Argentine fencer Maria Belen Perez Maurice’s partner and coach proposed her for marriage in front of television cameras at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday.
The athlete, who failed to qualify and was out after the first round, was answering questions from reporters when her coach, Lucas Saucedo, appeared with a piece of paper in his hand reading “Do you want to marry me?” He put one knee to the ground. “Tell me yes, a lot of people are looking at us,” he said.
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Saucedo had tried a similar stunt in 2010 at the world championships in Paris, but back then, she replied: “Is this a joke or what?”
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Maurice and Saucedo are in a relationship for the past 17 years. “We’re going to celebrate it in Argentina around a big asado (a traditional barbecue),” said the fencer.
On Sunday, Germany football forward Max Kruse successfully asked his girlfriend to marry him on live TV after his team’s 3-2 win over Saudi Arabia.
Olympics 2020 are currently underway in Tokyo after a delay of one year. The Games were scheduled to be held in 2020 but were delayed after the outbreak of COVID-19. This is the first time that no spectators have been allowed inside the stadiums and athletes have to follow strict COVID norms.
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Athletes at the Tokyo Olympics are being tested regularly and are strictly instructed to wear the masks unless competing, training, drinking, eating or sleeping.
So far, 153 people associated with the Games have tested positive for COVID-19. Close to 85 percent of athletes have already been inoculated, according to the IOC.