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Olympics Love Stories: Athletes' Partners Shine
20 Feb
Summary
- Partners of athletes, dubbed 'HABs', gained significant attention.
- Several romantic proposals occurred during the competitions.
- High demand for condoms indicated lively social activity in the village.
The Milan-Cortina Winter Games proved to be as much a celebration of romance as an international sporting event. Throughout the two-week competition, the ice dancing ranks featured real-life couples from Sweden, Italy, Georgia, and Canada, while American pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates secured a silver medal following their 2024 wedding.
The Games also highlighted a rising trend of high-profile "HABs"—the male partners of star female athletes. Influencer Jake Paul was seen supporting his fiancée, Dutch speedskater Jutta Leerdam, during her gold-medal victory in the 1,000-meter race. Similarly, NFL player Myles Garrett was present to celebrate with American snowboarder Chloe Kim after her silver-medal performance in the halfpipe.
One of the most public romantic moments involved skier Breezy Johnson and her partner, Connor Watkins. Following Johnson’s gold-medal win in the downhill, Watkins proposed on the snow in Cortina. The engagement quickly gained international attention, even drawing a congratulatory message from Taylor Swift. Another significant engagement occurred between U.S. women’s hockey star Hilary Knight and speedskater Brittany Bowe, who shared their news after a courtship that began during the 2022 Beijing Games.
However, not all romantic gestures were successful. Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid used a post-race interview to publicly apologize for infidelity in an attempt to win back his ex-girlfriend. The gesture was met with criticism, as his former partner described the move as difficult to forgive, leading Laegreid to later apologize for diverting attention away from the sporting events.
Off the field of play, the Olympic Village saw high demand for social interaction. Organizers reported that an initial supply of 10,000 condoms was exhausted faster than anticipated. Spokespeople noted that the atmosphere of the Games, combined with the timing of Valentine’s Day, contributed to the lively environment in the village. As the event concluded, the mix of athletic achievement and personal milestones left a lasting impression on the Milan-Cortina Games.
