Yahoo Sports 
A silver medal in the 3-metre springboard, and a marriage proposal for China's He Zi
RIO DE JANEIRO – He Zi not only left the Maria Lenk Aquatic Centre Sunday with an Olympic silver medal, she also left with a ring.
After the victory ceremony in which the 25-year-old accepted the silver behind countrywoman Shi Tingmao in the 3-metre springboard diving final, her longtime boyfriend Qin Kai came out with something in his hands that left no doubt about what was to come.
But he took his sweet time getting to the crux of the matter.
Perhaps the longest proposal speech in the history of proposal speeches preceded – sweet relief – a nod of assent from He – and a fist pump from Qin. And there were tears.
Public proposals – even for anonymous fans in the crowd at ballgame or football games – are a calculated risk. You have to be pretty sure of the answer, lest you risk eternal embarrassment as the YouTube video or GIF of it lasts forever. So, Qin made sure he made an offer she couldn't refuse.
It was reportedly the second marriage proposal of the Games, after Marjorie Enya, a volunteer at the Games, proposed to Brazilian rugby player Isadora Cerullo over the public-address system at Deodoro Stadium. This one was a lot more low key; you can't hear what they were saying, but the emotions spoke volumes.
“It was so cute! They’ve been together a long time, so it was going to happen eventually,” said Canadian diver Pamela Ware, who was the first to run over and hug her once the deal was done. “We’re always talking about when she stops she’s going to get married and have a baby and we were taking about it this week, so it was really something.”
Bronze medallist Tania Cagnotto said Qin had showed the ring to her before the ceremony.
“I didn’t understand why. Now I understand,” she said. “I think it’s a really good moment to ask her to marry him, so I’m really happy for He Zi and Qin Kai.”
“Both of them have gone through a lot over many years, I think that today it’s a great moment,” gold medalist Shi Tingmao said.
Qi Kin, 30, won a bronze medal in the men's three-metre synchro event earlier in the Games.
He kept her composure well as the drama was unfolding and the fans in the stands – and the divers – were going nuts.
“We’ve been dating for over six years. I didn’t know he would propose today and I didn’t expect it,” He said.
And what was all the speechifying about?
“He said a lot of things on the podium, made a lot of promises. But the thing I am touched by the most is that I think this is the guy I can trust for the rest of my life,” He said.
Even through a translator, it was probably the most adorable thing you’re going to hear at the Olympics today.
It also helped take the edge off the disappointment for some of the divers – notably Canada’s Jennifer Abel, who came into the final dive in third place but ended up just outside the podium in fourth.
“It was so cute! Me too, I want someone to propose to me that way,” she said. “Anyone! You’re all welcome!”
