Love in the time of Olympics: After China's diver duo in Rio 2016, now this shuttler couple gets engaged on Paris podium

Olympics podium may not seem to have anything to do with dramatic marriage proposals. But for the past few editions, the biggest sporting event in the world is the favourite spot for athletes to get engaged.

The latest in the list is China's shuttler Huang Ya Qiong who clinched gold along with Zheng Siwei in mixed doubles badminton. After receiving the medal, Qiong's fellow player Liu Yu Chen handed over flowers to her and got down on his knee. As he proposed, she said yes. Chen had won a silver medal in the men's doubles competition in Tokyo

This comes after Argentine handball player Pablo Simonet proposed to his longtime partner Pilar Campoy, who is a hockey player. They have been together since 2015 and have been part of Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. In a viral video, Simonet can be seen kneeling to propose to Campoy following which she says yes.

The official X handle of The Olympic Games called it the “first marriage proposal” at the Paris 2024 Olympics and congratulated them. “Pablo Simonet and Pilar Campoy had a very special moment surrounded by their handball and hockey teammates from Argentina,” said the post.

In 2016, during the Rio Olympics, after Chinese diver He Zi bagged silver in the women's three-metre springboard, her boyfriend, Qin Kai, proposed to her in front of the cameras. Kai had also won bronze in the men's three metre sychronised springboard.