American swimmer Lilly King, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, received an extra special surprise at the U.S. Olympic trials in Indianapolis. Following her second-place finish in the women’s 200-meter breaststroke, King's longtime boyfriend, former Indiana University swimmer James Wells, proposed to her as she was leaving the pool deck at Lucas Oil Stadium.
In a heartwarming moment captured on video by NBC Sports, Wells expressed his admiration for King's growth both in and out of the pool over the past four years. He reminisced about their journey together, including his decision to move across the country to be with her, before getting down on one knee and asking for her hand in marriage.
King, who had already secured her spot in the upcoming Olympics with a victory in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke, joyfully accepted Wells' proposal, sealing the moment with a kiss.
The surprise engagement left King, 27, completely caught off guard, with her former teammate Annie Lazor playfully suggesting she let her hair down just moments before the proposal.
Despite the unexpected nature of the proposal, King's fellow Team USA swimmer Ryan Murphy expressed his amazement at the romantic gesture, noting the unique circumstances of getting engaged while out of breath and soaked from competition.
With five Olympic medals to her name, King is set to make her third appearance at the Summer Games next month in Paris. Her previous Olympic achievements include gold medals in the 100-meter breaststroke and the 4x100-meter medley relay, as well as silver and bronze medals in the 200-meter breaststroke and 100-meter breaststroke, respectively, at the Tokyo Games.
