French Steeplechase Star Alice Finot Pops the Question with Olympic Pin Right After Thrilling Race

“I don’t like doing things like everyone else,” Alice Finot remarked after proposing to her boyfriend. “Since he hadn’t done it yet, I thought maybe it was up to me.”

PARIS, France — An Olympic pin has never encapsulated so much love before.

French runner Alice Finot chose a unique way to propose to her boyfriend after her Olympic steeplechase race. She adorned his shirt with a “Love is in Paris” pin as she got down on one knee.

“I told myself that if I ran under nine minutes, knowing that nine is my lucky number and that we’ve been together for nine years, then I would propose,” Finot explained.

Finot completed her race in 8 minutes, 58.67 seconds, placing fourth. She then dashed to the stands to find her boyfriend, Spanish triathlete Bruno Martinez.

“I don’t like doing things like everyone else,” Finot reiterated. “Since he hadn’t done it yet, I thought maybe it was up to me.”

Although she didn’t secure a medal, Finot broke the European steeplechase record. NBC captured the heartfelt moment on video and shared it on Facebook.

Pins have become nearly ubiquitous symbols at the Olympic Games.

Paris has attracted collectors worldwide, each keen to start or enhance their Olympic pin collections and share their stories.

This tradition dates back to the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, revived by Pierre de Coubertin. Initially, athletes, coaches, and reporters in Athens wore small cardboard badges for identification.

Now, the badges have transformed into elaborate, intricate pins customized for participating countries, news organizations, brands, and individuals.

“They’re like little pieces of art,” expressed Nicholas Wolaver, an American pins collector and trader.

After two spectator-less Olympics due to the coronavirus pandemic, pin trading has made a triumphant return.

“Paris has been great for pin collecting because, after the pandemic, where trading was limited in Tokyo and Beijing, people are really excited,” Wolaver said.

The pins’ popularity has surged, buoyed by social media and the involvement of Olympians themselves. Serena Williams, a former Olympian, called herself a “first-class pin collector” in a video on the Olympics’ official Instagram account.