- Tom Kim finished 13 under par but did not win an Olympic medal in Paris 2024
- A medal would have exempted Kim, 22, from military service in South Korea.
- He was seen crying in the clubhouse after completing his final round on Sunday.
Tom Kim failed to make the podium in the men’s Olympic golf event, despite finishing 13 under par after four very tidy rounds.
The 22-year-old was photographed crying in the clubhouse at Le Golf National after his final round. Not only had he not won an Olympic medal, he had also failed to gain exemption from military service in his native South Korea.
In South Korea, the law states that all men (unless exempt) must complete between 18 and 21 months of military service and must enlist before the age of 28.
Some men are granted exemptions for physical and mental health reasons, although it is not uncommon for wealthy families to send their children to foreign schools to obtain dual citizenship.
Another way to be exempt from mandatory military service in South Korea is to win an Olympic medal of any color or a gold medal at the Asian Games.
Olympic golfer Tom Kim was seen crying in the clubhouse after losing a medal
South Korea’s Kim Jong-un was photographed wiping a tear from his left eye at Le Golf National on Sunday
Kim finished 13 under par after her four rounds of Olympic golf, but did not win a medal.
The 22-year-old looked disappointed after completing his final round at Le Golf National.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Son captained South Korea to gold in the men’s football event at the 2018 Asian Games and therefore only had to complete three weeks of basic training, instead of 21 months.
A Marine Corps officer later praised Son for his commitment during his training and the Spurs ace was awarded the ‘Pilsung’ award, which is given to the top five trainees.
Kim could follow Son’s path and earn an exemption if she wins gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, or any medal at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Otherwise, he could be forced to spend a significant amount of time away from the PGA Tour.
Kim has won three PGA titles in his career to date. He also finished tied for second at the Open last year.
Spurs footballer Son Heung-min won a gold medal with South Korea at the 2018 Asian Games
His son was therefore exempt from 21 months of military service, although he still completed basic training.
His son is pictured in military uniform during his basic training on Jeju Island in May 2020.
Kim finished eighth at Paris 2024, missing out on the bronze medal by four strokes.
Gold went to Scottie Scheffler of the USA, who finished 19 under par.
Tommy Fleetwood (-18) of the British team took silver, while Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (-17) took bronze.