Couples who medal together, stay together.
Updated Jul 16, 2024Look Back on the Most Romantic Moments From the 2024 Paris Olympics
The City of Love lived up to its name.
Photo: Patrick Smith | Getty Images
The 2024 Olympics may have come to an end, but one thing is certain: the Paris Games were for lovers. Over the last two weeks, fans around the world watched as athletes competed on the largest stage. Some set new world records, a lucky few broke their own, and plenty left France with an impressive collection of medals. But amid all of the incredible athletic achievements, we couldn't help but notice quite a few romantic moments that took center stage.
Now that the competition is over, you might be left thinking that this year brought more lavish displays of affection than usual—because it did! In fact, the 2024 Games broke the record for most proposals ever at an Olympics. Considering the competition took place in the City of Love, there was no better time for the athletes (and their significant others) to indulge in a little PDA—and we're still swooning over it, TBH. Here, we look back on the best couple moments from the 2024 Olympics, from all the engagements to sweet exchanges that will continue to live rent-free in our minds.
Armand "Mondo" Duplantis Runs to His Girlfriend After Setting a World Record
Swedish pole vaulter Armand "Mondo" Duplantis didn't just break the pole vault world record at the 2024 Olympics—he's also responsible for one of the most viral Olympic kiss moments. (Talk about setting the bar high.) The athlete easily cleared the 6.10-meter height to break the Olympic record set by Thiago Braz at the 2016 Games in Rio. Then, on his third attempt, he jumped 6.25 meters, thus setting a new world record. Immediately after landing, Duplantis ran to the stands to embrace his girlfriend, Desiré Inglander. The sweet moment instantly went viral online, with fans creating edits of their celebration set to Taylor Swift's love song "The Alchemy" (specifically over the lyrics "Where's the trophy? He just comes running over to me").
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Hunter Woodhall Celebrates Wife Tara Davis-Woodhall's Gold Medal
Photo: Patrick Smith | Getty Images
Congratulations were in order for long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall, who finally won her first Olympic medal in Paris. (It was gold, nonetheless.) When the athlete realized she clinched the victory after her last jump, she was overcome with emotion—and immediately ran to her husband, Paralympian Hunter Woodhall, who was ferociously shouting from the stands. "You're the Olympic champion, baby!" he cheered as she jumped into his arms.
Pommel Horse Steve's Girlfriend Becomes "Ms. Pommel Horse"
Breakout gymnastics star Stephen Nedoroscik, better known as Pommel Horse Steve, stole hearts as he helped propel the US mean's team to their first all-around medal in 16 years. The Clark Kent-esque pommel horse specialist became an instant internet sensation, and fans were delighted to learn his supportive girlfriend, Tess McCracken, was by his side in Paris. Also a gymnast, McCracken leaned into the fun by rebranding herself "Ms. Pommel Horse" amid her boyfriend's viral fame. "History = Made," she wrote on Instagram following his winning performance. "The most insane, magical day watching you close it out to bring home the first team medal for USA in sixteen years🇺🇸 Words can't capture how proud I am of you❤️."
Caeleb Dressel's Wife and Son Celebrate His Eigth Career Gold Medal
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The 2024 Olympics were an emotional experience for swimmer Caeleb Dressel, who was joined in Paris by his wife, Meghan, and their son, August. Alongside Snoop Dogg, the pair cheered for Dressel as he won the men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay final, marking his eighth career gold. After exiting the pool, the swimmer found them in the stands and didn't hold back tears as he held his baby in celebration. He later opened up to NBC about the significance of his family watching the competition, saying, "It was really special. I mean, my son getting to watch me win a gold medal is everything."
Shot Putter Payton Otterdahl Proposes Under the Eiffel Tower
Although US shot putter Payton Otterdahl didn't win a medal this year, he left France with something much sweeter: a fiancée! Immediately after finishing his competition, the athlete went sightseeing with his loved ones around Paris. When they made it to the Eiffel Tower, Otterdahl dropped to one knee to propose to his girlfriend, Maddy Nilles. The couple shared the happy news in a joint post on Instagram, writing, "Meanwhile, in the City of Love…"
Steeplechase Racer Alice Finot Pops the Question to Her Boyfriend in the Stands
Immediately after breaking the European record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, French runner Alice Finot tossed tradition by proposing to her boyfriend, Spanish triathlete Bruno Martinez. "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," Finot told reporters. When she finished the race in fourth place at eight minutes, 58.67 seconds, she presented Martinez with a pin that said "Love is in Paris." She added, "I don't like doing things like everyone else. Since he hadn't done it yet, I thought maybe it was up to me."
Noah Lyles Hugs Girlfriend Junelle Bromfield After Nail-Biter Track Victory
Photo: Christian Petersen | Getty Images
American track star Noah Lyles was highly favored to win the men's 100-meter race, which would solidify his title as the fastest man in the world. The nail-biter race ended in a stunning photo finish, in which it was nearly impossible to tell if Lyles beat Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson. After a minutes-long deliberation, it was confirmed that Lyles' torso crossed the finish line first by five-thousandths of a second. Once his incredible victory was announced, Lyles ran to the stands to celebrate with his family, including his girlfriend Junelle Bromfield, a fellow sprinter for Team Jamaica.
