Olympian’s gold-medal wedding proposal goes viral, dividing social media: 'Had to make it about you'

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Was it one of the happiest moments in a person’s life getting even better, or was it a case of some spotlight stealing?

The debate is raging on social media over Chinese Olympian Liu Yuchen proposing to his girlfriend and countrymate Huang Yaqiong after she had just accepted the gold medal she won in badminton.

With Yaqiong proudly displaying her gold medal around her neck and holding a bouquet of flowers, Yuchen knelt to the ground and popped the question, saying, “I’ll love you forever! Will you marry me?”

After slipping the ring onto her finger, he kissed her hand as the crowd cheered.

Yuchen, it should be noted, had been eliminated after the group stage of the mixed doubles tournament after going 2-2 with partner Ou Xuan Yi.

“If my boyfriend ever did this I’m sucker punching him and getting on the podium,” one user wrote on X.

“Proposing to me after I win gold?? Baby you’ll never hear from me again! Had to make it about you,” another posted.

“Proposal rule #1: Do not take away from a woman’s big day by making it about you and your relationship,” a third posted in response to a video of the moment.

On the other side of things, one user on X posted video of the proposal while commenting that “love is the ultimate triumph,” and asking, “What can be more romantic?”

“She won a Gold medal and then got a diamond ring too,” another user wrote.

“OMG!!! Romance at the Olympics!!!” a third user touted.

For her part, Yaqiong said she was thrilled from the entire scene and that her summer “couldn’t be more perfect.”

“It made me cry again,” she said in Chinese. “While winning the championship, I also took a step forward in another stage of my life. This summer couldn’t be more perfect. Now I am so happy that I am at a loss for words.”

Later on Instagram, Yaqiong thanked her fiance for “making my day,” gushing to reporters that “the ring fits my finger really well.”