Azahara Muñoz: “I am very proud of the comeback, of having been able to dream of the diploma”

Carlota Ciganda: “The countryside has beaten me every day and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth”

The final performance of the Spanish golfers in the Paris 2024 women's Olympic tournament was surrounded by the bittersweet taste of a finally positive performance, the thirteenth place of Azahara Muñoz, and another more discreet one, the 49th place achieved by Carlota Ciganda.

The golfer from Malaga was the picture of satisfaction after making the walk from the 18th hole to the scorecard office, amidst applause. “I’m very happy with my performance, although I’m also a little disappointed to have come so close to the diploma and not gotten it,” the Spanish golfer admitted.

Azahara Muñoz looked back to reaffirm her strong performance. “After Wednesday’s 78, I made a spectacular comeback, and I’ve played really well since then. This course is incredibly difficult, and overcoming it has been fantastic,” she said before returning to a point that will always remain unresolved, since “you never know what would have happened with a better score on the first day. Everything happens for a reason, and yes, it was a shame to have started so badly, to have missed opportunities to do great things, but I’m proud of how I’ve recovered.”.

For her part, serious but perfectly accepting the situation based on the experience accumulated in dozens and dozens of tournaments, Carlota Ciganda directly expressed the bitterness produced by a performance "that has been bad. The course has beaten me every day and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth."“

The 75 strokes in the final round, +3, also prevented him from fulfilling his challenge of going under par in the last 18 holes: “I didn’t play too badly, but the result isn’t good, not by a long shot. I finished with 3 bogeys and there’s no other option but to move on.”.

In such a negative context, pride returns to his face when he recalls that “being here is an honor, especially representing Spain, and that’s what I’ll take away from it. I’m sorry I played so badly, but that’s golf. Off the course, the experience has been good, seeing many Spanish athletes win medals.” ”The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics? I’d like to play, but we’ll see how it goes year by year.”

Interesting facts about Olympic champion Lydia Ko

. The New Zealand golfer has made it to the final of the women's Olympic tournament for the third consecutive time, earning her a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Games, a silver in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and a bronze in Tokyo 2020.

. The only female golfer with multiple Olympic medals in modern golf history, Lydia Ko can boast of surpassing all records, including those of men, who in the early editions, with very limited participation, also set milestones in the sport. This was the case for Americans Chandler Egan, gold in 1900 and silver in 1904; Burt McKinnie, silver in 1900 and bronze in 1904; and Frank Newton, silver in 1900 and bronze in 1904.

. The Olympic gold medal earned her the point needed for induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame, where 27 points are required for admission based on specific merits. She earned her 26th point with her victory at the 2024 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.

. The only amateur golfer to have won two tournaments in LPGA Tour history, her precocity led her to set the record for youngest winner when she triumphed at the 2012 CPKC Women's Open at 15 years, 4 months and 2 days old.

. He has twenty victories on the LPGA Tour, including two 'majors', the 2015 Amundi Evian Championship and the 2016 Chevron Championship).

The Olympic golf medal table

2024 – Paris

Men's competition: Gold: Scottie Scheffler (USA); Silver: Tommy Fleetwood (Great Britain); Bronze: Hideki Mitsuyama (Japan)

Women's competition: Gold: Lydia Ko (New Zealand); Silver: Esther Henseleit (Germany); Bronze: Xiyu Lin (China)

2020 – Tokyo

Men's competition: Gold: Xander Schauffele (USA); Silver: Rory Sabbatini (Slovakia); Bronze: CT Pan (Chinese Taipei)

Women's competition: Gold: Nelly Korda (USA); Silver: Mone Inami (Japan); Bronze: Lydia Ko (New Zealand)

2016 – Rio de Janeiro

Men's competition: Gold: Justin Rose (Great Britain); Silver: Henrik Stenson (Sweden); Bronze: Matt Kuchar (USA)

Women's competition: Gold: Inbee Park (Korea); Silver: Lydia Ko (New Zealand); Bronze: Shanshan Feng (China)

1904 – St. Louis

Men's competition: Gold: George Lyon (Canada); Silver: Chandler Egan (USA); Bronze: Burt McKinnie (USA) and Francis Newton (USA)

Women's competition: not held

1900 – Paris

Men's competition: Gold: Charles Sands (USA); Silver: Walter Rutherford (Great Britain); Bronze: David Robertson (Great Britain)

Women's competition: Gold: Margaret Abbott (USA); Silver: Pauline Whittier (USA); Bronze: Daria Pratt (USA)