"You wrote... Gold, silver, bronze, doesn't matter; but you've already won"- Coco Gauff's heartfelt words to 17-year-old self on living Olympic dream
Coco Gauff recently penned a letter to her younger self who missed the previous edition of the Olympics in Tokyo. The American revealed that she would make her childhood dream come true after playing her first Olympic Games in Paris.
The 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo (held in 2021) was supposed to be Gauff's maiden Olympics. However, she tested positive for COVID-19 just days before and missed the marquee event. Three years later, the American will make her Olympic debut in Paris. Moreover, she was chosen as Team USA's flagbearer for the opening ceremony, becoming the first tennis player to hold this honor.
Ahead of her campaign in Paris, the World No. 2 wrote a letter in which she advised her past self to overcome the disappointment of missing the event and to focus on its next edition in Paris.
However, Gauff further revealed that she would make her Olympic debut in Paris, telling her 17-year-old self to enjoy the experience regardless of which medals she won in the process. The letter was shared exclusively by NBC Olympics.
"In your phone under your vision notes, you wrote that you want to win a medal at the Olympics. Gold, silver, bronze – it doesn’t matter. But you’ve already won, you’ve made your childhood dream of playing at the Olympics, representing the United States, a real reality. And now, finally, you get to enjoy it," Coco Gauff wrote.
"I always want to do well, try to get a medal": Coco Gauff on competing at Paris Olympics
Earlier this year, Coco Gauff said during the Italian Open that the Olympics was a top priority for her and that she wanted to bring home a medal.
"For me, the Olympics is a top priority. I would say equal to the Grand Slams. I wouldn't put it above or below just because I've never played before. This is my first time. Obviously, I always want to do well, try to get a medal. Yeah, I mean, but the prep is going to be interesting because I've never done the grass-to-clay transition before," Gauff said.
The 20-year-old added that she didn't want to put too much pressure on herself and simply enjoy the Olympics experience, treating it as a "once-in-a-lifetime experience".
"I'm not putting too much pressure on it because I really want to fully indulge in the experience. Hopefully I can have the experience multiple times in my lifetime. I'll treat it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Gauff said.
The 20-year-old will be joined by Desirae Krawczyk, Emma Navarro, Danielle Collins, and Jessica Pegula in the women's tennis team for the United States.
Gauff is also seeded second in the women's singles draw and is the No. 1 seed in the doubles draw with Pegula. Tennis at the Paris Olympics will be played on the clay court of the Roland Garros and the tournament will get underway on July 27.