- Olympic Swimmer Shayna Jack Now Engaged
- Her boyfriend Joel Rintala proposed to her in Rome
- Followed by Jack winning two gold medals in Paris
Australian Olympic athlete Shayna Jack has revealed the details behind her romantic engagement to partner Joel Rintala.
Jack, 25, was on holiday in Rome when his now fiancée, who is an Australian hockey player, convinced her to see the famous Trevi Fountain.
It was an August night, and after the swimming star played tourist in Italy and tossed a coin into the water, Rintala asked him what he wanted.
“I told him I couldn’t tell him or it wouldn’t come true, but he insisted and said, ‘Come on, tell me,’ so I said, ‘Well, obviously I’ve spent a lifetime with you,'” Jack said. News Corporation.
“That’s when he pulled out the ring and said, ‘Will you spend the rest of your life with me?’
The answer was a resounding yes, and Jack won gold in the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relay finals at the Paris Games earlier this year.
Jack felt it was his sporting redemption after a two-year drug ban, but it seems some scars will never heal when it comes to relentless online trolls.
After Australian swimming coach Brett Hawke declared that China’s Pan Zhanle beating Kyle Chalmers by one length in the 100m freestyle final in Paris was “humanly impossible”, chaos ensued.
Australian Olympian Shayna Jack has revealed the details behind her romantic engagement to long-term partner Joel Rintala (pictured, together)
Shayna Jack (left) won gold in the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relay finals at the Paris Games.
It was a moment of redemption after the 25-year-old served a two-year suspension for testing positive for Ligandrol, a banned substance that can help repair and build muscle.
Many Chinese swimming fans were furious over accusations that their hero Zhanle was a drug cheat, and Jack was an easy scapegoat.
She was attacked on her Instagram, with cruel syringe emojis and comments on photos of her medals suggesting she was not a “clean” athlete.
Jack realized that she will always be linked to doping, no matter her achievements in the pool.
But Jack decided to ignore the hate and focus on other projects, specifically his recent collaboration with popular sportswear brand LSKD.
He also plans to make a big jump at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
“I definitely have that motivation to come back,” Jack said.
‘I also love being part of this (Aussie Dolphins swimming) team and I love competing.
‘This is just the beginning for me… I hope there is more story to tell… I am proud of how far I have come.’