Team USA swimmer Lilly King qualified Thursday for her second event for the Paris Olympics and also brought home another precious metal.
Paris and in the process brought home another precious metal to add to her two Olympic gold medals.
After finishing second in the 200-meter breaststroke at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, King’s longtime boyfriend, James Wells, greeted her and told her spending the last four years as her boyfriend has been an honor. Then he presented her with a ring.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she said, still dripping from her race.
She looked at the ring and said, “Oh, it fits perfect.”
Wells, a fellow Indiana University swim team alum, said the timing was right to ask for King’s hand in marriage. The trials were held in adjacent Indianapolis, at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“It means so much for her to be here in front of this crowd,” Wells said after the proposal. “That’s the perfect opportunity.”
King finished the 200-meter breaststroke behind Kate Douglass by passing Gretchen Walsh a few strokes from the wall.
The two-time Olympian qualified for her third Summer Games appearance by winning the 100-meter breaststroke final on Monday in Indianapolis.
King will become the first U.S. swimmer to race the 100 and 200 meter breaststroke at three straight Olympics. She’ll bring her Hoosier pride to Paris.
“It’s just unbelievably special,” she said after her win Monday. “We’re a swimming state. I’m really proud of that. And I’m glad to represent us.”
