- Tom Kim ended his Olympic journey in Paris 2024 at 13 under par but fell short of winning a medal.
- Had he medaled, the 22-year-old would have been exempt from military duties in South Korea.
- He was seen in tears in the clubhouse after completing his final round on Sunday.
Despite finishing at 13 under par, Tom Kim was unable to secure a medal in the men’s golf tournament at the Olympics.
After his final round at Le Golf National, the 22-year-old was photographed in tears, reflecting his disappointment not just in missing a medal but also in not achieving exemption from military service in South Korea.
In South Korea, all men must serve 18-21 months in the military unless they qualify for an exemption, which must be completed before they turn 28.
Some exemptions are granted on health grounds, while it is not uncommon for wealthy families to send their children abroad to obtain dual citizenship.
Winning any medal at the Olympics or a gold at the Asian Games also provides a pathway for exemption from compulsory military duties in South Korea.
Olympics golfer Tom Kim was seen crying in the club house after missing out on a medal
South Korean Kim pictured wiping away a tear from his left eye at Le Golf National on Sunday
Kim finished 13 under par after his four rounds of Olympic golf but he did not win a medal
The 22-year-old looked disappointed after completing his final round at Le Golf National
South Korean footballer Son Heung-min led his country to gold in the men’s football event at the 2018 Asian Games, resulting in him only needing to undergo three weeks of basic training instead of the full 21 months required for military service.
A Marine Corps officer later commended Son for his dedication during the training and awarded him the ‘Pilsung’ medal for being one of the top five performers.
Tom Kim still has opportunities for exemption, aiming for gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan or any medal at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Otherwise, he might face a significant interruption in his PGA Tour career.
To date, Kim has celebrated three PGA Tour victories and also secured a tied second place finish at The Open last year.
Spurs footballer Son Heung-min won a gold medal with South Korea at the 2018 Asian Games
Son was therefore exempt from 21-month military service, although he still completed basic training
Son pictured in military uniform during his basic training on Jeju island back in May 2020
Kim placed joint eighth at the Paris 2024 Olympics, just four strokes away from the bronze medal.
The gold medal was claimed by Scottie Scheffler from the USA, who finished with a score of 19 under par.
Tommy Fleetwood (-18) from Great Britain received the silver medal, while Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (-17) took home bronze.
