Chinese golfer Lin Xiyu clinched the bronze medal in the women’s golf competition at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, making a remarkable comeback in the final round on Saturday. Her victory marks a significant achievement, as she becomes the second Chinese golfer to secure an Olympic medal following Feng Shanshan’s success at Rio 2016.
“I feel quite amazing,” Lin shared after her triumphant performance. “I knew I had a chance today, but I also knew it was going to be a very tough battle. I didn’t have the best start I was hoping for, so I’m very proud of how I fought back at the end. Winning a medal is even better; I am very overwhelmed right now.”
Despite a slow start, Lin climbed four places over the last 18 holes, attributing her success to consistency and focus. “I was a little disappointed when I saw how far back I was,” she admitted. “But then I told myself, I’ve been playing very consistently this week, and in the back nine, that consistency would be a valuable weapon. So I just needed to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”
Determined to play her own game, Lin stopped looking at the scoreboard to avoid distractions. “I wanted to play my own golf,” she explained. “I had a good game plan, and I executed it really well. It ended up being good enough to earn me a medal.”
Lin also credited her mentor, Feng Shanshan, for providing invaluable advice before the Games. “I spoke with Shanshan right before I left for Paris,” Lin recalled. “I was explaining my anxiety and told her, ‘I don’t know what to expect here.’ She asked me one question: ‘If this is your third Olympics or your last Olympics, what kind of finish would you be satisfied with?’ I thought about it and said, ‘Well, a medal, of course.’ Then she said, ‘Well, then that’s the goal. We have nothing to lose. We have to keep grinding. Nothing’s going to be in the way when you are fully focused on this target.’ That was a really important conversation.”
With her bronze medal performance, Lin Xiyu not only adds to China’s growing legacy in Olympic golf but also inspires future athletes with her determination and resilience.
Reference(s):
Chinese golfer Lin Xiyu happy after earning bronze medal at Paris 2024
cgtn.com
