A marriage proposal at the Paralympics. © APA/afp / MARTIN BUREAU

After missing the finale comes the marriage proposal

Para-athlete Alessandro Ossola’s sadness over missing the 100-meter final lasted only a short time.

September 04, 2024

From: dpa/det

Immediately after the race, the Italian ran to his girlfriend Arianna in the stands of the Stade de France in Paris, got down on his knees and proposed to her. "She answered me: 'You're crazy, you're crazy' and she kissed me, it was really exciting," the 36-year-old told the BBC. "I was unlucky, I didn't reach the final and I was really sad about it. But after three minutes I was really happy."

Nine years ago, Ossola lost his first wife in a motorcycle accident. A large part of his left leg was also amputated. "I'm a positive guy, but it was a tough time at the beginning. But sport helped me to get out of that darkness," he said. "It's a long journey, now I'm here and I'm smiling."

He had already thought about the plan for the marriage proposal months before. "We love Paris, and Paris - the city of love - was the right city to ask her to be my wife," said Ossola.