Bronte Campbell quietly announced her engagement to longtime boyfriend Benfield Lainchbury, 35, in a series of emotional Instagram photos shared on Friday.
The 30-year-old Australian swimming golden girl shared a carousel of cute couple photos, with the standout being the second image of Bronte showing off a stunning emerald-cut diamond set east to west on a gold band on her ring finger.
Another photo captured the moment after the proposal, when the couple enjoyed a golden sunset on a boat in Venice, Italy.
Bronte and Benfield took the selfie with matching smiles, with her left hand and her new jewelry resting on his bicep.
The happy couple went on holiday to Europe after the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Bronte took home a gold medal in the women’s 4x100m relay final for Australia. That makes her a four-time Olympic gold medallist, but now it’s the diamond she brought home from Europe that has everyone talking.
“What a week celebrating all that’s been and all the exciting things yet to come. Love you @ieldbenf. Easiest yes ever,” Bronte wrote in the caption.
The other two photos show her in a yellow summer dress giving her boyfriend a kiss on the cheek and at a beautiful garden table set for a meal the couple enjoyed during their travels.
Bronte Campbell has quietly announced her engagement to long-time boyfriend Benfield Lainchbury in a series of photos from their recent European holiday. The two appear in the photo
The four-time Olympic gold medalist shared a photo showing the stunning emerald-cut diamond set east to west on a gold band.
The happy couple vacationed in Europe following the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Benfield proposed to Bronte during a golden hour boat ride in Venice, Italy.
The news of the couple’s engagement was met with an outpouring of love from friends, family and fellow athletes.
“YEAH …
Swimmer Shayna Jack added: “Congratulations to you both.”
“Congratulations, mate,” Bondi Brewery owner Paul Parks commented. “Was the ring gold, silver or bronze?”
The blushing bride-to-be has now shared intimate moments from her proposal.
“I never know what to do with my hands,” she captioned the photo as she showed off her new diamond after winning her fourth gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
TV presenter Roz Kelly wrote: “Congratulations I’m so happy for you,” with a red love heart.
Motivational speaker Turia Pitt also shared her excitement, exclaiming: “Oh my God! CONGRATULATIONS!”
Noticeably absent from the public congratulations was Bronte’s older sister and fellow Olympic swimmer, Cate Campbell.
However, given their close relationship, it is likely that the sisters have already celebrated together in private.
Noticeably absent from the public congratulations was Bronte’s older sister and fellow Olympic swimmer, Cate Campbell.
Bronte and her fiancé have known each other since childhood and Benfield has been by the swimmer’s side since they began dating in 2016.
He played a pivotal role in the swimmer’s decision to return to the pool after an 18-month break following the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Averaging 19,000 strokes a week in the water was physically and mentally damaging, and his paltry $30,000 a year as a full-time athlete wasn’t helping either.
After Bronte landed a position as a senior consultant at major accounting and professional services firm Ernst & Young just over two years ago, she felt her days in the pool were finally over.
But after 18 months away from the sport – allowing a “broken” Bronte to rest her serious shoulder, neck, back and hip injuries – the lure of a fourth Games has proved irresistible.
With the support of her partner, she began swimming again and followed the rigorous path that has now led her to obtain her fourth gold medal.
Bronte and her fiancé have known each other since childhood and Benfield has been by the swimmer’s side since they began dating in 2016.
Bronte moved from Canberra to Brisbane and began training at the Australian Institute of Sport under her new coach Shannon Rollason.
She has had some impressive results, notably winning the women’s 100m freestyle at the South Australian Open State Championships in January and the women’s 50m freestyle at the New South Wales State Championships in March.
Exhaustive stretching through yoga and rehabilitation of his injuries have been instrumental, as has the growing influence of Rollason.
She has had some impressive results, notably winning the women’s 100m freestyle at the South Australian Open State Championships in January and the women’s 50m freestyle at the New South Wales State Championships in March.
Exhaustive stretching through yoga and rehabilitation of his injuries have been instrumental, as has the growing influence of Rollason.
With Australia’s pre-Olympic swimming trials in Paris starting in Brisbane on June 10, Campbell couldn’t have timed her race better.
“The decision to come back… when you look at all the consequences that come with it: the move, the impact on my relationship, the impact on my finances, the impact on my job… it was huge,” she said.
As a two-time Olympic gold medalist and former world champion, Campbell had accomplished more than most would with their racing goggles.
She also does not rule out participating in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, where she will be 34 years old.
“The question is whether I’ll still want to do it when the time comes to go to Los Angeles,” he told News Corp.
“That’s what I asked myself after Tokyo: do I really want to keep doing this? The answer was yes, which meant I got back into it.
“I may be in a slightly different phase of my life by then (with marriage and children), so we’ll see.”