Lydia Ko holds her nerve to take the gold medal in the women's Olympic golf event with Esther Henseleit in silver and Xiyu Lin in bronze
On the eve of heading into the final two rounds of the women's Olympic golf competition, Lydia Ko admitted to watching Simone Biles Rising, "it was so inspirational. I think as an outsider, we never know what the person is going through. I think for her to have been so vulnerable, I think it inspires a lot of people and it inspired me."
So inspired was the New Zealander on Thursday evening, that she wrote a couple of quotes from the documentary into her yardage book, in particular 'I get to write my own ending'. With Ko reflecting: "Sometimes we get carried on about things that we can't control, and if I can do a good job of the things that I can control, you know, the rest is out of my hands. And I always say, like I want to like be the one that's determining my fate and my ending and how I end my career, my round, and that just like sunk in with me a lot."
A two-lead lead into the final round
With a two-shot lead, shared with Switzerland's Morgane Metraux, the double Olympic medallist had one round left in which she would hope to win the Gold medal and with that, the final point needed to gain entry into the LPGA Hall of Fame.
It was never going to be an easy task, especially knowing that the conditions could mean that players could go low. Plus, it was only six days since Scottie Scheffler had shot an incredible nine-under-par to come from behind and grab gold.
Afterwards, Ko admitted that in her younger years, she might have felt immense pressure with everyone chasing her. However, this time she chose to see those two shots as a cushion, focusing on her own game rather than the competition.
Even after starting with a bogey, Ko never left the top of the leaderboard. Sticking to her game plan which involved being aggressive off the tee, she took each shot at a time and plotted her way around Le Golf National.
When the 27-year-old made the turn she had a five shot lead, it was still too far out to believe Olympic gold was a done deal but it meant she really had just herself to beat.
Esther Henseleit takes silver
Making her Scheffler move up the leaderboard was Germany's Esther Henseleit, who shot an incredible six-under-par and was pleasantly surprised by her performance. Starting the day in a tie for 14th, she didn't expect to climb the leaderboard as quickly as she did. "After nine holes, I looked at the leaderboard and I think I was maybe in second, and I was more surprised," she admitted.
Despite her strong start, Henseleit remained cautious, knowing there were still several groups behind her who could make birdies, especially on the final holes. She focused on staying aggressive and playing her own game, even as she faced some challenges at the beginning of the back nine. However, finishing with back-to-back birdies was "incredible" for her.
Even after her outstanding round, which saw her claim the silver medal, Henseleit found it hard to believe what she'd achieved, saying, "It not sunken in yet. I think I'll need a few days." The realisation that she was the first European to win an Olympic medal in women's golf made the moment even more special, as she expressed her amazement at sitting alongside two of the best golfers in the world.
Lydia Ko wins Olympic gold
With such a fantastic performance and a double bogey from Ko on the par 4 13th, it meant that there was only a one shot lead for the final four holes. Ko against the course.
Drawing on her decade long professional experience, Ko kept her head, where others may have faltered. Three pars and a final hole birdie meant that it was gold for New Zealand and a completion of the medal collection.
Seeing her hard work culminate in an Olympic gold medal is something she described as the pinnacle: "It doesn't get better than this."
Ko also likened her journey to a Cinderella story, humorously noting, "Cinderella's glass slippers are see-through, and my podium shoes are also see-through."
The support from the French fans added to the magic of the moment, with Ko calling it a "life peak" and admitting that the adrenaline rush she experienced was unlike anything before. "To do it here, it really can't get any better," she said, capturing the emotional high of achieving her Olympic dream.
Plenty of players in the mix for the bronze medal
For a lot of the final round there were plenty of players in the mix for the medals, in fact, it looked like there would need to be a play-off for bronze until Xiyu Lin birdied the final hole to climb to seven-under-par and one shot clear of Bianca Pagdanganan, Hannah Green, Amy Yang and Miyu Yamashita.
Two weeks and two fantastic Olympic golf competitions. The French threw their support behind both the men's and women's competitions, which amplified the feeling that golf definitely has its place as part of the Olympic programme.
What do the Olympics really mean to these athletes? I don't think we need to ask them, the golf we have watched over the last two weeks has showed that beyond everything, the chance to represent your country is one of the greatest accolades you can have and they will fight all the way to that final putt dropping.
You can view the full women's Olympic golf competition leaderboard and tee times here.
