The adage that Paris is the City of Love proved to be true with these romantic moments at the 2024 Olympics
In the 19 days of spirited competition, the Paris Olympics produced world records, moving memories, and thrilling firsts for multiple. The event was also not short of several love-filled moments. President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) himself, Thomas Bach, hailed the Paris 2024 Olympics a “love story,” honoring the widespread passion that has marked the Games. Here are the gold medal-worthy romantic affairs of the heart from Paris that even the most hardened cynic will agree with Bach.
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Where’s the Trophy? He Comes Runnin’ Over to Me
Taylor Swift’s “The Alchemy” has ruled over TikTok with videos of Swedish world record-breaker Armand “Mondo” Duplantis running straight to girlfriend Desiré Inglander on the stands after earning the gold medal. The couple then shared a passionate, teary kiss—the athlete commemorated his historic win with a celebration fit for the City of Love.
In a sweet TikTok video, Mondo also gives Desiré some gold medal time—a clear sign that they both have won the high-stakes game of love.
They aren’t the only couple making our hearts race. Team USA star Tara Davis-Woodhall and husband Paralympian Hunter Woodhall turned the Olympics into a family affair. After earning her gold medal in the long jump, she ran to Hunter’s waiting arms in a joyous embrace, where he proudly told her, “Babe, you’re the Olympic champion!”
Olympic sprinters-slash-lovers Noah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield also shared a heartwarming moment in the stands. Seconds after Noah won the gold in the 400-meter, he sprinted to Junelle and showed the world plenty of love.
Finally, after Gabrielle Thomas ran straight for gold in the 200-meter dash, she ran straight into her boyfriend’s arms, Spencer McManes, with the USA flag wrapped around her shoulders. It was a living, breathing poster for Olympics glory.
Golds, Silvers, or Bronzes—and Diamonds
Several athletes and their partners came into the Games as boyfriend and girlfriend, but left as fiancés. Not only are they coming home with medals to add to their trophy cabinets, but also with diamond rings on their fingers. With one proposal after another, The Paris 2024 edition of the Games has now broken the record for the most proposals.
Fresh off securing gold, Chinese badminton player Huang Ya Qiong said “yes” to boyfriend and fellow badminton athlete Liu Yuchen when he popped the question.
American rugby star Alev Kelter got bronze and then got down on knee to propose to fellow rugby player Kathryn Treder.
French sprinter Alice Finot, meanwhile, proposed to her boyfriend with an Olympic pin after breaking the European steeplechase record. In an interview, Alice Finot said, “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…I don’t like doing things like everyone else. Since he hadn’t done it yet, I told myself that maybe it was up to me to do it. So, I gave a pin that I ran with to my boyfriend. On it, it says: ‘Love is in Paris.’” Her boyfriend, triathlete Bruno Martínez Bargiela from Spain, said yes, and then Alice pinned his shirt with the pin.
Another congratulations are in order for Italy’s rhythmic gymnast Alessia Maurelli, who said yes to her partner’s proposal after winning the group all-around bronze.
Olympic rower Justin Best, meanwhile, made history by bringing home a gold after 60 years, but the real prize was the easy “yes” his girlfriend of nine years gave him after he dropped to one knee. The couple got engaged live on the TODAY show.
Double Medals, Double Rings
French women’s skiff sailors Sarah Steyaert and Charline Picon received romantic offers as well when they returned ashore from securing their Olympic bronzes. Their respective partners proposed, and both said yes. As per the athletes, the boyfriends promised rings if the sailing partners medaled.
The City of Second Chances?
While couples are getting engaged left and right, this athletic pair have fans all around the world swooning for a second chance romance. Olympic tennis “exes” Kateřina Siniaková and Tomáš Macháč from Czechia bagged first place in the mixed doubles final…and then kissed. After four years together, the pair called it quits but continued their Paris campaign anyway. Post-victory, they shared a passionate, teary kiss on the court, leading the world to speculate on their current relationship status. Fans are crossing their fingers for them to confirm reconciliation rumors, but Macháč said in an interview that their status is currently “top secret.”
An Ode to His Wife
Gianmarco Tamberi, Italy’s Olympic high jumper, lost his wedding ring in the Seine river during the Games’ opening ceremonies. But following the incident, he wrote a heartfelt ode and apology to his wife, Chiara Bontempi Tamberi, that had us all in tears. “…I felt (the ring) slip away, I saw it fly … I followed (it) with a glance until I saw (it) bouncing inside the boat,” he wrote on Instagram in Italian alongside a photo of him and his wife on their wedding day.
“It will stay forever in the riverbed of the city of love, flown away while I tried to carry the Italian tricolor as high as possible during the opening ceremony of the most important sport evening in the world. If I had to invent an apology, I would never have been this imaginative,” he added. “I think there might be a huge poetic side to yesterday’s misdeed, and if you want, we’ll throw yours into that river, too, so they’ll be together forever, and we’ll have one more excuse to, like you’ve always asked, renew our vows and get married anew.”
Photos and Featured Image: SKYSPORT, HUANG YA QIONG, JUNELLE BROMFIELD, MATTHIAS SCHRADER (via Instagram)
