At the Paris Olympics, French golfer Perrine Delacour had the benefit of being the second to go first, following countryman Matthieu Pavon. The atmosphere was electric, with Olympic icon Michael Phelps noting that the hair on his arms was standing straight up. Delacour credited Pavon for reminding her to breathe on the first tee, especially after he struggled emotionally during his own first tee shot earlier in the week. Delacour, ranked 76th in the world, recently won her first Ladies European Tour title, but had taken a break in 2022 to focus on her mental health.
Delacour struggled with the mindset that bad golf meant she was a bad person and that good golf made her a good person, leading to emotional exhaustion. After working on her mental health and returning to the tour in 2023, she had a solid season, finishing 56th on the CME points list. With Paris 2024 within sight, Delacour set her sights on making the Olympics and is proud of her journey. She is focused on enjoying every moment and playing in front of her family at the Olympics, regardless of the outcome.
Delacour is joined by fellow Frenchwoman Celine Boutier, world No. 7, in the Olympic field. Despite Boutier’s accolades, including winning an LPGA major on French soil, the fans at Le Golf National cheer on all competitors. Victor Perez finished fourth, just missing out on a medal, while Pavon finished last. Pavon described the fans as perfect but admitted that the overwhelming support could be tiring and challenging to handle. Despite being used to being a spectator at other Olympic competitions, Pavon found it different to be the center of attention as a competitor at the Paris Olympics.
Delacour, too, found the experience of being an Olympic athlete inspiring, particularly during the Opening Ceremony. She felt a surge of emotions as she moved from the Village to the boat on the Seine. The support from fans and fellow athletes at the Olympics has left a lasting impact on Delacour. With the potential of a top-three finish and a medal at the Olympics, Delacour is focused on enjoying the moment and making the most of the opportunity to represent France on such a grand stage. The journey from struggling with mental health to competing in the Olympics has been a significant one for Delacour, and she hopes to inspire others through her perseverance and dedication to the sport.
