A Brazilian women’s rugby sevens player has become the first athlete to receive a marriage proposal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
Isadora Cerullo, 25, was a member of the Brazil squad that narrowly missed out on reaching the knockout rounds.
After the medal ceremony following the first women’s rugby sevens final in Olympic history on Monday had ended, Marjorie Enya, Cerullo’s girlfriend and a manager at Deodoro Stadium, asked her to marry her.
MY HEART!!! Volunteer Marjorie Enya kisses rugby player Isadora Cerullo after proposing 🌈 🌈 🌈 #LoveIsLove pic.twitter.com/zVa9FqPSX8
— Danielle Warby (@DanielleWarby) August 9, 2016
Enya gave an emotional speech before the couple embraced to applause, the BBC reports.
“As soon as I knew she was in the squad I thought I have to make this special,” she said. “I know rugby people are amazing and they would embrace it.”
The couple had been together for two years.
“She is the love of my life,” Enya told the BBC. “The Olympic Games can look like closure but for me it’s starting a new life with someone.
“I wanted to show people that love wins.”
Cerullo grew up in North Carolina and holds dual citizenship of Brazil and the United States.
Though she had never lived in Brazil before, she moved with Enya to São Paulo to focus on making the women’s rugby sevens squad for the Games.
According to Outsports, there are at least 45 publicly out lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex athletes at the Rio games, as well as three coaches.
Several out athletes are also taking part in the Paralympics.
