Argentina Fencer Perez Maurice lost match but won in marriage
[July 26, 2021: Rebecca Shavit]
Maria Belen Pérez Maurice and Lucas Guillermo Saucedo celebrate their proposal at the Tokyo Olympics. Photograph: Sakura Murakami/Reuters
Argentina’s Maria Belen Perez Maurice may have lost her chance at a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but won’t be changing coaches anytime soon.
Instead of leaving with a medal, she’ll leave with a ring.
During the middle of her post-game interview following the 15-12 loss against Hungary’s Anna Marton in the woman’s saber individual, her coach/boyfriend Lucas Guillermo Saucedo ran in with a note saying, “Will you marry me??? Please,” in Spanish.
Footage shows her turn around, scream at the message, and accept the proposal from her partner of 17 years. The pair then shared a sweet kiss.
“They (the press) told me to turn around, and he had the letter. I forgot everything. I was like, ‘oh my god,’” Perez Maurice told reporters.
“We are very happy. We are very good partners. Of course, we have fights, but we enjoy each other’s time. We love each other so much, and we want to spend our lives together.”
Perez Maurice – who won gold at the 2014 Pan American Championships and competed at London 2012 and Rio 2016 – said they will celebrate their engagement in “Buenos Aires with a big barbecue.”
Saucedo decided to pop the question when Maurice lost her game. He would have waited longer had she made it to rounds.
“I love her, and when she lost the match she got very sad, so maybe this proposal should change her mentality,” he said.
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