Golf at the Olympics past winners: Exploring the podium for last 2 editions

Golf made its debut at the second Olympic Games of the modern era, held in Paris in 1900. Four years later, the sport repeated its presence in St. Louis in 1904, a clear sign that it was already on the world stage.

However, golf would not return to the Olympic Games until 112 years later, in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Five years later, the sport was also included in Tokyo 2021, making Paris 2024 the first time that it has been included in three consecutive editions.

Several of today's stars, both male and female, played in the two previous Olympic golf events, but not all of them won medals. Which golfers were on the podium in 2016 and 2021? Let's take a look:

Men's Olympic Golf

The men's golf event of the Rio 2016 Olympics was held at the Olympic Golf Course in Barra da Tijuca. The field included some of the top stars of the moment, such as Bubba Watson and Sergio Garcia.

Australian Marcus Fraser led the field in the first two rounds with scores of 63 and 69. However, he could only manage a 72 on the so-called "Moving Day", which allowed Justin Rose to climb to the top of the leaderboard.

Rose, who was four shots off the lead after the first 36 holes, carded a three-under 65 in the third round to move into a share of first place. The Englishman secured the gold medal with a fourth-round 67 to finish at 16 under.

Henrik Stenson finished two shots behind the Olympic champion for the silver medal. Matt Kuchar shot a final round of 63 to take the bronze medal.

Four years later, the Tokyo Games were scheduled to be held, but were suspended due to COVID-19. The event was finally held in 2021, and golf was played at Kasumigaseki Country Club.

The field once again included the top stars of the moment, including five members of the world's top 10, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy.

Schauffele himself took the lead after 36 holes and never looked back. The now double major champion won the gold medal with rounds of 68, 63, 68 and 67 (18 under).

Slovakia's Rory Sabatini, then ranked 167th in the world, surprisingly won the silver medal with a 17-under score. Seven players tied for third place, forcing a playoff for the bronze medal.

Taiwan's CT Pan, ranked 181st in the world, needed three sudden-death holes to defeat the rest of the group, which included McIlroy and Morikawa.

Women's Olympic Golf

The women's golf events in 2016 and 2021 were no less impressive. In both cases, they were played on the same courses as the men's events, a few days apart.

In Rio de Janeiro, the gold medal went to seven-time major champion and LPGA Hall of Famer Inbee Park. The Korean took the lead after the first 36 holes and never relinquished it. Rounds of 66, 66, 70 and 66 led her to the gold medal.

The then rising star New Zealand's Lydia Ko won the silver medal with a score of 11-under par, five strokes behind park. Bronze went to another legendary player, China's Shanshan Feng.

At Tokyo 2021, the big protagonist was Nelly Korda, who shot a second round 62 to climb into the lead and stay there until the end. Japan's Mone Inami and, once again, Kiwi Lydia Ko, battled to the end to catch Korda, but ultimately finished one stroke behind.

Inami defeated Ko in a playoff for the silver medal. Nevertheless, the New Zealander added to her illustrious career by becoming the only player in Olympic golf history to win more than one medal (so far).