Chinese badminton player Huang Ya Qiong experienced a double dose of joy at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning a gold medal and receiving a surprise marriage proposal from her teammate Liu Yuchen.
On August 2, Huang, and her mixed doubles partner, Zheng Siwei, triumphed over South Korea’s Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun to secure the gold medal. The victory marked a high point in Huang’s career, but the celebration took an even more personal turn shortly after the medal ceremony at La Chapelle Arena.
Liu, who is Huang’s fellow Olympic teammate and a men’s doubles player, surprised her with a bouquet of flowers. In a heartfelt gesture, Liu dropped to one knee and proposed in front of the cheering crowd. Liu, who had previously won a silver medal in men’s doubles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, slipped a ring onto Huang’s finger as the arena erupted in applause.
Huang, visibly emotional, accepted the proposal with tears of joy. “I cannot describe the feeling I have because I am happy, happy, happy,” she said, reflecting on the unexpected moment. “I was surprised by the engagement ring. I’ve been focusing on training to become an Olympic champion, and I never expected this.”
The touching moment garnered widespread attention on social media, with many celebrating the couple’s engagement alongside Huang’s Olympic victory. One user on X (formerly Twitter) remarked, “Siwei Yaqiong may have won the gold medal, but Yuchen won Yaqiong’s heart.”
Huang admitted to the Associated Press through an interpreter that she was overwhelmed by the day’s events. “Today I am an Olympic champion and I got proposed to, so that’s something I didn’t expect,” she said.
This romantic proposal follows another Olympic-themed engagement earlier in the Games. Just before the Paris Olympics began, Argentinian field hockey player Maria Campoy’s boyfriend, Pablo Simonet, proposed to her in the Olympic Village. Simonet, a member of Argentina’s men’s handball team, popped the question during a joint team photo session near the River Seine.
