New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko competes at the Evian Championship 2024. Photo: AFP
Not even a gold medal is likely to persuade Lydia Ko to get another tattoo.
Ko is preparing herself for her third Olympic golf tournament in Paris with two medals already in the trophy cabinet.
She won silver in Rio in 2016 and bronze in Tokyo three years ago.
A gold medal in Paris would mean she would become just the sixth New Zealander to have won a medal of every colour at a summer Olympics.
"Yes it would be the Cinderella story if I win gold here," Ko told RNZ.
Lydia Ko ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics Photo: RNZ
"I went into Rio hoping to medal, while Tokyo was a bit of a surprise as I wasn't playing at my highest level of golf."
Since winning in January, Ko has had just three top ten finishes including a tie for eighth at last week's Canadian Open.
However, she's not too concerned about her form.
"I've definitely played better coming into the games and these kind of events bring out the good in you. There is good adrenaline and hopefully I can channel all of that in and have a good week."
So what about the Olympic rings with ferns she has tattooed on her bicep?
"I got the tattoo because I wanted to mark the date I won the medal in Rio because it was my first one. I already have a lot of ink on my body so I'm not sure if I should be adding any more.
"It's got the ferns also so it reminds me of that special moment and it gives me a lot of confidence and something I can be really proud of also."
Will she add to it somehow?
"No extra ink, but if I do win gold then maybe, but I can't promise anything."
Ko was last in New Zealand in early 2023 for her honeymoon.
She admitted she was now used to life in the United States but still craved for time back home.
"When I go back home I realise what I'm missing… the people, the food and how calm everything is, I miss the pace of life in New Zealand."
Like the rest of the New Zealand team, Ko was presented with a pounamu pendant on her arrival and while she won't wear it while she's playing she said she will have it in her golf bag.
"I'm very proud to represent New Zealand so will have all of that good energy with me and feel like I'm not alone when I'm on the golf course."
The 27-year-old said the plan for Paris will be similar to what has got her on the podium at previous games - being aggressive and confident.
"If you come fourth or top ten at any event it's great, but at the end of the day all 60-something players are playing for the three medal spots. I did play more aggressively at the past two games, but this golf course (Le Golf National) is a bit more difficult so I have to decide whether being aggressive is smart or not.
"Being aggressive doesn't just mean going at everything, it's also about managing your round and being strategic on how you play."
Lydia Ko at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo: photosport
Is she in the form that can win her another medal?
"Yeah I played really well in Canada and it's nice to say that my last event coming into the games was one of my best results this year. Hopefully I can channel a lot of the goods from that and I worked with my coach before leaving America so I feel I've done a lot of good preparation.
"Let the golfing gods decide what is going to happen from here."
The women's golf tournament starts on Wednesday evening.
New Zealanders to have won an Olympic medal of every colour are; Paul MacDonald, Dame Valerie Adams, Blyth Tait, Barbara Kendall, Kerri Williams and Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (winter Olympics).
