Xander Schauffele has extra motivation for wanting to win Olympic gold again in Paris

Golf superstar Xander Schauffele is aiming to secure another gold medal in the men’s individual golf event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, following his triumph in Tokyo in 2021.

Schauffele, inspired by his father’s admiration for the Olympics, has had a stellar year, winning both the 2024 PGA Championship in May and the 2024 Open. Many argue that Schauffele’s transformation from being a consistent performer to a major title winner began after his gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

In Tokyo, Schauffele realized a childhood dream by winning the individual men’s golf event, a moment of immense pride for his family, especially considering his father’s unfulfilled Olympic dreams. His father, an aspiring decathlete, saw his career cut short, making Schauffele acutely aware of the fine line between success and failure in sports.

Reflecting on his memories from Tokyo, Schauffele shared in an interview with the Daily Mail: “Winning gold in Tokyo was huge for me. It was one of those times when I wasn’t winning a lot of tournaments, and then you beat a great field. I have the podium photo, it was obviously Covid, so I’m there with my medal and wearing a mask.”

Schauffele emphasized the deep family connection to the Olympics, saying, “With my dad desperately wanting to be an Olympian himself, I grew up knowing what the Games mean. There’s a serious family tie for me – I think my dad’s grandfather even competed in the hammer throw.”

The joy of Schauffele’s Olympic victory was magnified by the challenges his family had faced. He recalled, “Sharing that win with my dad in Tokyo was so cool, but the decathlon thing has played a big part in my golf.”