In the City of Love, romance and triumph intertwined as eight Olympians celebrated a rare, unforgettable moment alongside their sporting achievements at the 2024 Paris Games.
Payton Otterdahl proposed to his girlfriend Maddy Nilles with the Eiffel Tower as their backdrop, while Chinese badminton star Huang Yaqiong was surprised with an engagement ring by her teammate Li Yuchen after a gold medal victory.
Argentine handball player Pablo Simonet and French steeplechaser Alice Finot also celebrated their achievements with proposals.
Here is a closer look at the eight engagements that happened during the Olympics, showcasing how the 2024 Paris games became a backdrop for both athletic and romantic milestones.
Justin Best and Lainey Duncan
In a stunning display of triumph both on and off the water, rower Justin Best, a two-time Olympian, secured gold in the men's four-rowing event at the Paris Games. This victory marks the first Olympic medal for Team USA rowing since 1960.
In a heartwarming twist, Best also won in his personal life. During a live appearance on TODAY, he proposed to his girlfriend, Lainey Duncan, against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. The proposal was accompanied by a striking bouquet of 2,738 yellow roses, symbolizing the couple's Snapchat streak.
"Each yellow rose represents a day that you and I have been together," Best said, reflecting on their unique digital connection. "Our streak is 2,738 right now."
On Instagram, Best shared his joy: "This is usually the point in the movie where the triumphant mid-2000s pop song builds and the credits start rolling. Thankfully instead, I get to spend the rest of my life with you and the show goes on."
Payton Otterdahl and Maddy Nilles
Two-time Olympian Payton Otterdahl, who finished 4th in shot put at the Paris 2024 Games and 10th at the Tokyo 2020 Games, captured attention with a romantic proposal. Otterdahl asked for Maddy Nilles' hand in marriage against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower during the Paris Games.
"Meanwhile, in the City of Love... I love you forever, Maddy Nilles!" Otterdahl wrote on Instagram, celebrating their engagement. Nilles took to her story, writing, "Je vous aime."
His fiancée, a Nebraska track and field coach, shares a strong connection to the sport, just like Otterdahl.
The couple recently hosted a "Spring Fling" throwing clinic at Nilles' former high school, Wahlert High School in Iowa. She described the event as a "full circle moment" on Instagram, highlighting the significance of coaching with her partner.
Huang Yaqiong and Liu Yuchen
For Chinese badminton player Huang Ya Qiong, the Paris Games were a smash hit, combining gold with diamonds. Huang and her partner Zheng Siwei triumphed in the mixed doubles event, defeating South Korea's Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun with scores of 21-8, 21-11, concluding an unbeaten streak.
After celebrating with her gold medal, Huang was surprised by a second piece of jewelry—an engagement ring. Li Yuchen, a fellow member of China's badminton team, proposed to Huang, presenting her with a bouquet before getting down on one knee.
"For me, the proposal is very surprising because I have been preparing for the game," Huang said through an interpreter. "I am an Olympic champion and I got proposed to, so that's something I didn't expect."
China has dominated mixed doubles badminton, winning gold at back-to-back Olympics five out of eight times since the event became a medal competition in Atlanta in 1996.
Pablo Simonet and Maria Campoy
In a touching prelude to the Paris Games opening ceremony, Argentina handball player Pablo Simonet proposed to his girlfriend, Maria Campoy, a field hockey player, in the Olympic Village. The romantic gesture occurred just after a group photo was taken.
Simonet got down on one knee, and the proposal was met with a resounding "yes."
"The woman of my life gave me the yes. In the dream place, where everything came from and where we doubt so much to be," Simonet shared on Instagram. "Happiness is total, thank you friends and a few accomplices for making this special and being able to keep this forever. Paris is always a good idea."
Simonet, a three-time Olympian who competed in 2016, 2020 and 2024, achieved his best result with a 10th place in Rio 2016 and is currently ranked 12th. Maria Campoy, a two-time Olympian, ranked 7th in Rio 2016 and earned a bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Games.
The couple, who have been together since 2015, found the City of Love to be the perfect setting for their next step. The timing was especially fitting as both national teams secured their spots in Paris just minutes apart at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.
Alice Finot and Bruno Martínez Bargiela
Alice Finot, a French athlete competing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Paris Games, made headlines with a finish that was a leap beyond the track. Although 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-time Olympian, approached her boyfriend, Spanish triathlete Bruno Martínez Bargiela, among the spectators. In a unique and personal gesture, she got down on one knee and held up a pin, proposing to him.
"I told myself that if I ran under nine minutes, knowing that nine is my lucky number and we've been together for nine years, then I would propose," Finot said to AP. "I don't like doing things like everyone else. Since he hadn't done it yet, I thought maybe it was up to me."
Bargiela responded to the proposal with a joyful nod and embrace. Finot then pinned a shiny object to his shirt, celebrating a memorable moment for the couple, who have been together for nine years.
Sarah Steyaert
Sarah Steyaert, a four-time Olympian from France, achieved her long-awaited goal at the Paris 2024 Games, securing a bronze medal in sailing. Steyaert's Olympic journey included a 5th-place finish in Beijing 2008, a 16th-place finish in London 2012, and a 6th-place finish in Rio 2016 before making a triumphant return to the podium.
Steyaert, 36, came out of retirement, rejoining the competitive sailing scene alongside teammate Charline Picon in the 49er FX class. After stepping away from the sport following the Rio 2016 Games to raise her two daughters and work as a school teacher, Steyaert made a successful comeback.
In a surprising turn of events, both Steyaert and Picon got engaged to their boyfriends after winning their medals.
"Our boyfriends said at the beginning of the project 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, 'Ok so I will not be engaged.'"
Steyaert's partner followed through with the proposal, greeting her with their young daughter. "We had to say yes," Steyaert remarked, reflecting on the unexpected but joyous turn of events.
Charline Picon and Jean-Emmanuel Mestre
Charline Picon, a three-time Olympic medalist, made history as the first French sailor to win multiple Olympic medals. She secured gold at Rio 2016, silver at Tokyo 2020, and finished eighth in her debut at the London 2012 Games.
As one half of the "Mama Team," alongside teammate Sarah Steyaert, Picon celebrated more than just athletic achievements and a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Games.
Picon and Steyaert both got engaged to their boyfriends after the Games, marking a special moment in their personal lives.
"It was an amazing moment on the beach," Picon shared, reflecting on the memorable proposal.
Kathryn Treder and Alev Kelter
Team USA's rugby team wasn't the only one to celebrate a victory at the Games. Three-time Olympian Alev Kelter scored a personal win by proposing to her girlfriend, Kathryn Treder.
Kelter, who made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016 and became the first U.S. woman to score a try in rugby sevens at the Olympics, also competed at Tokyo 2020, where the team finished sixth. This year in Paris, the team clinched a bronze medal with a 14-12 victory over Australia.
Center Alev Kelter made another smart move, this time off the field. While climbing the steps of the Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris with her girlfriend, Kathryn
Treder, Kelter's twin sister, Derya, discreetly handed her the engagement ring. Alev then surprised Kathryn, who plays rugby for the U.S. women's XVs Squad, with a proposal in front of their family and friends.
The special moment was captured by two-time Olympian skateboarder Heimana Reynolds.
"I have never done any sort of proposal photography but when @alevkelter told me her plan and asked me if I would like to capture this moment, I felt absolutely honored," Reynolds said. "I am so thankful to Alev and the Kelter family for welcoming me in and trusting me to capture this once-in-a-lifetime moment. I am so happy for you guys."
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