Grégory Bourdy insisted he only had his eyes on gold after continuing his excellent recent form on day two of the Olympic Men's Golf Competition.
The four-time European Tour winner has seven top 25s in his last nine European Tour events and carded opening rounds of 67-69 to sit just four shots behind leader Marcus Fraser heading onto the weekend in Rio de Janeiro.
Many of the players this week have been speaking of the Olympic experience off the course but Bourdy insists he is entirely focused on taking on the challenges from the likes of Fraser, Henrik Stenson, Thomas Pieters and Justin Rose and claiming Olympic gold for France.
"I thought a long time ago about the medals," he said.
"I will play to win the tournament and get the gold medal and, if I can't, I will be happy for a medal as well. But I play to win.
I come here only for the medals and I come here for the gold medal - Grégory Bourdy
"I'm really satisfied with my game in general. I think there are some quite easy holes but a lot of strong holes, long holes, on this course, especially when the weather is difficult.
"So six under it's a good score. It's a good start for the tournament."
Stenson sat two shots ahead of Bourdy at eight under after a round of 68 which included an incredible 108-foot putt for par after going in the water at the third.
The Swede believes it may be the longest putt he has ever made and it maintained his momentum after he had made a birdie-birdie start with the help of a 60-foot effort on the second.
"I managed to tickle a four wood up on the front part of the green and anywhere between 80 and 100 feet from the hole you're just standing there praying for a two-putt bogey," he said.
"Before I know it, it found the bottom of the cup. That's the longest putt I've made in my career, I would say. It's hard to get a putt that long on any green in the world, maybe St Andrews on a double green you can find one."
Rose had opening rounds of 67-69 - with a hole-in-one on the fourth on Thursday - and he was pleased with where he was placed going into the weekend.
"They certainly don't give anything out today, so all you can do is put yourself behind with an uphill struggle, but I feel like I haven't done that," he said.
I feel like I'm in a good position going into the weekend - Justin Rose
"I feel like I have another gear or two to try and find and it would be nice if it all clicked into shape when you need it."
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