In the City of Love, romance and triumph mingled as 8 Olympians celebrated a rare and unforgettable moment throughout their achievements at the Paris 2024 Games.
Payton Otterdahl proposed to her friend Maddy Nilles against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, while Chinese badminton star Huang Yaqiong surprised with an engagement ring from her partner Li Yuchen after a gold medal.
The Argentine handball player Pablo Simonet and the French handicap runner Alice Finot celebrated their achievements with proposals.
Here’s a closer look at the eight engagements that took place at the Olympic Games, showing how the Paris 2024 Games have become the backdrop for sporting and romantic milestones.
In a fine display of triumph on and off the water, two-time Olympic rower Justin Best won gold in the men’s four-oar event at the Paris Games. The victory marked the first Olympic medal for the United States rowing team since 1960.
In a poignant twist, Best has also won in his private life. During a live appearance on TODAY, he proposed to his girlfriend, Lainey Duncan, in front of the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. The proposal accompanied through a surprising bouquet of 2,738 yellow roses, which symbolize the couple’s Snapchat sequence.
“Each yellow rose represents a day when you and I were together,” Best said, reflecting on their virtual connection. “Our streak is at 2,738 right now. “
On Instagram, Best shared his joy: “This is the moment in the movie where the triumphant mid-2000s pop song builds up and the credits start rolling. Luckily, I get to spend the rest of my life with you and The screen is on. “
Two-time Olympian Payton Otterdahl, fourth in shot put at Paris 2024 and tenth at Tokyo 2020, drew attention with a romantic proposal. Otterdahl proposed to Maddy Nilles in front of the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop for the Paris Games.
“Meanwhile, in the City of Love. . . I love you forever, Maddy Nilles!” wrote Otterdahl on Instagram, celebrating their engagement. Nilles encouraged through her story by writing “I love you. “
His fiancée, a track and field coach from Nebraska, has a connection to the sport, as does Otterdahl.
The couple recently held a “Spring Fling” release clinic at Nilles’ former main school, Wahlert High School in Iowa. She described the occasion as a “final moment” on Instagram, highlighting the importance of working out with her partner.
For Chinese badminton player Huang Ya Qiong, the Paris Games were a resounding success, combining gold and diamonds. Huang and his wife Zheng Siwei triumphed in the combined doubles event, beating South Koreans Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun with scores of 21 to 8, 21-11, culminating an undefeated streak.
After celebrating with her gold medal, Huang surprised with a jewel of her moment: an engagement ring. Li Yuchen, another member of the Chinese badminton team, proposed to Huang by giving him a bouquet before kneeling.
“For me, this proposal is very unexpected because I’m preparing for the match,” Huang said through an interpreter. “I’m an Olympic champion and I’ve been asked to do it, so it’s anything I didn’t do. “wait. “
China has dominated badminton in doubles medley, winning back-to-back Olympic gold five out of eight times since the medal-winning festival at Atlanta 1996.
In an emotional prelude to the opening rite of the Paris Games, Argentine handball player Pablo Simonet proposed to his girlfriend, María Campoy, a hockey boxer, in the Olympic Village. The romantic gesture came just after taking an organizational photo.
Simonet got down on his knees and the proposal was greeted with a resounding “yes”.
“The woman of my life said yes to me. In the position of dreams, where everything comes from and where we doubt ourselves so much,” Simonet shared on Instagram. “The happiness is total, thank you colleagues and some accomplices for making “This is special and being able to stay like this forever. Paris is a smart idea. “
Simonet, a three-time Olympian who competed in 2016, 2020 and 2024, achieved her result with a 10th place finish at Rio 2016 and is currently ranked 12th. María Campoy, a two-time Olympian, placed seventh at Rio 2016 and won a bronze medal in the Paris 2024 Games.
The couple, together since 2015, discovered that the City of Love was the ideal setting for their next step. The timing was opportune, as both national teams secured their place in Paris within a few minutes of each other for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.
