French runner Alice Finot captured attention at the Paris Summer Olympics not only for her athletic achievements but also for a touching personal moment.
Finot, who set a new European record in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, proposed to her long-time partner, Spanish triathlete Bruno Martínez Bargiela, after the race.
In the steeplechase final, Finot finished fourth with a time of 8:58.67, as four athletes broke the nine-minute barrier for the first time. The top three were Winfred Yavi from Bahrain, Peruth Chemutai of Uganda, and Faith Cherotich of Kenya.
After the race, Finot celebrated by running to the stands and proposing to Bargiela using an Olympic pin as a makeshift ring. Spectators captured the touching moment when she pinned the pin to his shirt, followed by an embrace and kiss.
In an interview, Finot explained the special meaning behind her proposal: “I promised myself that if I ran under nine minutes, knowing that nine is my lucky number and we’ve been together for nine years, I would propose. Since he hadn’t yet, I thought maybe it was up to me.”
Despite narrowly missing out on a medal, Finot expressed no regrets: “I was just a tiny bit off from getting a medal, but I don’t regret anything. I had an amazing time and managed to express myself.”
Her proposal adds to the list of unforgettable engagements at the Summer Games.
