Lydia Ko very surprised the male interviewer with the normalization of the influence of menstruation in sports when she mentioned “this time of the month.”
The New Zealand golfer was treated by a physiotherapist in a hospital. Palos Verdes Championship in California on Sunday, prompting Jerry Foltz of Golf Channel to find out if she suffers from any chronic physical problems.
– I hope no. It’s that time of the month,” Ko said. “I know the ladies watching are probably like, ‘Yeah, I got you.’
“So when that happens, my back gets really tight and I’m all twisted up. It’s not the first time [the physical therapist] Chris saw me perverted, but after he came, I felt much better. So yes, like this,” she continued.
Foltz stumbled upon an answer before finally saying, “Uh, thanks.” Ko then laughed, “Jerry, I know you are speechless. It’s all about honesty.”
Lydia Ko is praised online for her frankness
People praised the golfer on social media for being open about menstruation, a topic rarely discussed in women’s sports.
Foltz himself expressed surprise at Co’s words on Monday. “Yes, it is,” he wrote in response to a tweet with an article about a golfer that left the interviewer speechless.
Ko’s frankness about this is reminiscent of a Chinese swimmer fu yuanhui, who received widespread praise in 2016 for discussing how her menstruation may have affected her performance at Olympics in Rio.