A Brazilian women's rugby sevens player has become the first athlete to receive a marriage proposal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
Isadora Cerullo, (25), was a member of the Brazil squad that narrowly missed out on reaching the knockout rounds.
After the medal ceremony following the first women's rugby sevens final in Olympic history on Monday had ended, Marjorie Enya – Cerullo's girlfriend and a manager at Rio's Deodoro Stadium – asked her to marry her.
“As soon as I knew she was in the squad I thought I have to make this special,” said Enya. “I know rugby people are amazing and they would embrace it.”
The couple have been together for two years.
“She is the love of my life,” Enya told the BBC. “The Olympic Games can look like closure but for me it’s starting a new life with someone. I wanted to show people that love wins.”
Cerullo grew up in North Carolina and holds dual citizenship of Brazil and the United States.
Though she had never lived in Brazil before, she moved with Enya to Sao Paulo to focus on making the women’s rugby sevens squad for the Games.
– Guardian Service