Milan Cortina romance: brittany bowe and Hilary Knight announce engagement at Olympics
Team USA speedskater Brittany Bowe and women's hockey captain Hilary Knight confirmed their engagement during the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games. Knight proposed on the eve of the U. S. women's hockey team's rematch with Canada for Olympic gold, sharing a brief, celebratory moment while both athletes wore matching Team USA gear.
Proposal moment and Olympic timing
The proposal arrived amid one of the busiest stretches of the Winter Games: the U. S. women’s hockey team was preparing to face Canada in the gold-medal game Thursday at 1: 10 p. m. ET. Knight captured and shared the intimate moment with a short video showing the couple together, captioning it, "Olympics brought us together. This one made us forever. " Bowe accepted the proposal.
For Bowe, the Games will be remembered for more than results. She entered Milan Cortina as a two-time Olympic bronze medalist and finished this year just off the podium in both the 1, 000-meter and the team pursuit events. Knight, already a multi-time Olympic medalist, stands to add a fifth Olympic medal after the upcoming medal game.
From teammates in Beijing to partners in Milan
The pair first connected during the 2022 Beijing Olympics. During a period framed by strict COVID-19 protocols, the two athletes found time for long walks and quiet moments that helped form a bond away from the pressures of competition. Knight reflected on those early interactions last week, saying, "To have that human connection, even walking outside at a distance, it was really cool. "
Bowe said she got to know a side of Knight that contrasted with the powerhouse image many fans see on the ice. "Knowing her as a hockey player, it’s like this big, strong, powerful female, " Bowe said. "But then, when we got to know each other, she was soft, genuine, kind, almost shy. That really sparked my interest. " The relationship has grown in the public eye at these Games, culminating in the proposal in Milan.
Romance among the competition and what comes next
These Olympics have featured several memorable personal moments, with romance and proposals emerging amid athletic storylines. For Bowe and Knight, the engagement adds a new chapter to lives that have been defined by elite sport and international competition. The immediate focus for Knight remains the medal game versus Canada; for Bowe, the Games wrap up with new personal news to carry home alongside her athletic achievements.
Beyond medals and ceremonies, the announcement underscores how the Olympic environment—intense, isolating at times, but also singular in its opportunity for connection—can foster relationships that endure after the closing ceremonies. As teammates, friends and now fiancés, the couple leaves Milan Cortina with memories that extend well beyond the scoreboard.
