Lilly King was still dripping from her second qualifying swim for Paris 2024 when she was confronted with one of the most significant questions of her life: "Will you marry me?" It was her boyfriend, James Wells, who popped the question in Indianapolis, turning an already momentous day into an unforgettable one.
The proposal came right after King finished second in the women’s 200-meter backstroke on Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium. Earlier in the week, she had secured her spot in her first Summer Games event by winning the 100-meter backstroke on Monday. The excitement was palpable, but the day had more in store for King.
Let's rewind a bit. Kate Douglass had already made headlines by qualifying on Wednesday with a win in the 100-meter freestyle, and she went on to clock a time of 2:19.46 on Thursday, just edging out King, who finished at 2:21.93 in the 200-meter backstroke. After her race, King exited the pool and went backstage, where she met Wells.
In a heartwarming moment captured by NBC cameras, Wells spoke to King about their relationship before getting down on one knee. "Oh my God," King exclaimed, before joyfully responding with, "Yes, yes, I love you." As she put the ring on her finger, the room buzzed with excitement. Even fellow swimmer Regan Smith was seen shedding tears of happiness while witnessing the proposal.
Wells later explained on the NBC broadcast, "Lilly did the bid for this pool. Having this be in her home state is so incredible. All of us that swam at Indiana University together and did all this stuff together, this is such a powerful swimming state. It just means so much to her to be here in front of this crowd. So I was like, this is the perfect opportunity to do it."
At 27, King is headed to her third consecutive Olympics, an impressive feat. She has already earned five medals, including two golds, from her past two Olympic trips. The world-record holder in the 100-meter breaststroke, King won the event in 2016 but placed third at Tokyo 2020. She also won a silver medal in the 200-meter breaststroke in Tokyo.
Regan Smith, who had previously qualified with a world-record time in the women’s 100-meter backstroke, continued to shine by winning the women’s 200-meter butterfly on Thursday with a time of 2:05.70. Alex Shackell finished second at 2:06.69, earning her first individual event qualification.
Ryan Murphy, a name synonymous with backstroke excellence, added to his accolades on Thursday. He won the men’s 200-meter backstroke with a time of 1:54.33, having already secured the 100-meter backstroke victory on Monday. Keaton Jones finished second at 1:54.61, earning his spot on Team USA. This victory marked Murphy as the first American to win both the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke events at three consecutive Olympic trials. A six-time Olympic medalist, Murphy boasts four golds, including victories in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke at the 2016 Summer Games. He took silver in the 200-meter and bronze in the 100-meter backstroke at the 2020 Summer Games.
The Olympic trials are far from over. They will continue on Friday with the women’s 200-meter backstroke, men’s 50-meter freestyle, and the men’s 200-meter individual medley. Saturday's events include the men’s 100-meter butterfly and the women’s 200-meter individual medley and 800-meter freestyle. The trials will culminate on Sunday with the women’s 50-meter freestyle and men’s 1,500-meter freestyle.
For those eager to follow along, NBC will start its Olympic trial coverage daily at 8 p.m. EDT.
This period leading up to the Paris 2024 Olympics is truly an exciting time for swimming enthusiasts and athletes alike. Each race, each victory, and each personal milestone, like Lilly King's proposal, adds to the rich tapestry of stories that define the journey to the Games. King’s journey, marked by determination, success, and personal joy, exemplifies the spirit of the Olympics. The anticipation builds as we look forward to seeing these athletes compete on the world stage, bringing with them stories of perseverance, triumph, and in King’s case, a little bit of romance.
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