TL;DR
- Team USA stars Hilary Knight and Brittany Bowe got engaged at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
- Knight proposed in full Team USA gear ahead of the women’s hockey gold medal match.
- The pair fell in love during the 2022 Beijing Games amid Covid restrictions.
- Olympians flooded the comments with joy — from Adam Rippon to rugby medalist Ilona Maher.
- Their proposal adds to a string of queer love stories lighting up the 2026 Games.
Olympic Ice Melts as Hilary Knight Proposes to Brittany Bowe in the Sweetest Team USA Moment Yet
Love Takes the Gold Before the Game Even Starts
The Milan Cortina Winter Games just delivered the most heart-stopping moment — and it had nothing to do with a scoreboard. Team USA legend Hilary Knight, hours away from a high-stakes hockey showdown with Canada, dropped to one knee and proposed to longtime girlfriend Brittany Bowe. Forget medals — this was the real Olympic victory.
Decked out in full Team USA gear (yes, the gays propose in sweatpants now and the internet is obsessed), the couple posted the iconic moment to Instagram, declaring the Olympics not just where they compete, but where they fell in love. “Olympics brought us together,” Knight wrote. “This one made us forever.”
Bowe, a speedskater with two Olympic bronze medals under her belt, didn’t leave Milan Cortina with hardware this year — but she’s leaving with a diamond that definitely shines brighter than silver.
A Romance Born in the Strange Quiet of Beijing
Knight and Bowe first connected at the 2022 Beijing Games, where pandemic restrictions meant athletes didn’t have crowds, families, or much distraction — just miles of quiet walking and talking. And, apparently, that’s all these two powerhouses needed.
Bowe said she fell for the duality of Knight — the unstoppable force on the ice and the gentle, genuine partner off it. “This big, strong, powerful female,” she said, “but also soft, kind, almost shy.” That combination? Irresistible.
Knight, meanwhile, knew early on that Bowe wasn’t just a temporary Olympic moment — she was a forever one.
Olympic Teammates, Olympian Reaction
When the pair dropped the engagement news, Team USA and the broader sports world lost their collective minds. Rugby bronze medalist Ilona Maher proclaimed “happy days,” while Knight’s teammate Aerin Frankel wrote “SCREAMING,” representing all of us.
Figure skating icon Adam Rippon entered the chat too — twice — gleefully roasting their cozy, off-duty proposal fits: “Engaged in sweatpants?! I love it.”
Even Taylor Swift got involved (adjacent to another Olympic engagement), sprinkling her approval across the Games like the patron saint of queer love.
And this isn’t the only romance warming up the icy Alps — skier Breezy Johnson also walked away with a ring after her boyfriend popped the question at the bottom of her super-G run. But Knight and Bowe’s engagement? That one belongs on a Wheaties box.
A Win for LGBTQ Athletes Everywhere
Knight and Bowe’s love story isn’t just heartwarming — it’s monumental. In a world where LGBTQ athletes have had to fight for visibility, respect, and safety, seeing two U.S. Olympians boldly celebrate their love on the world stage sends a message louder than any national anthem: queer love belongs in sports.
Representation matters. Public, joyful, unapologetic queer love at the Olympics matters even more — especially as anti-LGBTQ policies continue to threaten athletes in leagues across the U.S. and beyond. Knight and Bowe’s engagement isn’t just romantic; it’s revolutionary.
And if Knight snags another gold medal? Consider it the perfect honeymoon accessory.