Couples who medal together, stay together.
Updated Jul 16, 2024US Shot Putter Payton Otterdahl Proposes to Girlfriend Maddy Nilles at the Olympics
Underneath the Eiffel Tower, because where else?
The City of Love just got *tres* romantic for US shot putter Payton Otterdahl, who proposed to his girlfriend Maddy Nilles on August 4. The Olympian got down on one knee underneath the Eiffel Tower to pop the question mere hours after he competed in the shot put finals in the track and field competition.
Despite placing fourth, falling just short of a medal, the 28-year-old athlete didn't let it dampen his time in Paris. While sightseeing with his girlfriend, Otterdahl presented her with an engagement ring underneath the Olympic rings on display at the famous monument.
"Meanwhile, in the City of Love…," he captioned an Instagram photo of the engagement. "I love you forever, Maddy Nilles!"
While Otterdahl's newly-minted fiancée isn't a fellow Olympian, she is a seasoned track athlete. Nilles currently works as the assistant track and field coach at the University of Nebraska. According to her biography on the school's website, she was promoted to the position in 2022 after starting as a volunteer. Under her leadership in 2023, Nilles helped lead the team to five school records, 25 total top-ten marks, eight conference titles and 13 All-America honors.
Nilles attended college at North Dakota State University, where she was a four-time All-American in the hammer and weight throw. In 2018, she placed fifth at the USA Indoor Championships and was an Olympic Trials participant.
Unsurprisingly, Nilles is a fierce supporter of Otterdahl's Olympic career. Despite being unable to travel to Tokyo for his debut appearance at the Games (which took place in 2021 due to the pandemic), Nilles made custom shirts for their dog, Doobie, emblazoned with Otterdahl's face on it. "Cheering on @p.train_throws from home! ❤️🤍💙 Go unleash the beast in finals Payt! Doob and I love ya 😘," she captioned a photo of their pup in the patriotic merch.
FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT
Keeping the tradition alive, Nilles dressed their dog in an updated version of the same shirt before traveling to Paris to support her boyfriend. "Keeping the traditions alive!" she wrote on Instagram. "Nothing like some Dooby love 🥰."
