The Rio 2016 Olympics is gradually nearing climax but the greatest winner of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad is ‘Love’.
There were several emotional moments in Rio with marriage proposals taking the Games to the next level.
From volunteers to divers, the declaration of love knows no bound as love birds steal the show with their styles of popping the big questions.
China’s He Zi received the shock of her life when teammate and boyfriend Qin Kai rushed up with a diamond ring during the medal ceremony of the women’s 3 meter springboard event, marking the second marriage proposal of the Olympics.
Qin, who won a bronze medal in his own synchronized diving event last week, climbed up to the stage after He received her silver medal, getting down on one knee while holding a red box with the ring and a glass-encased rose.
‘I didn’t know he would propose today and I didn’t expect myself to marry myself out so early,’ said He, who tearfully accepted the proposal with a big hug.
I saw him during the afternoon and he seemed to be memorizing some- thing, so I asked him ‘what are you doing?’ and he said he was singing,’ she told reporters.
‘I’ve forgotten most of what he’s said (during the proposal), but it’s largely what you can expect like promises, but what touched me the most is that he said he was willing to be bullied by me for life,’ she said.
The 25-year-old has been dating the 30-year-old Qin for the past six years, she added.
It was the same story but in a dif- ferent style when a volunteer Majorie Enya, asked her Brazilian rugby player girlfriend to marry her before sealing the proposal with a kiss.
Enya walked on to the pitch – after Australia had beaten New Zealand
to the rugby sevens gold medal – and took her partner Isadora Cerullo, 25, by the hands.
After grabbing the microphone at the Deodoro Stadium in Rio, 28-year- old Enya launched in to a heartfelt speech before the crowd erupted into applause as they embraced.
Enya said she was not nervous about asking Isadora to marry her in front of a TV audience of millions, adding: ‘She is the love of my life.’ The couple have been together for
the last two years and live in Sao Paulo.
Cerullo, part of the Brazil squad that finished ninth in the Olympic rugby sevens competition, has dual US citizenship.
She moved to Sao Paulo to focus on the Games
The BBC quotes her as saying: ‘The Olympic Games can look like closure but for me it’s starting a new life with someone. I wanted to show people that love wins.’