There have been lovely scenes at the end of the World Athletics Championships 35km race walk after Slovakian couple Dominik Cerny and Hana Burzalova got engaged at the finish line.
As 22-year-old Burzalova neared the end of her race, where she crossed the line in 28th in a season’s best time of 3:02.47, Cerny moved into place at the finish line, going down on one knee.
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Burzalova was stunned as she neared the line but had enough time to turn her watch off before she said “yes”.
The 25-year-old Cerny punched the air before putting the ring on her finger and sharing some kisses for the cameras.
Cerny had finished his own 35km race about half an hour before, crossing the line in 19th in a personal best time of 2:32:56 after both the men’s and women’s events were scheduled to start at 7am in Budapest.
However, one of the announcers asked a very good question: “What I want to know is did he carry that ring the entire competition or have it stashed away somewhere?”
While some on social media questioned if he had stolen her moment as she completed the gruelling race, others wished the happy couple well.
Cerny said the couple had been together for nearly four years.
“Why not in Budapest?” Cerny said afterwards.
“We have been together for almost one Olympic cycle, almost four years, so I think it was the right time.
“It was a top-secret thing that nobody knew.
“There are no plans yet for the wedding, maybe we will decide only two days in advance.
“We like to do random things. At the Paris Olympics maybe we will start as the Cerny family — maybe in the new event, the race walk relay.”
It continues the heartwarming moments at the World Athletics Championships after Aussie Nina Kennedy became a world champion after offering to share the title in the women’s pole vault with US Olympic gold medallist Katie Moon.
Kennedy had already jumped an Australian record height of 4.90m before both women failed to clear three attempts at 4.95m.
“We were out there for such a long time, we were pushing each other to the absolute limit,“ Kennedy said.
“Katie is the world champion, she is the Olympic gold medallist, I didn’t think she would want to share it. I thought we might need to keep jumping.
“But I kind of looked at her and said, ‘Hey girl you maybe wanna share this?’ and the relief you could see it on her face and you could see it on my face and it was mutual.”
