Diver’s silver wedding proposal – on the Games podium

By MiNDFOOD

He Zi of China receives a marriage proposal from her boyfriend of six years, fellow diver Qin Kai, after her silver medal ceremony. Photo Reuters
He Zi of China receives a marriage proposal from her boyfriend of six years, fellow diver Qin Kai, after her silver medal ceremony. Photo Reuters
Olympics Day 9: Proposal on the podium, triplets compete in marathon, US star held up at gunpoint, Phelps finishes it, refugees’ incredible stories

Chinese diver He Zi mounted the podium and received her silver medal. As she stepped down, her boyfriend and fellow diver Qin Kai got down on bended knee and spoke to her at length, before opening a small box.

Qin took out a diamond ring and, after she solemnly nodded yes, slipped it on He’s finger. He clapped her right hand over her eyes and presented her with a red rose encased in glass.

The crowd cheered its approval. The other divers stopped what they were doing and watched in amazement at the couple’s unique wedding proposal.

Trio at Rio

Three Estonian sisters have become the first triplets to compete in an Olympics. The 30-year-old identical Luik triplets – who call themselves the “trio to Rio” – competed in the women’s marathon yesterday. Lily finished 97th, Leila came in 114th but Liina failed to finish.

Gunpoint robbery

Brazilian police are investigating the robbery of US gold medal swimmer Ryan Lochte, held up at gunpoint by men impersonating police as he returned to the Games Village from a victory party yesterday.

“We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing, and they pulled us over,” he said.

“They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground – they got down on the ground. I refused, I was like, ‘We didn’t do anything wrong, so I’m not getting down on the ground’.

“Then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, ‘Get down’, and I put my hands up. He took our money, he took my wallet, he left my cellphone, he left my credentials.”

Phelps: 23 and out?

Michael Phelps has – apparently – finished his Olympic career with 28 medals, 23 of them gold. Can anyone match his record? Maybe his team-mate Katie Ledecky, who’s 19 and could compete at the next three Games.

That 23rd gold took Phelps to a personally significant mark – his hero Michael Jordan always wore that number for the Chicago Bulls basketball team.

He was more emotional than usual before his last relay. Team-mate Ryan Murphy: “You could see the tears in his eyes as we were walking over to the medal ceremony. He was super-emotional. If this is the end for him that was a great way to cap off an incredible career.”

Beat that … and beat this too

For Jillion Potter, just getting to Rio with the US women’s sevens team was a triumph. In 2010 Potter broke her neck in the build-up to the World Cup. She recovered without serious damage. During the 2014 World Cup she was diagnosed with soft tissue cancer. She beat that, too, to become an Olympian.

Article of faith

Fencer Ibitihaj Muhammad became the first American athlete to wear a hijab during the Olympics. “I wish that, not just my life, but the lives of Muslims all over the world were a little bit easier, particularly in the United States,” said the bronze winner.

The boat they couldn’t turn back

Yusra Mardini, who is swimming under the Refugees banner, nearly drowned while escaping the Syrian civil war. She was on a boat that began to fill with water. Four people on the boat – including Mardini – could swim, and pushed the boat for three hours until reaching land.

Long run to freedom

Sudan 5000m runner Lopez Lomong was six when he was abducted and taken to prison. Townspeople helped him escape and make his way to Kenya where he lived in a refugee camp for 10 years before settling in the US in 2001. In 2003 he was reunited with his mother – thought dead – and brought his brothers to the US. This is his fourth Olympics.

 

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