Valentine’s Day at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics looks different from the usual candlelit dinners and flowers. Still, across ice rinks and snowy slopes, love is very much part of the Games.
Some moments feel almost scripted by Cupid. Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam set an Olympic record in the women’s 1,000 meters, then turned to the stands to see her fiancé, Jake Paul. Both were in tears as they exchanged heart-shaped hand gestures.
In alpine skiing, U.S. downhill champion Breezy Johnson received a surprise proposal from her longtime boyfriend near the finish line, surrounded by teammates.
For most athletes, Valentine’s Day does not allow for grand celebrations, but that does not make it less meaningful.
Friday also marks the women’s skeleton finals. For Kim Meylemans of Belgium and Nicole Rocha Silveira of Brazil, Valentine’s Day means competition, not a romantic dinner. The couple, who represent different countries, told Associated Press they did not even bring gifts.
“Because we’re together all the time, it’s always a bit of a Valentine’s Day,” Meylemans said.
Their national Olympic committees arranged shared housing in the Cortina Olympic Village, a rare exception to the usual team-only room policy. One half of their room is decorated in Belgian colors, the other in Brazilian.
They met through skeleton racing and grew close during the pandemic, when travel restrictions forced athletes into shared short-term housing. In 2024, they unknowingly bought identical engagement rings and planned proposals for the same boat trip in Brazil. They married last August.
Before each run, they high-five, kiss, and wish each other luck. “It doesn’t matter who ends up on the podium,” Meylemans said. “A win for one of us is a win for our team.”
Rocha Silveira said it matters that their relationship is visible at the Games in Italy, where same-sex marriage is not legally recognized. She hopes their presence encourages others to be open about who they are.
Love is also visible beyond the athletes. Lori and Curtis Brown, married for more than 30 years, are spending Valentine’s Day volunteering at a skating venue. They are among roughly 18,000 volunteers supporting the Olympics across northern Italy. The couple hopes their work breaks will line up so they can share a meal together.
“This is the most special Valentine’s Day of our lives,” Curtis said. “We’re here together, sharing this experience.”
On the ice, Canadian hockey forward Laura Stacey and her wife, team captain Marie-Philip Poulin, are marking Valentine’s Day by playing Germany in a quarterfinal match.
“We get to chase our dreams together,” Stacey said. “That’s something special.”
Many other Olympic couples are also competing in Milan and Cortina, some as teammates and others as rivals. From figure skating to curling and sliding sports, the Games continue to show that even in elite competition, love has room to thrive.
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