Paralympics: Cape Verde guide proposes to runner on track

Tokyo, September 3: Cape Verde's Paralympic sprinter Keula Pereira Semedo on Thursday (September 2) received a marriage proposal on the track of the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo.

At the finish line of the women's 200 meter in the T11 category for visually impaired athletes, Semedo's running guide, Manuel Vaz de Veiga, went down on one knee to ask for her hand in marriage.

Keula Nidreia Pereira Semedo from Cape Verde got a surprise marriage proposal from guide after her Tokyo Paralympics 2020 Women's 200m T11 Heat 4 event.#YouDeserveIt #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/ZR6Lq7EwOb

— SABC Sport (@SPORTATSABC) September 2, 2021

The duo had just finished last in their preliminary heat, failing to qualify to the next round. But it didn't seem to ruin the mood.

In a video released by the Tokyo Paralympic Games organization, Semedo is seen smiling and holding her hands to her head upon receiving the proposal while the other runners and guides applaud.

#Paralympics proposal alert 🥺

Manuel Antonio Vaz da Veiga, guide to Keula Nidreia Pereira Semedo, popped the question after the women's T11 200m heats

May the two of them run together for life! ❤️#Tokyo2020 #ParaAthletics pic.twitter.com/BYfWVwtwYm

— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) September 2, 2021

Best place, best time

Vaz de Veiga said he thought the stadium was "the best place" place to pop the question. "It's her second home," he said. "We have been together for 11 years. So I thought it was time," he added.

"I don't have words for how I feel. But I'm sure our parents will go crazy with joy," said the bride-to-be.

"I was actually thinking about quitting sport. But now I have an extra motivation to continue. Always with him by my side."

fb/wmr (AFP, dpa)

Source: DW