Love was all in the air around a packed stadium in Rio De Janeiro when a Chinese girl athlete was proposed for marriage.
He Zi and Qin Ka have been in a relationship for six years now.
Silver medalist He Zi was taken by surprise when Olympian Qin Kai proposed at poolside before she said “yes” to her boyfriend of six years. Cheered on by the crowd, Qin took out a small box and slipped the ring on He’s finger and gave her a red rose encased in glass.
Qin, bronze medallist in the men’s 3m synchronised springboard, got down on one knee whilst silver medallist He was on her lap of honour and, after a lengthy wait, finally got the all-important “yes” he was looking for.
“He said a lot of things, made a lot of promises, but I think the thing that touched me the most is I think this is the guy I can trust for the rest of my life,” said He, proudly displaying her shiny new ring.
He and Qin have been dating since 2010, and whilst being caught off guard, she admitted she nearly rumbled his plan as Qin got in some proposal practice on Sunday morning.
“This morning in his room he was reciting something and I didn’t notice (what it was). I asked him and he said he was singing,” added He, who also won silver in London four years ago.
“I didn’t know he was (practising) the proposal.