If you’ve been anything like me, you’ve been glued to the BBC and streaming of the Winter Olympic Games. I wouldn’t call myself a particular sports aficionado, but there’s something so fun, inspiring, and celebratory about the global games that has me hooked. I love the triumph as much as the heartbreak–and all the moments in between. Some personal highlights of mine were watching Alysa Liu win gold, becoming a new member of the Kokomo Murase fan club, and watching both(!) US hockey teams win gold in overtime, and discover the weird and wonderful events of biathlon, skeleton, and aerials.
Besides the thrill of watching the best athletes in the world compete, some of the most memorable moments of the Milano-Cortina Games have been off the snow/ice/piste/jump/halfpipe/ice track/etc. Particularly with, or maybe because of, the co-occurrence of the Games with Valentine’s Day, I couldn’t help but notice that many of these moments were about love. It also doesn’t help that the holiday’s related pop culture media releases like Wuthering Heights, Bridgerton, and Love Story: JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette have been everywhere lately.
Breezy Johnson & Connor Watkins: A Proposal Celebrated by Taylor Swift
After deftly powering down the mountain, American skier Breezy Johnson had another surprise waiting for her at the finish line of her super-G run. Her partner, Connor Watkins, dropped down on one knee and popped the infamous question. She said “yes” to a roaring crowd, just four days after her Olympic gold medal in downhill skiing.
Along with the ring was a piece of wood which featured etched lyrics from Taylor Swift’s song “The Alchemy.” The cherry on top came from a congratulatory comment from Swift on the couple’s Instagram post.
Hilary Knight & Brittany Bowe: Love on Ice
Another Olympic engagement won over hearts: U.S. women’s hockey captain, Hilary Knight proposed to American speed skater, Brittany Bowe, which they shared via Instagram. The couple first met at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Now, at both their last Olympics, they’re going back home with extra hardware, Olympic rings, and engagement rings!
Madison Chock & Evan Bates: Married Medalists
This married couple took silver in the ice dance event, adding another chapter to one of figure skating’s most enduring partnerships. The two showed off the trust and dedication they have for their craft and for each other every time they stepped on the ice, and knowing they are a couple adds an extra layer of charm. They became skating partners in 2011, but didn’t start dating until 2016, and got married in 2024.
Chock and Bates spoke about how their relationship has shaped their skating. “It’s not always easy–we’re pushing ourselves hard to be our very best,” Bates told PEOPLE in September 2025. “But at the same time, the foundation is that we’re best friends… I think the trust is there, the friendship is there, and that’s what is the strongest part of our relationship.”
The 2026 Winter Olympics were full of unforgettable moments, and I can sincerely say I am sad to see them go (how else will I procrastinate!). These love stories added warmth and charm to fiercely competitive events, showing that even at the world’s highest level, there’s room for romance. Of course, not every headline was so wholesome: for example, Sturla Holm Lægreid’s cheating confession and a reported condom shortage. But, in the end, love was very much in the chilly air of the Milano-Cortina games and helped to make the Games feel bigger than just medals and records.