Lilly King has a new title on her road to the 2024 Paris Olympics — fiancée.
Moments after qualifying in the 200-meter breaststroke at Thursday’s Olympic trials, the swimmer, 27, received a sweet proposal from her boyfriend, James Wells.
NBC Sports shared a video of the moment, showing King overwhelmed with emotion as Wells declared his love for her.
“Getting to watch you over the last four years, both in and out of the pool, and just to see you grow has been so awesome,” Wells said as King looked away and joked that she needs someone to fix her hair.
“I don’t regret for a minute dropping my job and moving halfway across the country for us to move in together,” Wells continued. “It has been awesome, and I am very excited to see where this is going. So, dear, I was wondering, Lilly Camille King, will you marry me?”
King immediately said yes, kissed Wells and the two of them embraced.
During an interview, King said she had no clue about the proposal.
Sarah Stier/Getty
“I was really confused ’cause Annie [Lazor] told me to put my hair down before I walked out instead of having it in my cap, and I was like, ‘Ok, sounds good,’ and then I was just confused because you were down here,” she told NBC Sports.
King will represent Team USA in the 200-meter breaststroke and compete in the 100-meter breaststroke. With these qualifications, King will become the first U.S. swimmer to swim both the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke at three consecutive Olympic Games, per Bleacher Report.
The Indiana native has competed in two Olympic games, earning two gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal.
Earlier this month, King announced that she is not aiming at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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“I will be watching in Los Angeles, and I’m good with that decision, I will not be done after this summer, but I will not be going another four years. I’ll be cheering on the team,” she told The Indianapolis Star.
