MILAN (AP) 鈥� A ring first, and then a medal.
One day before the Olympic women’s hockey final, U.S. captain Hilary Knight proposed to American speedskater Brittany Bowe on Wednesday at the .
The couple first revealed the news by posting a with the caption, 鈥淥lympics brought us together.鈥� The video shows Knight dropping to one knee and presenting Bowe with a ring. A surprised Bowe nods yes, and Knight then slips the ring on her finger.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been in the back of my mind for a few months now,鈥� Knight said later, after the Americans’ final practice before they face Canada .
鈥淲e met through the Olympics and just being a part of the Olympic spirit and the journey, I thought it would be a really full-circle moment for both of us considering it鈥檚 our last time through to be able to celebrate it here and tie the knot,鈥� added Knight, whose are tied for the most by a U.S. women’s player.
The 36-year-old Knight previously announced these would be her team-record fifth and final Games. And she will leave Italy with a record fifth medal. It鈥檚 the fourth and final Olympics for the , a two-time bronze medalist.
The couple met at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. And they grew closer at the 2022 Beijing Games 鈥� where they were limited to the athletes’ village because of COVID-19 restrictions 鈥� by taking long walks together between competitions.
Knight said she long ago bought the ring and made the decision to propose at the Olympics, but didn鈥檛 have a specific day. She finally decided on Wednesday so the couple could celebrate while their families and friends were still in Milan.
Knight found a quiet spot outside the athletes’ village to pop the question.
She also had help getting the ring to Italy. Rather than risk Bowe finding the ring box in their luggage, Knight had Bowe鈥檚 sister bring it separately. They made the exchange during a gathering after a hockey game.
鈥淭he sister knew but our families, we didn鈥檛 tell them,鈥� Knight said. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 want anything to get out there because everyone would be super excited about it.鈥�
Knight’s teammates were thrilled.
鈥淚 almost fell off the table this morning when she told me,鈥� forward Kendall Coyne Schofield said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been like a little kid all morning. We haven鈥檛 seen Brit yet, but I can鈥檛 wait to see her, so we鈥檙e very excited.鈥�
Bowe failed to medal in her first two events, finishing fourth in the 1,000 meters and women鈥檚 team pursuit. She will close the Games by competing in the 1,500 meters on Friday.
Before the Games, Bowe was excited to share the Olympic experience with Knight after they spent the past four years attending each other’s competitions.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a really fun journey the past four years, to be able to celebrate each other鈥檚 accomplishments,鈥� Bowe said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really been fun for me to be a fan, to be able to go to different Team USA events and not be the one stressed out about having to compete,鈥� she added. 鈥淏eing able to be a fan is a new role that I鈥檝e been able to take on here and there. It鈥檚 just been so much fun to be able to do this together.鈥�
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AP National Writer Howard Fendrich contributed to this report.
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