Tongan athlete changes name to underwear brand, competes in Sochi

A Tongan athlete has changed his name to that of a German underwear company in order to make the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Approached by a marketing firm in 2008, Tongan student Fuahea Semi agreed to move to Germany, changed his name to match that of German brand Bruno Banani and learn to luge.

As part of the marketing ploy, Semi reportedly agreed to pretend that his father was a coconut farmer.

He did not make the Vancouver Games in 2010, but in December 2013, he qualified for the luge event, becoming the first ever athlete from Tonga scheduled to compete in the Winter Olympic Games.

Banani will be taking part in today's Olympic luge competition.