For US alpine skier Breezy Johnson, the 2026 Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo delivered the kind of week most athletes — and romantics — only dream about. Just days after capturing Olympic gold in the women’s downhill, Johnson crossed another finish line that would change her life: a surprise marriage proposal and a bright blue sapphire engagement ring from boyfriend Connor Watkins.
Watkins had been planning the moment for nearly a year. On February 12, shortly after Johnson completed her run in the women’s super-G, he was waiting in the finish area. Still dressed in her Team USA gear, the gold medalist was stunned as Watkins dropped to one knee and asked her to marry him.
Johnson later described the experience as “everything I ever dreamed of,” adding that the timing felt perfect. The Olympic engagement fulfilled a wish she had shared early in their relationship — the hope of combining “the two loves of my life,” skiing and Connor.
The couple’s modern love story began in 2023 when they met on the dating app Bumble. What started with a simple brunch date grew into a partnership strong enough to weather demanding training schedules and international competition. Today, the Salt Lake City–based pair share a home — and now, an unforgettable Olympic memory.
At the center of the proposal was a custom-designed engagement ring that reflected Johnson’s personal style. Rather than choosing a traditional diamond, Watkins worked with a jeweler to create a white gold bypass-style ring featuring a vivid blue sapphire center stone accented by white sapphires.
“I’m so much more of a color person,” Johnson told vogue.com, noting that she “was not sold on the white diamond thing.” The sapphire choice also carried a personal touch. “Blue is also her color,” Watkins said.
Johnson had given Watkins full creative freedom. “I don’t want to go ring shopping,” she told him. “I want you to design it.” He completed the piece months ahead of the Games, ensuring every detail was ready for the big moment.
The presentation itself included another meaningful element. The ring was placed inside a custom wooden box engraved with a lyric from Taylor Swift’s song “The Alchemy”: “Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?” The track — known for its sports imagery and themes of love and victory — had become a favorite for the couple as their relationship deepened.
The story didn’t end there. After Johnson shared the engagement on Instagram, Swift herself commented with another lyric from the song, delighting the newly engaged athlete. Johnson later called the unexpected nod from the global superstar “so cute” and said she couldn’t believe it.
Credits: Images via Instagram / breezyjohnsonski and hashtagconnor4real.