Brazil’s Isadora Cerullo, right, shares a moment with her partner Marjorie Enya, after she was asked to marry her, after the medal ceremony for the women’s rugby sevens match at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Same-sex love won in Rio.
After Australia had defeated New Zealand in the first-ever women’s rugby finals, Majorie Enya, a volunteer at Deodoro Stadium in Rio de Janeiro , walked onto the field and got engaged to her girlfriend of two years, Brazilian player Isadora Cerullo.
Following the medal ceremony of the inaugural competition, the 28-year old volunteer manager walked past through the crowd and made a rousing declamatory to Cerullo, 25, who was left speechless.
The pair was met with applause from the crowd, as they shared a a kiss and embraced, BBC reported.
“As soon as I knew she was in the squad I thought I have to make this special,” Enya was quoted as saying in the report. “I know rugby people are amazing and they would embrace it.”
Cerullo, who grew up in the US and holds dual Brazil-US citizenship, moved to Sao Paulo with Enya to focus on forming Brazil’s squad for the Olympic games.
“The Olympic Games can look like closure for me but it’s starting a new life with someone,” Enya told the BBC.
Brazil’s Isadora Cerullo, shares a moment with her partner Marjorie Enya, after she was asked to marry her at the end of the medal ceremony for the women’s rugby sevens match at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Meanwhile, the women’s rugby sevens was won by Australia, which beat New Zealand, 24-17, while Britain lost to Canada in the bronze match. Cerullo’s team, Brazil, qualified for the core World Series next year after finishing in ninth place.
Although she missed out on an Olympic medal, Cerullo is very much happy with her ring.
“She is the love of my life,” Enya said, describing her adoration for the Brazilian athlete. “I wanted to show people that love wins.”
Apart from the recently engaged couple, the Rio Olympics will also see the first same-sex married couple compete in the Games together.
British hockey players Kate Richardson-Walsh and Helen Richardson-Walsh will be competing in the Olympics for the fourth time this year after helping Great Britain win its first Olympic hockey medal in London in 2012. Khristian Ibarrola