Olympic Women’s Rugby Player Gets Engaged To Girlfriend On The Field
Rio De Janeiro(WP): For most people, a rugby field is the opposite of a romantic setting. But for Brazilian Olympics volunteer Marjorie Enya, it served as the perfect spot to propose to her girlfriend Isadora Cerullo, a member of Brazil’s team.
“As soon as I knew she was in the squad I thought I have to make this special,” Enya, 28, told the BBC. Cerullo, 25, was one of 19 athletes the country recruited to join its rugby team, which gained entry to the tournament because Brazil is the Games’ host nation.
“My mom said, ‘You’re doing what?’ ” Cerullo recounted to the Globe and Mail about when she told her parents she was withdrawing from medical school to join the Brazilian squad. “They didn’t think this was a great idea.”
Hopefully Cerullo’s happy ending was enough to convince her parents she made the right decision.
It’s unclear whether Cerullo’s parents, who fled Brazil over three decades ago for political reasons, were present to see their daughter’s proposal, but plenty of others were, which is one of the reasons Enya chose to propose over Deodoro Stadium’s loudspeakers.
“I know rugby people are amazing and they would embrace it,” Enya said of her decision.
The proposal came after the medals ceremony on Monday night that saw Australia win the first-ever women’s rugby sevens gold.
Brazil, meanwhile, finished in ninth place out of 12 entrants.
Despite the loss, however, Enya says she feels like a winner.
“The Olympic Games can look like closure but, for me, it’s starting a new life with someone,” Enya said. “I wanted to show people that love wins.”