Why is Yuka Saso representing a different country at the 2024 Paris Olympics as compared to the Tokyo Olympics?
Yuki Saso, a golfer who is among Japan's top players at the ongoing Paris Olympics, wasn't even part of the team until three years ago. At the Tokyo Olympics, she represented the Philippines. Due to a unique citizenship situation, she's now representing Japan.
Her father is Japanese, while her mother is Filipino. She previously competed for her mother's country, the Philippines (ironically, in Japan), but has switched her allegiance to Japan for the 2024 Olympics.
Saso explained her motivation, saying she merely wished to 'help' the nations of both of her parents.
“Nothing much different. But obviously playing in Tokyo, I was there to help my mother's country and now my dad's country. Not a lot of people can experience this, what I'm experiencing right now. So, I'm really grateful and very excited to be part of it again,” she said. (via NBC Sports)
This is not a totally uncommon thing. Rory McIlroy, on the men's side, could also have done this. Since he is from Northern Ireland, he could have chosen to represent Great Britain or Ireland. He made Ireland his choice in 2021, and he stuck with it. Saso, on the other hand, changed her mind.
Saso's Japanese heritage made qualifying for the Olympics more difficult due to Japan's strong golf pool. Only the top four golfers from each country can compete in the Olympic golf tournament.
Saso, thanks to her US Women's Open victory, was able to make it to the team. She qualified for the event alongside Ayake Furue, Miyu Yamashite, and Nasa Hataoka.
Japan has a strong history in Olympic golf. Mone Inami won silver at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, and Hideki Matsuyama just clinched bronze at the ongoing Paris Games, narrowly missing out on gold by a couple of shots.
Yuka Saso working on all-around improvement for Olympics
With the Olympics finally here, it's time for Yuka Saso, Nelly Korda, Charley Hull, and the rest of the field to put their training to good use and try and win a medal. They will all tee off tomorrow, August 7.
Saso has been focusing on general improvement in the lead-up to the Olympics. Here's what the 23-year-old said via Japan Forward:
“I work on every aspect of my game, from driving to putting, because to win a tournament, everything has to work together."