Best of 2024: Lydia Ko on the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Published Dec 26, 2024, 3:11 AM

'Mixed emotions': Lydia Ko claims gold at the Paris Olympics, qualifies for LPGA Hall of Fame 

Lydia Ko has won gold in the women's golf competition at Le Golf National, simultaneously securing entry into the LPGA's Hall of Fame.

The Kiwi's fired a one-under par 71 - sinking a birdie on the 18th - to finish at 10-under overall for a two-shot win. 

She describes feeling 'emotional' as she sunk her final shot. 

"All emotions kinda came on me - it's not just the emotions from the day or the event, but everything that has happened."

LISTEN ABOVE

You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin from News Talks EDB.

It was a golden night for the Kiwis in Paris.

She's half a boat length ahead of cheapersh She's got the race face on the red Sonnies. It's Carrington Carrington coming down to the line. It is gonna be gold for New Zealand's Lisa Carrington. Co pots through and it's down.

A golden glow for Lydia Combe.

Weeks and years of training, Homer's curve for the gold medal, Kiwi's can fly and Hemusker Scales his everest and his high jump Olympic champion.

Yeah, they still put us through the ringer with the high jump this morning, didn't They add incredible three gold medals, the most ever by News by New Zealand and a single day at the Olympics, taking us to nine gold a total eighteen medals. Only too shy at our best ever medal hall in Tokyo so far for Lydia Co. This completes a trio of Olympic medals with silver and rio and bronze and Tokyo Women's gold, Women's golf gold medalist, Lydia co joins me from a cast somewhere on the streets of Paris. Congratulations, Lydia, how are you feeling?

Uh?

You know, super, I think just like mixed emotions. Uh no, I'm very excited and at the same time like a Siah relief that it's all done. But yeah, it's been an unbelievable week and to be able to come off with a gold medal, it really couldn't have been any better.

What was going through your mind when you sunk that final part?

I think just all emotions kind of came on me. I you know, it's not just the emotions from the day or the event, but like everything that has happened, and it just came down, and you know a lot of people like came to my mind as well. They aren't here with me, but yeah, it's just uh a lot of excitement and I think, you know, I was tearing up going to the green, but I wanted to make sure that I still focus and got the job done. And yeah, when when that finally went in, it was it just kind of everything went straight came straight to me.

And I'm sure that there were a lot of New Zealanders tearing up with you as well when you were on the diist receiving that gold. How much does it mean to you?

Oh yeah, it means a lot. There were quite a lot of Kiwis that were, you know, coming out with our flag and then the flag with the silver fern as well. So to see all of them here and I know we're very far from home to come and support me, I was awesome. And I feel like it's like because of them, you know, I was able to, you know, play really well and feel comfortable. So yeah, it's honestly thanks to everyone that was here and everyone watching from home too.

Yeah, this is an incredible feat a gold medal, three Olympics, three medals, silver and rio bronze and Tokyo. You've completed the set with the gold. From what I can tell, you were the only golfer to get a complete set.

Yeah. I think, uh, even when the men were done. I think at the time being I had the most medals as a golfer, so I thought it would be pretty cool if I could medal once again here and to win gold, the one that I was missing. It's honestly like a storyteller and I can't believe it happened.

How are you feeling going into today in the lead?

Yeah, obviously nervous, but I felt a little bit less nervous than the other days. I think I just got used to seeing them, you know, all the fans by the first hall, and I just wanted to focus on me. And you know, the fans have been just awesome, obviously the Kiwis, but even the French fans they were saying like all Lydia's. I felt like I kind of became one of their own as well. So that just made me feel more comfortable.

Aren't they going into this final round? Is it different because it's the Olympics or do you just treat it like any other major tournament.

I did like any other event, just the same routines. You know, did the same work with my physio, with the physios in the morning, so I took every day the same and you know, no different routine here than any of our may other events.

This win also qualifies you for the LPGA Hall of Fame. You still need to be voted in to qualify, but it would make you the thirty fifth living member. How much would that mean to you?

Yeah, it means a lot, and to have done it by winning the gold medal. It really could. I couldn't have written it out any better. Yeah, it's uh, it became a goal of mine when I got so close to it, and I I still don't know if, like, oh man, I deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, but it's it's so it's so cool that you know, that's going to be something that's next to my name for forever pretty much.

Absolutely, Hey, how have you found these Olympics compared with Rio and Tokyo.

It's I mean Rio and Tokyo is the circumstances were unique. You know, this is kind of the first one since then where it's back to normal. But yeah, it's I've honestly loved it. I haven't personally stayed at the village, so it's I'm sure that experience is really cool in that way, but I've I've loved it. And to see all the fans here embracing no woman's golf and sport, it's just it's just a celebration of sport and this kind of this event doesn't come around every year, so we were all just really enjoying it and embracing the moment.

And finally Lydia. Will you take part in the closing ceremony and do you have any plans to sort of enjoy Paris.

No, I won't be staying for the staying for the closing ceremony because I'm playing in Scotland next week, so I'm going to travel to there.

I put some onwards and onto the next thing. Congratulations, incredible effort.

Thank you so much.

I appreciate it. For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudken, listen live to News Talks it Be from nine am Sunday, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio