2024 Olympics: Lydia Ko punches HOF ticket after spectacular gold victory

Lydia Ko couldn’t maintain again her tears of pleasure as she sank her birdie putt on the 18th gap on Saturday at Le Golf Nationwide in Paris, France. That birdie secured her the Gold Medal in ladies’s golf on the 2024 Olympics.

Ko now has a bronze medal from the 2021 Tokyo Video games, a silver medal from the 2016 Rio Video games, and a gold medal from the 2024 Paris Video games.

“That’s why I deleted my Instagram. I didn’t need to be fazed by what different individuals had been saying and revel in this chance as a result of this expertise has been unbelievable, and the followers have been nice,” Ko stated. “It’s a life peak for me right here. I don’t assume I’ve skilled this adrenaline earlier than, and to do it right here, it actually can’t get any higher.”

She is the primary male or feminine golfer to win three medals within the trendy Video games.

On Saturday, the 27-year-old carded a 1-under 71 to submit a 10-under total and win by two strokes.

She got here into Saturday tied for the lead with Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux and defined how a youthful model of herself wouldn’t have been as regular.

“I feel after I was youthful, I might have been, ‘Oh, man, everyone seems to be attempting to catch me.’ So get nearly extra stress from that,” Ko stated. “I attempted to consider, ‘Hey, I get two free pictures over a few of the different gamers, and you already know, they don’t come free of charge.’ I wished to have that as a cushion but additionally concentrate on my recreation.”

The 20-time LPGA winner stayed targeted and accomplished her objective.

Photograph by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP by way of Getty Photos

“It’s one of many issues I’m most pleased with. I caught to my recreation plan and caught to being aggressive off the tee,” she stated. “That’s one thing I’ve been combating and been working arduous on with my coaches. For it to progressively get higher these previous couple of months and hit its peak right here on the Olympics, it doesn’t get higher than this. To be holding and carrying this Gold Medal, it’s fairly loopy proper now.”

Ko began her day with a bogey on the opening gap however shortly recovered with a birdie on the third and seventh.

Together with her third birdie of the day, she prolonged her result in 4 pictures at No. 9.

A double bogey on the par-4 thirteenth introduced the result in three.

Ko made 4 straight pars to get to the 18th gap and ultimately made a seven-footer for birdie to win by two pictures.

After her putt dropped, the gang went wild for Ko. She turned emotional because it all started to sink in for her.

It felt sort of like destiny and her personal Cinderella story.

“Cinderella’s glass slippers are see-through, and my podium sneakers are additionally see-through,” she famous. “I really feel like I’m a part of this story story. Going into this week, everybody was saying, ‘Oh, what if you happen to end and gather all of the Gold on prime of the Silver and Bronze you’ve.’ After all, I need to try this and full it, too, however it’s a lot simpler stated than performed.”

Becoming a member of her on the rostrum was Germany’s Esther Henseliet for Silver and China’s Xiyu Lin, who received the Bronze.

Photograph by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP by way of Getty Photos

Her efficiency additionally gave her the ultimate level to enter the LPGA Corridor of Fame.

To realize this honor, a participant should earn 27 factors via LPGA wins, majors, Olympic medals, the Vare Trophy and Participant of the 12 months awards.

Ko received the Hilton Grand Holidays Match of Champions in January, giving her 26 factors.

“To win the primary occasion of the yr at my house membership at Lake Nona took the stress off, and I knew that if I labored on the appropriate issues, one match may occur at any level,” she famous. “Did I think about that I used to be going to do it on the Paris Olympics? In all probability not. However that is the best method to do it.”

Now, she is the thirty fifth LPGA Corridor of Fame member and the youngest underneath the present standards. Ko turned the primary New Zealand golfer within the Corridor of Fame and is the newest lively participant to get the factors. Inbee Park was the final to take action in 2016.

After Ko watched Simone Biles’ documentary Thursday evening, she selected one of many gymnast’s quotes, “I get to write down my very own ending.”

Ko wrote the proper mantra in her yardage e book and ultimately accomplished her Olympic trifecta.

Typically, all one wants is just a little confidence and a Simone Biles quote to get the job performed—for Ko, this resulted in a Gold medal and a Corridor of Fame spot.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. For extra golf protection, comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. It’s also possible to comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.