Ryan Murphy's Wife Shares Gender Reveal From the Stands
Seconds after securing a bronze medal in the men's 100-meter backstroke race, Ryan Murphy's wife, Bridget Konttinen, had a huge surprise in store. From her seat in the stands, she held up a gender reveal sign that read, "Ryan It's A Girl." She later shared the happy news on Instagram, writing, "Gender reveal: Paris edition 🎀🇫🇷💕Of all the medals you've won in your career, this one is by far the most special. Our biggest dream come true."
Czech Exes Win Gold in Mixed Tennis & Share a Passionate Kiss
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Are Katerina Siniakova and Tomas Machac officially back together?! We may never know—but what is certain is that these Czech mixed doubles tennis partners delivered one of our favorite Olympic moments this year. Previously romantic partners, the athletes broke up after four years of dating right before the Olympics…and yet, it didn't affect their performance. The two went on to win a gold medal together and shared a passionate kiss on the court, thus sparking a viral internet frenzy. "YOU CAN'T TELL ME THEY'RE NOT BACK TOGETHER. YOU CANT," sports journalist Rodger Sherman captioned a clip of their post-victory press conference, where they were prodded about the status of their relationship.
"That's our personal life, so you don't need to know that," Siniakova told a reporter who asked if they're together again. "We like when you are confused." Machac agreed, calling their relationship status "top secret."
Rugby Player Alev Kelter Proposes at the Musée d'Art Moderne After Winning Bronze
Team USA secured their first-ever medal in women's rugby after the team delivered an exciting win in the bronze match. Team center Alev Kelter capitalized on the fun by later proposing to her girlfriend, US women's rugby XVs squad member Kathryn Treder. The sweet proposal took place while they were touring the Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris. Kelter enlisted the help of US skateboarder Heimana Reynolds to capture the engagement.
In the clip, Kelter's twin sister Derya can be seen sneaking up behind the couple to place the ring box in her hand before she got down on one knee. "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 captioned the video on Instagram. "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🖤."
Rower Justin Best Proposes on Live TV
When it comes to the best couple moments at the Olympics, we're still swooning over Justin Best's proposal on live television. After Best helped Team USA secure a gold medal in rowing for the first time in 64 years, he used an appearance on The Today Show to pop the question to his longtime girlfriend. "Lainey Olivia Duncan, you are the love of my life," the 26-year-old athlete said while their loved ones surrounded them with 2,738 yellow roses—a nod to their impressive Snapchat streak. "You have been with me since day one. I knew you were special since our first date when I said to you, 'I want to go to the Olympics' and you, without question, said, 'Absolutely go for it.'"
He continued, "You are stunningly beautiful, ferociously intelligent—your kindness is leaps and bounds...I don't know anyone that doesn't love you." Then, before calling it the "easiest question of his life," Best said, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you and raise a family together. Lainey, will you marry me?" After she happily accepted, he added: "I got the gold and the girl, and she got the diamond."
Huang Yaqiong Gets Engaged During Gold Medal Ceremony
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What's better than winning gold? Winning gold and then immediately getting engaged, of course! Such was the case for Chinese badminton player Huang Yaqiong, who secured gold alongside her partner, Zheng Siwei, in the mixed doubles final against South Korea. Moments after her podium ceremony, her partner—fellow Olympic badminton player Liu Yuchen—surprised her by popping the question in front of the crowd. In a press conference after the engagement, Yaqiong said, "I was surprised by the engagement ring. I've been focusing on training to become an Olympic champion. I never expected it."
High Jumper Gianmarco Tamberi Loses Wedding Ring in the Seine—But Writes a Romantic Poem
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The very first viral Olympics moment was courtesy of Italian high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi, who accidentally lost his wedding ring in the Seine River during the Opening Ceremony. "I'm sorry my love, I'm terribly sorry," he wrote of the ordeal on Instagram, adding that he likely lost it because of "too much water" or "the uncontainable enthusiasm of what we were doing." "The fact remains that I heard it slip away, I saw it fly...I followed it with my eyes until I saw it bounce inside the boat," he continued. "A tinkle of hope...But unfortunately, the bounce was in the wrong direction and floating more than a thousand times in the air, I saw it dive into the water as if that was the only place it wanted to be."
Alas, Tamberi maintained a rather romantic outlook on the sequence of events. "It will remain forever in the riverbed of the city of love, flown away while I was trying to carry the Italian tricolor as high as possible during the opening ceremony of the most important sporting event in the world," he wrote, adding that he might ask his wife to throw hers in too "so that they will be together forever and we will have one more excuse to, as you have always asked me, renew our promises and get married again."
Pablo Simonet Proposes to Maria Campoy Before the Opening Ceremony
According to the official Olympics website, Argentinian handball player Pablo Simonet proposed to his girlfriend, Maria Campoy, who plays on Argentina's field hockey team, just before the Opening Ceremony kicked off on July 27. The sweet moment occurred when Simonet got down on one knee after they posed for a group photo with their fellow Argentinian teammates.
