The City of Love indeed! While few things can keep two loving souls away from each other, not many would consider a thrilling race of steeplechase as conducive to the same. However, for French athlete Alice Finot, that’s exactly what she needed to get down on one knee, and fans are going “aww” with how the 2024 Paris Olympics turned into an exhibition of adoration.

Finot finished the 3,000m steeplechase in fourth place. While she didn’t manage a place on the podium, her personal best time of 8:58.67 was enough to topple the European record in the event. Right afterward, the 33-year-old was seen bolting toward the stand and hugging her partner Bruno Martínez Bargiela before bending her knee to propose to him with her Olympic pin. The special moment was captured in a post by NBC Olympics & Paralympics on X, and fans couldn’t hold back their gushing emotions.

However, Finot later explained that it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision by herself, and she had actually planned to propose to Bargiela if a few prerequisites were met during the race. “I told myself that if I ran under nine minutes, knowing that nine is my lucky number and that we’ve been together for nine years, then I would propose,” Finot was heard saying in the mixed zone after the race.

“I don’t like doing things like everyone else. Since he hadn’t done it yet, I told myself that maybe it was up to me to do it,” elaborated the French athlete further, noting that she thought the Olympic pin, which carries the phrase Love is in Paris, was the perfect memento to mark the occasion. “I really had a blast, I managed to express myself,’ the Frenchwoman added. It was just a tiny bit (that was) missing to get a medal, I’m sorry. But I don’t regret anything,” Alice went on to say how she would remember the Paris Olympics. Naturally, track fans around the world scurried to look for the words to congratulate the newly-engaged couple.

Fans enthralled by the scenes that unfolded at the Paris Olympics

Braxton, for one, seemed to be overwhelmed by the public display of affection at the Paris Olympics and was unable not to let their feelings flow, literally! “Crying in my meeting rn watching this,” wrote the fan in their post on X.

Another fan is convinced that today will undoubtedly go down as one of the most memorable days in the lives of Finot and her athlete partner. “Wow what a day for Alice, congrats!” commented TyLucky, as the fan believes that sometimes marginally missing out on a podium finish isn’t entirely without its rewards.

“Emotional scenes,” wrote Mian Omer, as the fan is also evidently chocking up like many of us seeing how sentiment was flowing freely at the Stade de France. While Finot was seen shaking with passion, Bruno was also having a difficult time concealing his excitement at the unexpectedness of the whole affair.

Shazib also commented, “Big achievement,” as he thinks that along with toppling the European record, Alice has attained a personal milestone that’s in no way paler than the track accolades she has racked up over the years.

“What a queen,” said Danny as he reposted the original X post, joking that this should serve as a good example to show his future life partner as well! Did you watch Alice’s proposal and get all mushy too? Congratulate the couple for their lives ahead in the comments below!