The recently concluded Olympics is going down in history as the most romantic, boasting 11 marriage proposals and countless other heartwarming love stories.
The 2024 Paris Olympics will be remembered for many things: From records broken to controversies that rocked the internet, meme-worthy moments to the sheer beauty and historical value of the sporting venues (LA must be shaking right now).
There is, however, one other thing for which this Olympics will be remembered by those who followed it closely (like me!): romance. Yep, you read that right, the 2024 Paris Olympics is going down in the annals of history as the most romantic, and rightfully so as it was held in the City of Love no less.
So love-filled was the recently concluded games that it served as the backdrop to not just one, not two, but 11 engagements on top of other equally heartwarming love stories we could not help but gush over. Tony Estanguet, president of the 2024 Paris Olympics organizing committee, revealed that this year’s Olympics broke the record for the most proposals, as reported on The Daily Mail.
“Here in Paris we have broken a new record that is very close to our hearts: the most marriage proposals ever at an Olympic Games. These feelings of hope, inspiration and love will remain,” he said.
If you’re still on an Olympic high like we are, The POST lists down some of our favorite Paris Olympics love stories which made us swoon, giggle, and feel kilig like lovestruck high schoolers all over again. These athletes have won Olympic glory, but have also won in life and in love. Mapapa-sana all ka na lang!
Pinoy Olympians in love
When it comes to love, Filipinos are definitely among the most romantic. It was lovely seeing some of our prized Olympians having the time of their life in the City of Light with their partners.
Fresh from his historic double-gold win, Carlos Yulo took some well deserved R&R with girlfriend Chloe San Jose. They went around Paris, visited some well known landmarks, and even spent a day in Disneyland.
Two-time Olympic medalist Nesthy Petecio also made the most of her Paris sojourn as she made memories with her fiancée Riza Geneblaza. The two got engaged in November 2022.
Asia’s pole vault king EJ Obiena, ranked No. 2 in the world, who finished an impressive fourth in the games, is not one to post about his personal life. So when his long-time girlfriend, German triple jumper Caroline Joyeux posted an Instagram reel documenting the best parts of her Paris trip with EJ, hearts could be heard shattering across the archipelago. May nanalo na, guys!
A Hallmark kind of love story
In an Olympics that brims with romance, perhaps the most heart-tugging one is that of Olympic gold medalist Tara Davis-Woodall and husband Hunter, a three-time Paralympics medalist.
After winning gold in the women’s long jump, Davis-Woodhall put on her signature cowboy hat and celebrated her big win alongside Team USA teammate Jasmine Moore who won bronze. Then she sprinted to the stands and jumped into the waiting arms of her husband. Kleenex, please.
Hunter, a double amputee, lost his legs when he was only 11 months old due to a congenital birth defect. He competes using advanced carbon fiber blades in the 100, 200, and 400-meter categories of track and field. The two met at a 2017 track meet in Idaho, according to a YouTube video they put together explaining the history of their relationship. They started dating by the end of their senior year of high school.
A world famous tower and 2,738 flowers
On Aug. 5, Olympic rower Justin Best proposed to his high school sweetheart, Lainey Duncan, in front of the Eiffel Tower, where the couple was surrounded by 2,738 yellow flowers in a nod to each day they’d kept their Snapchat streak alive—that’s every single day for seven-and-a-half years. Talk about dedication!
The proposal went down live on the Today show after Best won his first gold a few days prior in the coxless men’s four rowing alongside teammates Nick Mead, Michael Grady, and Liam Corrigan, the first time the US has won the event since 1960.
“Lainey Olivia Duncan, you are the love of my life,” Justin said as he got down on one knee in front of the Parisian icon. “You have been with me since day one.”
A gold medal and a diamond ring in one day
Huang Ya Qiong and Zheng Siwei of China just won the gold medal in the badminton mixed doubles. Just when the petite Huang thought it couldn’t get any better, it does.
As she left the podium with her gold medal, boyfriend Liu Yuchen—who was also in Paris representing China in the men’s doubles—was waiting with flowers. Without warning, he pulled out a ring, dropped to one knee, and popped the question, to which a visibly shocked Huang said “yes.” Lucky girl getting a gold and a ring (diamond maybe?) all in one day!
Who says girls can’t propose?
French 3,000m steeplechase athlete Alice Finot may not have won a medal, but she has more than enough reason to celebrate—coming in fourth in a fiercely fought race (she missed the podium by just 3 seconds) and breaking the European steeplechase record with a remarkable time of 8:58.67.
And as the cherry on top, Finot made her way to the stands, hugged her partner and fellow athlete Bruno Martínez Bargiela from Spain, before getting down on one knee and proposing with an Olympic pin instead of a ring.
“I told myself that if I ran under nine minutes, knowing that nine is my lucky number and that we’ve been together for nine years, then I would propose,” Finot said. “I don’t like doing things like everyone else. Since he hadn’t done it yet, I thought maybe it was up to me.”
We are rooting for all of you—in sports and in love!
