“She said yes.” August was all glitter and gold for swinging megastars Florent Manaudou and Pernille Blume. Manaudou grabbed the silver medal in 50m freestyle back in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Previously, the 33-year-old French talent had secured a gold back during the 2012 Olympic Games and then another silver 4 years later during the event back in Rio.

Blume, her partner, too is equally respectable. She topped the 50m free podium back during the Olympics 2016. Following this, she took a break for heart surgery back in 2019. However, she came back with a blast securing the 4th spot in the 50 free even during the FINA World Championships. When Manaudou popped the question, Blume couldn’t have been happier.

Swimming stars Florent Manaudou and Pernille Blume announce their engagement

“My love and I both winning medals at the Olympics, and then THIS,” Blume exclaimed, reflecting on the unforgettable moments they shared. She clinched the bronze medal at the 2021 Olympics, a triumph made even sweeter by their budding romance. Blume and Manaudou had been dating for around two years when the French star proposed. In a heartwarming scene, Manaudou waited by the pool for Blume, and the two shared a tender embrace after her race. In an interview, Manaudou expressed how Blume brought joy and ease into his life, saying, “It’s easy for me to have a person like her next to me.” Blume’s support was unwavering, especially during the intense days of the 2021 games.

It’s been three years since then, and many have wondered about the status of their relationship. Unfortunately, they are no longer together. While the reasons for their breakup remain unknown, both athletes have moved on with their lives. Manaudou is set to compete in the 50m freestyle final tomorrow, while Blume retired in 2022. But there’s some good news for Blume: she continues to shine in her post-swimming career.

Pernille Blume elected into the World Aquatics Bureau

June 10th marked the start of a new life for Blume. With the World Aquatics Bureau coming to a unanimous decision to vote Blume as a World-at-Large Bureau Member. The 3 time Olympian for Denmark went on to Instagram to share her joy. “It is an honour to be appointed and I can’t wait to start this new journey,” Blume wrote. Husain Al-Musallam, World Aquatics president, had set a major target back in 2022. The goal was to have a board with a 50-50 gender balance split.

The addition of Blume to the team takes the total to around 15 women in the Bureau. While that is still far off from the goal, fans and followers know that the change is coming.