Sharp hoping to get full Olympic experience at Rio 2016
Alena Sharp wants to get the most out of her Olympic experience.
Even though the Canadian Women’s Open begins August 25 in Calgary, Sharp plans on staying in Rio to watch the Closing Ceremony, which takes place August 21.
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Graham DeLaet, Alena Sharp and David Hearn with the 1904 Olympic golf trophy at Team Canada’s Rio 2016 golf team announcement on July 19, 2016 in Oakville. (Tavia Bakowski/COC)
“That’s important to me,” Sharp said on Tuesday at Oakville, Ontario’s Glen Abbey Golf Club. “Four years from now, who knows where I’ll be. I’m going to be close to 40 so I’m taking my opportunity now to experience it to the fullest.”
Sharp, and all golfers, have waited a long time to see the sport return to the Olympic Games. Golf hasn’t been included in the Olympics since St. Louis 1904 when Canadian George Lyon won gold in the men’s individual event.
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Fourteen-year-old Brooke Henderson, second left, of Smiths Falls, Ont., waits to putt on the 17th hole as Alena Sharp, right, of Hamilton, Ont., places her ball and Mo Martin, left, of Altadena, Calif., looks on during the first round of the CN Canadian Women’s Open LPGA golf tournament at the Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C., on Thursday August 23, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Sharp was one of four athletes named to Team Canada’s Rio 2016 golf team on Tuesday. She’ll join 18-year-old Brooke Henderson in the women’s tournament, which will take place August 17-20 at Rio’s Olympic Golf Course.
“We’re really good friends,” Sharp said about her relationship with Henderson. “I met her a couple of years ago and we play a lot of practice rounds together. She asks me questions if she has them about tournaments. It’s nice to play with her. She’s younger and she’s fearless and I think that helps me play a little bit more fearless golf. She’s a very positive person and it’s always nice to be around positive people.”
Brooke Henderson (left), and sister, Olympic-bound caddie Brittany Henderson at a simultaneous white hat ceremony in Calgary, Alberta on the day of the Olympic team announcement in Oakville, Ontario, July 19, 2016.
Henderson, seeded second in the final Olympic golf rankings, is the headliner of Canada’s golf team. When she won the Women’s LPGA Championship in June, Sharp was there to celebrate with her, spraying Henderson with bottles of beverages.
“It was amazing to be right there and see it happen,” said Sharp.
The 35-year-old Sharp has been on the LPGA Tour since 2005. She’s had strong 2015 and 2016 seasons, which helped secure her spot in Rio. She had her best career finish at a major tournament earlier this month, finishing 21st at the US Women’s Open.
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Alena Sharp at a tournament in Sylvania, Ohio on July 18, 2015.
“For me to have played well in the last year to get on to the team… it’s a huge accomplishment and I’m very proud to say that I’m going to Rio.
“I want to go to venues and watch (the other athletes) compete and be a part of Team Canada – not just be at the golf course all day. I want to be part of the team and really be the proud Canadian competitor down there, cheering on the other athletes.”
Also named to Team Canada’s golf team on Tuesday were Graham DeLaet and David Hearn, who will compete in the men’s event August 11-14.
