- The 33-year-old finished fourth but broke the European record on Tuesday.
- Race won by Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete and world champion Winfred Yavi
- Two Chinese badminton players also got engaged after their success in Paris
French 3,000m steeplechase athlete Alice Finot celebrated breaking the European record on Tuesday evening by proposing to her partner at the Stade de France after crossing the finish line.
Finot came fourth in a highly competitive race won by reigning world champion Winfred Yavi of Bahrain, but managed to record an impressive personal best of 8 minutes 58.67 seconds.
But with one goal accomplished, the 33-year-old had another in her sights as she made her way to the stands.
Cheered on by the home fans inside the cauldron in Paris, Finot hugged her teammate, fellow athlete Bruno Martínez Bargiela, before kneeling down.
The Olympian proposed with a pin instead of a ring, much to Bargiela’s surprise, and Finot later explained that he had been inspired by a lucky numerological fact.
Alice Finot got down on one knee to propose to her partner after completing the obstacle course.
The Frenchwoman then shared the auspicious reason why she chose to do so at the Stade de France.
Finot broke the European record for the 3000m steeplechase after finishing fourth on Tuesday
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“I told myself that if I ran under 9 minutes, knowing that 9 is my lucky number and we’ve been together for 9 years, then I would propose to her,” Finot said in the mixed zone after her race.
“I don’t like doing things the way everyone else does. Since he hadn’t done it yet, I thought maybe it was my turn to do it.”
‘So I gave my boyfriend a pin that I wore with me when I ran. On it, it says: Love is in Paris.
‘He is the one who always gives me strength and if I managed to get under 9 minutes that meant a lot.’
Finot confirmed that she “said yes” to his proposal and that he was also delighted with his performance on the track.
“I had a great time, I was able to express myself,” adds the Frenchwoman.
“I was just a little short of a medal, I’m sorry, but I don’t regret anything.”
The 33-year-old said she “had a blast” competing in the event in front of the home crowd.
This is the second proposal by an athlete after those of Chinese badminton players Huang Ya Qiong (left) and Liu Yuchen.
The couple became engaged after Huang’s mixed doubles gold medal triumph last week.
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Finot is the second athlete to get engaged following a momentous Olympic triumph, after Chinese mixed badminton star Huang Ya Qiong received a proposal from her boyfriend after winning gold with partner Zheng Siwei.
Liu Yuchen, who represents China in the men’s doubles event, waited with a bouquet of flowers for Huang to enjoy her medal ceremony, before kneeling down and presenting the player with a ring.
“For me, the proposal is very surprising because I have been preparing for the match,” Huang told reporters through an interpreter.
“Today I am an Olympic champion and I have been proposed to, so it is something I did not expect,” she added.
