‘Could Potentially Be My Last’: Lydia Ko Gives Upsetting Career Update; Targets 3rd Successive Medal at Paris Olympics

Lydia Ko is likely in the last mile of her career. Playing at the Seville Golf and Country Club, the New Zealander is tied for sixth after round two and making great progress toward another win. As she finished the 36-hole and put herself up for contention in the final two days, Ko also unveiled her expectations for the up-and-coming Olympics in Paris. With that said, she also informed the golf world that it might be her last chase for the Olympic medal.

Lydia Ko reveals her Olympic plans 

The thing is sooner or later, all athletes retire but that might be a reality for Lydia Ko four years down the road. At the FORD Championship presented by KCC, the Kiwi pro revealed her plan for the upcoming Olympics and what might be the scenario until the next one comes. The Paris Olympics, for Ko, as she stated has been pretty important.

The Olympics which will start in late July and end in August, Ko described will be efficient for her. She recalled her past two games and said, “I think every Olympic year has been the one where I’m hoping to be peaking in August.” So, this year after opening the 2024 season with a win, it’ll be the cherry on the cake for Ko to be at the Olympics and play to her full potential.

Furthermore, she also found it great that the schedule of the LPGA Tour and the Olympics coincide, helping her to travel less. Ko explained, “I think Paris is going to be great. We play in Europe between July to August anyway, so I think it’s just going to be a great stretch for us.” However, the great stretch might be the last one for Ko as she became a bearer of the bad news that by 2028 she will not be playing golf. “I’m not really sure if I’m going to be playing in like five plus years, so this could potentially be my last Olympics. I’m just — I want to enjoy this last one potentially,” said the 2-time major winner.

Although Ko played in the Olympics two times before, each year the situation was hampered by an unprecedented disease that became a health hazard for the public worldwide. But this time, the two-time Olympiad is hoping the situation may differ as things have gone back to normal.

Lydia Ko recalls her two times at the Olympics

The first time Lydia Ko represented New Zealand was in 2016 the same year she was the world number one but the next time she entered the arena, it has been days since she won. Ko recounted how things turned out in her favor both times, “I played Rio as the No. 1 ranked player and I played Tokyo where I hadn’t won for a couple years, so I wasn’t going in there with a lot of expectations and I was able to medal in both games.” 

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Now at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Ko wants to continue the streak of winning and standing on the podium. The 20-time LPGA Tour winner elaborated, “I’m hoping I’ll be able to give myself a good chance and be one of those standing on the podium at the end of the week.” Interestingly, Ko remembered that in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics (played in 2021), there was either the Zika Virus or the COVID-19 pandemic.

Which was not an ideal situation to play games but at the 2024 edition, Ko is hoping that things don’t go haywire. She expressed, “Hopefully — knock on wood — that there is going to be nothing.” Fingers crossed and no one shall jinx it, the 2024 Olympics may become a great year for sports and golf and for Lydia Ko to maybe win a golf as she has already earned the silver and bronze.

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