Olympic medal the 'ultimate dream' for Leona

Leona Maguire will aim to fulfil her “ultimate dream” when she tees off in the Women’s Golf at the Olympic Games in Paris today (Wednesday) at 11.17am Irish time.

Leona and her twin sister Lisa, who is part of her management team, flew to France on Saturday evening last and her parents, Declan and Breda, travelled on Monday to support her in her quest to fulfil a lifelong ambition.

“From her previous Solheim cups and Olympics, for her, representing her country is huge, and representing her county and our local area, all of that is huge to Leona,” her mother Breda told The Anglo-Celt.

“So to get a medal at the Olympics would be the ultimate goal for her. She’s watching the Olympics swimming and athletics and everything from she was a little nipper, from she was tiny. At the end of the day, for anybody that participates in sport and takes pride in their country, that’s the dream, to get a medal at the Olympics. It’s the dream.”

Leona spoke to both Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, who played Le Golf National in the Men’s competition last week, for advice ahead of the event.

“It’s an extremely tough course, extremely tough,” Breda said.

“She’s been able to speak to Rory McIlroy yesterday and Shane Lowry the day before. It’s extremely long and extremely tough.”

Uniquely, Leona’s first cousin, rower Ross Corrigan, also represented Ireland in these Olympics. The Fermanagh man finished sixth in the men’s pair alongside Nathan Timoney, which made the build-up extra special for all including both athletes’ proud grandmother Kathleen.

“I wouldn’t think there’s too many 97-year-old grannies that have two grandchildren competing in the Olympics, in two different sports,” beamed Breda.

“And she is on the ball watching it. She’ll be watching this week, and she was watching last week, and you know, she is egging them on and praying and lighting the candles.”

Leona Maguire tees off at 11.17am Irish time alongside Georgie Hall (GB) and Ashleigh Buhai (South Africa).