Gold medalist Breezy Johnson gets engaged at the Winter Olympics as partner proposes near finish line
Downhill champion Breezy Johnson didn't add to her Olympic medal haul during the women's super-G on Thursday.
The American star left Tofane with something precious anyway: an engagement ring.
Johnson's longtime boyfriend, Connor Watkins, proposed to her near the finish line while surrounded by members of the US Ski Team.
Downhill champion Breezy Johnson didn't add to her Olympic medal haul during the women's super-G on Thursday. Instagram
Reciting lyrics from the Taylor Swift song The Alchemy, Watkins slipped a ring of blue and white sapphires set in white gold on the ring finger of Johnson's left hand.
She tearfully accepted, then turned the ring toward the sea of cameras to celebrate a dream that turned into reality.
"It felt fitting to combine two of my loves," Johnson said. "It's a special place at the Olympics. I feel like there's a lot of mystique around it."
She then added with a laugh, "Also, you get free photography."
READ MORE: 'Annoying' interruption sparked Van Der Beek's love story
READ MORE: Cute pyjamas for the most romantic time of the year from $12
READ MORE: Angelina's dazzling display on Paris red carpet
She tearfully accepted, then turned the ring toward the sea of cameras to celebrate a dream that turned into reality. Instagram
The two met on a dating app a few years ago, with Watkins totally unaware that Johnson happened to be one of the best skiers on the planet.
It wasn't until Watkins asked about 10 minutes into their first date (a brunch) that Johnson fessed up.
"I was a little taken aback," said Watkins, who works in construction back in the US.
"I had very little knowledge of ski racing and everything else, and over the last couple of years I've grown to really love it."
Connor Watkins propsed with Taylor Swift lyrics. Instagram
The joyful proposal came about an hour after Johnson's bid to reach the podium in the super-G ended with a crash high in the course when her right pole clipped a gate and sent her tumbling into the catch fence.
Johnson pulled herself to her feet and was unharmed.
Down in the finish area with the ring in his pocket, Watkins briefly wondered if he might need switch to Plan B just in case the moment wasn't right.
Turns out, having Watkins there was exactly what Johnson needed.
The joyful proposal came about an hour after Johnson's bid to reach the podium in the super-G ended with a crash. Instagram
"I was feeling kind of stupid, which I think is kind of the moment you want the people you love around you, like when you're just feeling dumb and childish," Johnson said.
"You're like, 'Tell me that I'm OK.' Just seeing him, 'It's nice to see you,' and let's go commiserate together. And then, obviously, everything else happened."
Something that took an already surreal stay in Cortina to another level entirely.
Swift herself commented on the post congratulating the couple. Lloyd Bishop/NBC via Getty Image
"I think most people want to peak at the Olympics," Johnson said. "I just extra peaked."
Johnson later posted a series of photos on Instagram, including the ring box which had Swift's lyrics engraved on it, along with the caption, "meet Connor! My ex-boyfriend! And current fiancé!!!"
Swift commented soon after with additional lyrics and congratulations. Johnson pinned the comment and responded, "I don't know what's better Olympic gold or this comment," and offered to teach Swift to ski.
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details
Most viewed in Lifestyle
Meghan gives first look at Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s new UK life
The four-year experiment that created Australia’s best sausage roll
World’s youngest king laid to rest as succession battle erupts amid claims of secret child
It costs more than $150k to raise a kid, but half a million Aussies do it with no savings. These are the money mistakes to avoid