event.

Ato said it had been a tough week and mentally stressful. His coach Lionel Elika Fatupaito reportedly passed away on Friday morning in the Olympic Village ahead of the Opening Ceremony.

“Losing my friend and national coach, arriving so late to acclimatise, and mentally it took its toll. As much as I wanted to pull out of the games, I did not want to let Samoa, coach, sponsors and family down,” he said.

“Samoa, I gave it what I could honestly, it wasn’t my best, but fought my heart out for you! Alofa atu & Faafetai for all your love and support for me and most importantly showing your love to coach Lionel. Thinking of you coach, wish you were here in the corner today.”

According to Reuters, Schelstraete, who spoke to Plodzicki-Faoagali before and after the fight and held up his opponent's arm in the ring, said the Samoan had displayed great spirit just by showing up.

"Big respect to him. He's got a big heart. He honoured his coach by fighting," Schelstraete said.

"These coaches, they're very selfless. They put in all their work for us to get here, and for him to not be here to experience that moment, it's very sad."

Asked if it was hard to fight in the bout, Schelstraete said: "I had to put that aside. Because I felt genuinely sorry for him. But you have to put the emotions aside."