Just a few hours ago Olympic shot put champion Ryan Crouser announced a major milestone on social media. However, this time, the world record holder didn’t post about improving his throw. Instead, the athlete announced that he and his longtime girlfriend Megan Clark just gotten engaged. “She said yes,” the two-time world champion wrote on Instagram.

Crouser posted a series of photographs, one of which showed the Olympian going down one knee on a boat as Clark embraced her future husband. “Thank you, Trentino, Lake Garda will always have a special place in our hearts.” Crouser wrote in the caption. So, if you’re wondering who the three-time Olympic gold medalist’s fiancée is, we’ve got you covered.

How a military upbringing got Megan Clark into sports

Ryan Crouser’s fiancée, Megan Clark, was born in Fort Benning, Georgia, into a military family. Her father, Brigadier General Ronald Clark, had responsibilities that required frequent relocations. As a result, Megan, her brother Matthew, and their mother, Simona Clark, moved with him. Despite never settling in one place, Megan and her sibling had to follow strict rules that remained consistent throughout their upbringing.

“The rule in our house was that we had to play a sport every season,” Clark said during an interview with Oiselle in 2021. Trying a new sport every season while moving across the country meant that Clark got to train under several specialists. Whether it was gymnastics, soccer, or track and field, the youngster fell in love with sports.

The military discipline at home combined with the positive effects of sports shaped Clark into who she is today. “Athletics began to shape me long before I stepped foot on a runway. . From the beginning, sport taught me to value the work.” the former professional pole-vaulter wrote in 2022. In fact, it was their shared love for sports that helped Ryan Crouser and Megan Clark bond.

By the time Megan Clark was in high school, she gravitated towards track and field. While the athlete competed in 400m, 100m, and relays in school, she ultimately chose to specialize in pole vault. Clark continued her collegiate career at Duke University, where she earned several accolades, including the 2015 ACC Women’s Field Performer of the Year.

After college, the Georgia native turned pro and proudly represented the Stars and Stripes. Unfortunately, Ryan Crouser’s fiancée fell short of making it to the Olympics. Clark retired from the sport in 2021, following the U.S. Olympic track and field trials. However, the former athlete continues to inspire her husband-to-be.

The former pro athlete who inspires Ryan Crouser

After becoming a three-time, consecutive Olympic gold medalist, Crouser suffered a setback at the Silesia Diamond League. However, it’s especially during times like this that Megan Clark has always stood beside her fiancé. The 31-year-old shot put legend may have dominated the sport for years, but he continues to learn from the former pro athlete.

While Megan Clark doesn’t offer throwing advice to the Olympic champion, she’s taught him the importance of other key aspects. In April 2024, ahead of Ryan Crouser’s historic third Olympic gold, the athlete explained how Clark emphasized the significance of mobility and flexibility in his training. “I’ve definitely taken some of her training and implemented it into my own,” Crouser told Olympics.com.

Megan Clark even got her fiancé into yoga. “She’s big into yoga and flexibility and mobility. And so at this stage in my career, mobility is key. So I’m doing yoga with her.” confessed the shot-puter. While The Hector-Smith Master Coach Award winner continues to lift heavy in the gym, yoga has helped him maintain mobility and avoid injuries.

While many may have only seen Megan Clark cheering for Ryan Crouser from the stands, there’s much more to Crouser’s future wife than meets the eye. Together since at least 2018, the couple is now ready to embark on a new chapter of their life.