Alice Finot, a French athlete who competed in the 3,000 meters steeplechase at the Paris Games, made headlines with a final that crossed the boundaries of the track. Although Ella Finot finished fourth in the event with a time of 8:58. 67, setting a new European record, her most memorable moment came after crossing the finish line.
The first Olympic athlete approached her boyfriend, the Spanish triathlete Bruno Martínez Bargiela, among the spectators. In an exclusive and private gesture, she got down on one knee and brandished a pin as she proposed.
“I thought if he ran less than nine minutes, knowing that nine is my lucky number and that we’ve been together for nine years, then I would propose to him,” Finot told the AP. “I don’t like to do things like everyone else. Since he hadn’t done it yet, I think maybe it’s up to me. “
Bargiela responded to the proposal with a cheerful nod and a hug. Finot then pinned a shiny object to his shirt, celebrating a memorable moment for the couple, who have been together for nine years.
Four-time French Olympian Sarah Steyaert achieved her long-awaited goal at the 2024 Paris Games by winning a bronze medal in sailing. Steyaert’s Olympic adventure included a 5th place finish at Beijing 2008, a 16th place finish at London 2012 and a 6th place finish at Rio 2016 before making a triumphant return to the podium.
Steyaert, 36, has come out of retirement and joined the competitive sailing scene along teammate Charline Picon in the 49er FX class. After stepping away from game after Rio 2016 to raise her two daughters and paintings as a teacher, Steyaert made a a success comeback.
In an unexpected turn of events, Steyaert and Picon got engaged to their boyfriends after winning their medals.
“Our boyfriends said at the beginning of the task that if we won a medal, we would be engaged, but mine said, ‘Only gold or silver,'” Steyaert told reporters. “So, after the race, I said, ‘Okay, then I’m going to commit. ‘”
Steyaert’s spouse followed the proposal by greeting her with his young daughter. “We had to say yes,” Steyaert said, reflecting on the but joyful turn of events.
Charline Picon, a three-time Olympic medallist, made history as the first French sailor to win Olympic medals. She won gold at Rio 2016, silver at Tokyo 2020 and finished eighth in her debut at London 2012.
As part of the ‘Mama Team’, along with her partner Sarah Steyaert, Picon celebrated much more than just achievements and a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Games.
Picon and Steyaert became engaged to their boyfriends after the Games, marking a special moment in their personal lives.
“It’s an incredible moment on the beach,” Picón shared, reflecting on the memorable proposal.
The United States rugby team was not the one to celebrate a victory at the Games. Three-time Olympian Alev Kelter scored a personal victory when he proposed to his girlfriend, Kathryn Treder.
Kelter, who made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016 and the first American woman to check out in rugby sevens at the Olympics, also competed at Tokyo 2020, where the team finished sixth. This year in Paris, the team won a bronze medal with a 14-12 victory over Australia.
Center Alev Kelter made a success, this time off the field. Climbing the stairs of the Museum of Modern Art in Paris with her friend Kathryn
Treder, Kelter’s dual sister, Derya, quietly passed him the engagement ring. Then, Alev surprised Kathryn, who plays rugby for the United States women’s XV team, with a proposal in front of her circle of family and friends.
A post shared via Heimana Reynolds (@heimana_reynolds)
This special moment was captured through two-time Olympian skater Heimana Reynolds.
“I’ve never done a proposal photograph, however, when @alevkelter told me about his plan and asked if I’d like to capture that moment, I was surely honored,” Reynolds said. “I am so grateful to Alev and Kelter circle of family for welcoming me and trusting me to capture this exclusive moment. I am very satisfied for you. “
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Courtney McGinley is a member of Newsweek, Live News in Pittsburgh, PA. Courtney joined Newsweek in 2024. She graduated from Penn State University. You can contact Courtney by emailing c. mcginley@newsweek. com. Languages: English.
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