Paris 2024 Olympics - Sailing - Women's Skiff Medal Race - Marseille Marina, Marseille, France - August 02, 2024. Charline Picon of France and Sarah Steyaert of France celebrate after winning bronze. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez
MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - French women's skiff sailors Sarah Steyaert and Charline Picon got a romantic offer when they returned ashore from winning Olympic bronze on Friday, their respective partners both got down on one knee and proposed marriage.
Steyaert and Picon both said "oui", their partners told Reuters as they celebrated an emotional day with their families in a bar just across the road from the Olympic sailing village.
"She plans to retire now," Picon's partner Jean-Emmanuel Mestre said, with their young daughter Lou adding: "from sport".
Earlier on the water, the French sailors could not reproduce the speed they found in lighter winds and after stumbling on the start in the medals race never got back into contention for gold, having to settle for bronze on overall points.
French fans and family gave the duo -- dubbed 'Mama Team' -- a rousing welcome when they came ashore, singing and sounding horns in celebration of their achievement.
(Writing by Alexander Smith; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
