King gets Olympic spot, then engaged at trials
INDIANAPOLIS — Five-time Olympic medalist Lilly King collected two new pieces of jewelry Thursday night at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.
Moments after finishing in second place behind Kate Douglass in the 200-meter breaststroke at Lucas Oil Stadium to qualify for her second event of the 2024 Paris Olympics, King’s boyfriend, James Wells, proposed to her as she made her way out of the pool and to the warmdown area.
Video of the moment was shared soon after on social media by USA Swimming and NBC Sports.
In the clip, King, an Indiana native, appeared shocked and said, “Oh my god” before putting her hands over her mouth in disbelief as Wells, a fellow former University of Indiana swimmer, knelt down on one knee.
When King, 27, accepted her medal for her second-place finish later in the evening, she enthusiastically pointed to her left hand and her engagement ring before addressing the news during her poolside interview.
“News travels fast but I’m engaged,” King said as she flashed her ring again.
King will be competing in her third Olympics in Paris and will be the first American swimmer to compete in the 100m and 200m breaststroke in three consecutive Games. During a news conference last week, she announced 2024 would be her final Olympic appearance.
