December 25, 2024 • 6 mins
'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."
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It was a golden night for the Kiwis in Paris.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
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.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
A golden glow for Lydia Combe.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
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.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
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
(01:15):
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?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (01:27):
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.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
What was going through your mind when you sunk that
final part?
Speaker 5 (01:54):
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
(02:14):
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.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
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?
Speaker 5 (02:40):
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,
(03:01):
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.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
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.
Speaker 5 (03:26):
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.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
How are you feeling going into today in the lead?
Speaker 5 (03:51):
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
(04:13):
one of their own as well. So that just made
me feel more comfortable.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
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.
Speaker 5 (04:26):
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.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
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?
Speaker 5 (04:57):
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,
(05:21):
that's going to be something that's next to my name
for forever pretty much.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Absolutely, Hey, how have you found these Olympics compared with
Rio and Tokyo.
Speaker 5 (05:32):
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
(05:53):
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.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
And finally Lydia. Will you take part in the closing
ceremony and do you have any plans to sort of
enjoy Paris.
Speaker 5 (06:19):
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.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I put some onwards and onto the next thing. Congratulations,
incredible effort.
Speaker 5 (06:39):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
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
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It was a golden night for the Kiwis in Paris.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
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.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
A golden glow for Lydia Combe.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
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.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
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
(01:15):
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?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (01:27):
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.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
What was going through your mind when you sunk that
final part?
Speaker 5 (01:54):
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
(02:14):
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.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
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?
Speaker 5 (02:40):
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,
(03:01):
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.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
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.
Speaker 5 (03:26):
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.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
How are you feeling going into today in the lead?
Speaker 5 (03:51):
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
(04:13):
one of their own as well. So that just made
me feel more comfortable.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
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.
Speaker 5 (04:26):
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.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
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?
Speaker 5 (04:57):
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,
(05:21):
that's going to be something that's next to my name
for forever pretty much.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Absolutely, Hey, how have you found these Olympics compared with
Rio and Tokyo.
Speaker 5 (05:32):
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
(05:53):
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.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
And finally Lydia. Will you take part in the closing
ceremony and do you have any plans to sort of
enjoy Paris.
Speaker 5 (06:19):
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.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I put some onwards and onto the next thing. Congratulations,
incredible effort.
Speaker 5 (06:39):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
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
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