American swimmer Lilly King had quite the memorable night at the U.S. Olympic trials after securing her spot in the women’s 200-meter breaststroke event and getting engaged to her longtime boyfriend, James Wells. Wells, a former Indiana University swimmer, surprised King with a proposal as she was leaving the pool deck at Lucas Oil Stadium. The heartwarming moment was captured in a video shared by NBC Sports, where Wells expressed his love and admiration for King before getting down on one knee.
Despite being caught off guard, King immediately said “yes” to Wells’ proposal, and the couple celebrated with a kiss. The engagement came just after King had already qualified for the Olympics in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke event. The news of King’s engagement quickly spread among her fellow swimmers, with Team USA’s Ryan Murphy expressing his disbelief and excitement at the unexpected proposal.
As King gears up for her third Summer Games appearance next month in Paris, she will have the added joy of planning her upcoming wedding with Wells. The 27-year-old swimmer, who is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time Olympic medalist overall, will be looking to add to her impressive collection of accolades in the pool.
The support and love from Wells and her teammates, like Annie Lazor, have undoubtedly been crucial in King’s journey to success. The unexpected proposal at the U.S. Olympic trials added an extra layer of romance and joy to an already momentous occasion for King. Fans and fellow swimmers alike will be eagerly watching to see King’s performance in the upcoming Olympics and cheering her on as she competes for more medals on the world stage.