More Than Olympic Rings: Lilly King and James Wells Announce Engagement

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

Athletes are gaining more than just the Olympic rings beside their names at this meet; in the case of Lilly King, she also gained an engagement ring.

After the women’s 200 breaststroke, where she earned her 3rd Olympic berth in the event, King’s longtime partner James Wells popped the question in the media mixed zone.

King has represented the U.S. in both breaststroke events at the past two Olympics, and officially made it three after her finish in the 200 breast tonight. The Hoosier clocked 2:21.93 for 2nd, a season best and her fastest since last year’s team trials. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, King earned the silver medal in this event after failing to advance out of semis in Rio. She had already booked her ticket to Paris by winning the 100 breaststroke earlier in the meet.

Wells also swam for Indiana University, graduating in 2014. He was a versatile athlete, swimming everything but breaststroke for the Hoosiers throughout his four year career. He earned back-to-back Big Ten titles in the 100 backstroke in 2012 and 2013. The last time Wells swam competitively was at the 2021 Wave 1 Olympic Trials, where he competed in the 100 back.

 

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TheSwimCritic
5 days ago

Don’t let this distract you from the fact that Lily King will make baseless accusations about other athletes doping, yet when she gets D/Q’d for an illegal turn she can’t keep her mouth shut

FST
6 days ago

Kyle Chalmers got engaged, too…

cowboy cap-iar
6 days ago

People actually hating on this is crazy.

Dave
6 days ago

I feel like this made it about him when it was her moment. It was also a very public moment, which makes them seem publicity-hungry. My opinion: inappropriate and cringe. Again, just my opinion
Anywhere but on a pool deck at Trials dude.

Flutterfly
6 days ago

Aw yeah! Who cares where it happened? Not everything needs to be social media picture perfect these days. He proposed after her very last trial swim (ever… right) and it was sweet. What a moment!

distanceswammer
6 days ago

Y’all my boyfriend (now fiancé) proposed to me in our living room after I had been at work all day and it was the most romantic thing ever. Social media has ruined people’s perception of proposing. My fiancé could have proposed in a dumpster with a ring pop and I’d have still said yes. She was obviously very happy and excited. Congratulations to them!

Swamererer
6 days ago

Happy for the couple, but this is the equivalent of proposing at someone else’s wedding.

Xanadu
6 days ago

Hoping he proposed somewhere nice before this and they’re just using this for more attention because proposing post race is not romantic. Huffing, puffing, trying to get her HR down, and there’s our man James coming in with the proposal.

Hats off if he proposed the other night at St. Elmo’s for a pre Trials meal and they’re just using this for attention because I do hope that’s the case. And obviously congratulations to the couple on all this!!

anon1
Reply to  Xanadu
6 days ago

Don’t understand the backlash here, it can be anywhere any time. For another superstar reference, Matt Grevers did it years ago at the Grand Prix 🙂

https://www.today.com/news/olympic-contender-dishes-surprise-podium-proposal-wbna46797980