After a challenging period of frustration in her career, Lydia Ko reached the 2024 Paris Olympics. She stated that her confidence was significantly shaken before the Olympics. 

The current HSBC Women's World Champion disclosed that her late resurgence in form was triggered by a modest Top 10 finish in the Canadian Open that year.

"I didn't think that that could potentially lead to a Gold Medal a couple of weeks later," Ko stated in her press conference at Sentosa Golf Club. 

The Olympics, more than any other tournaments, have been pivotal in Ko's career. She values the experiences she's had through the Olympic cycles. 

Due to the pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics were postponed by one year. The New Zealander said this was a positive for her game, as she felt better prepared to compete in 2021.

Overcoming Career Doubts through Olympic Success

"There were moments in my career where I felt like there was really no chance, and I wasn't really sure if I was ever going to win again," Ko said.

The sheer scale of the world's largest sporting competition can inspire people to push the boundaries of their abilities.

Ko recognized the Olympics' value and aims to use them to motivate herself to reach the heights of her capabilities, and ended up bagging a Gold medal at the Paris games.

Aside from her personal accomplishments, Ko was also motivated by the achievements of others, especially Jeeno Thitikul. The sight of Thitikul winning in her own country, Thailand, was very inspiring for Ko.

Ko aims to keep the good run going, and she hopes to be once again on the right track as she embarks on her 2026 campaign.

Ko is excited for what lies ahead, especially for the chance to achieve a career Grand Slam. The U.S. Women's Open is another big goal for Ko. The seasoned golfer is also welcoming new opportunities for the game to grow, including the new WTGL.

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Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Joyita Das