Just when we thought the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games couldn't get more exciting, a runner's guide proposed live on the track.
Visually impaired runner Keula Nidreia Pereira Semedo and her guide Manuel Antonio Vaz da Veiga had just finished the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 Women's 200m T11 Heat 4 event. Despite running a season-best 33.04 seconds, Semedo, representing Cape Verde, came in fourth.
Though it was disappointing to see her disqualified, the energy quickly changed when Da Veiga gathered the other runners around and dropped to one knee.
Keula Nidreia Pereira Semedo from Cape Verde got a surprise marriage proposal from guide after her Tokyo Paralympics 2020 Women's 200m T11 Heat 4 event.\n\n#YouDeserveIt #Paralympicspic.twitter.com/ZR6Lq7EwOb— SABC Sport (@SABC Sport) 1630573562
Da Veiga asked Semedo to marry him and Semedo said yes! He placed the ring on Semedo's finger and the two embraced.
The runner's opponents and their guides cheered and congratulated them.
So did people from all over on Twitter.
Beautiful! Congratulations to the happy couple!— \ud83c\udf38 (@\ud83c\udf38) 1630627891
Super wonderful!— \u0418\u0431\u0440\u0430\u0433\u0438\u043c (@\u0418\u0431\u0440\u0430\u0433\u0438\u043c) 1630602642
Espero que siga siendo el gu\u00eda para toda su vida— Andres (@Andres) 1630582970
Wow congratulations— Danny (@Danny) 1630547165
My wife is in tears looking at this on tv!!! Congratulations to you both, may you have a long and happy life together.— Steve (@Steve) 1630563495
Congratulations to the pair. She may not have won a gold madal. But she walked away with something better.— gordon j hotcchkiss (@gordon j hotcchkiss) 1630575169
\u304a\u3081\u3067\u3068\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002pic.twitter.com/8K27cKeewz— \u30bb\u30cb\u30e7\u30fc\u30eb(se\u00f1or) (@\u30bb\u30cb\u30e7\u30fc\u30eb(se\u00f1or)) 1630591859
A marriage proposal took place during #Athletics today! Completely unexpected, but all the more heartwarming! Congratulations to Keula Nidreia Pereira Semedo and guide Manuel Antonio Vaz da Vega; Better than a medal ceremony, no doubt! #CPV #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics— \u5bcc\u58eb\u5b50\u30e0\u30cd\uff08Fujiko Mune\uff09 (@\u5bcc\u58eb\u5b50\u30e0\u30cd\uff08Fujiko Mune\uff09) 1630556662
This wasn't the only Tokyo Games proposal.
Argentine fencer Maria Belen Perez Maurice was proposed to during a post-match interview. Her coach of 17 years, Lucas Saucedo, proposed by holding a sign asking her to marry him.
Saucedo initially proposed in 2010 but was rejected. But this time, Perez Maurice agreed.
Y despu\u00e9s del combate de esgrima le pidieron casamiento a Mar\u00eda Bel\u00e9n P\u00e9rez Maurice en vivo.pic.twitter.com/wEmGuOW7CB— R\u00fastico (@R\u00fastico) 1627268110
There's still a few days left of the Paralympics this year, which means plenty of time left for another proposal.
Only time will tell what will happen in these final moments.
