I can't stand this!Lovers proposing in the "City of Romance"

Aug 08, 2024

Chinese yewichon.

Argentina Pablo Simone and Maria Campoy.

Paris, where Eiffel Tower stands tall, and the Olympic Games at the Sports Festival, where the eyes of the world are focused, provide the perfect background for athletes to propose to their lovers.

Chinese badminton star Liu Yichen knelt down and proposed a ring on the 2nd (Korea time) in front of her lover, Hangyachong, who came down from the court after winning a gold medal in the badminton mixed doubles final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Tearful at the unexpected surprise, Huang Yat-chung won the Olympics and received a proposal. I was really surprised because it was unexpected."

There are also cases where men and women have changed. French track and field star Alys Pinot knelt on the 7th after the women's 3,000m steeplechase final at the Olympics. I proposed with a pre-prepared badge, and my boyfriend shed tears of emotion. The two shared a deep hug in the presence of numerous spectators and cameras. The pin badge he handed to his boyfriend read 'Love is in Paris' Pinot vowed to propose when he finished the race in nine minutes. Nine is my lucky number. We've been together for nine years." Pinot missed the medal unfortunately, finishing fourth with a time of 8:58.67, but won love. Proposals would have been a strong incentive to set records.

Alice Pinot proposing to her boyfriend.

Argentine men's handball player Pablo Simone presented a romantic proposal to Argentina's women's field hockey team Maria Campoy as Argentina's teammates watched in the stadium a day before the official opening of the Olympics. The two began dating in 2015 and experienced the Olympic stage side by side in Rio in 2016. At the 2023 Pan American Games, they won tickets to the Paris Olympics by just a few minutes. Campoy, who heralded 'Last Dance' in Paris, received a special gift as much as the Olympics.

The Olympics have always been a stage where the love of young sports stars sprout and bear fruit. Tennis star Roger Federer had his first kiss with Miroslava Babrinek, a fellow Swiss national team player, at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and married in 2009 after a long entertainment stint.

At the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, Czechoslovakia's discus throw star Olga Picotova and U.S. shot put star Hal Connolly fell in love. The following year, the two passed the Cold War and got married. In addition, U.S. soccer star Meghan Lapino and U.S. basketball star Sue Bird became a couple after meeting at the Rio Olympic Village in 2016. Lee Seung-yoon, who contributed to the men's team gold medal in archery at the 2016 Rio Games, made an open proposal by putting a gold medal around the bride-to-be's neck at the return site. He promised to marry in advance, but postponed the announcement of the wedding until after the competition in order not to disturb the national team focusing on the competition.

yoonjinman@sportschosun.com