By: Max Bechtoldt
There was some speculation this week, particularly after her gold medal win, that this would be the last Olympic games the New Zealand legend would take part in. She made it official late Saturday night on Instagram.
Ko wrote:
“The Paris 2024 games is officially the last Olympics I will be competing in, and it couldn’t have been more of a fairytale ending to my Olympic career by bringing home a gold medal for my country. Competing in the Olympics and representing my country has been the biggest honor in my life, and there are no words to express the emotions I felt whilst listening to my national anthem on the podium. Thank you New Zealand for this once in a lifetime experience. I am truly grateful.”
Back in 2015, at the beginning of her career, the now 27-year-old Ko said she planned to retire by 30. While she hasn’t necessarily confirmed or backed off that belief in recent years, this announcement isn’t nothing.
With New Zealand not having other women’s golfers even close in the rankings, Ko would likely have a spot in the Olympics for years if she wanted to. Obviously, winning the gold medal and completing the newly dubbed “Podium slam” is a perfect way to go out on the top of your game regardless of her plans in the game of golf.
The hall-of-famer said after her round that there are days she feels she wants to play as long as she can, and there are days where she feels she can’t make it anymore. She did say she doesn’t have a specific date anymore and that the Hall of Fame qualifying doesn’t impact her decision.
Whatever the future for Ko on the LPGA Tour holds, she finished off her Olympic career flawlessly, becoming the only golfer to win three medals, a mark that at the earliest, can’t be beat until 2036.
