Romance took center stage at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan when American ice dancer Jean-Luc Baker, 32, got down on one knee and proposed to his former rival Olivia Smart, 28. The proposal happened on Valentine’s Day, February 14, on the streets of Milan, making the moment even more meaningful. Smart, who competed at the Games representing Spain alongside her ice dance partner Tim Dieck, left Italy with more than just a ninth-place finish to celebrate. The couple shared the joyful news through a joint post on social media, where Baker kept his message simple and heartfelt, writing “It was always you.”
The skating world quickly flooded the comments with congratulations. American skater Evan Bates was among the first to respond, writing “Congratulations!! I love you guys,” while fellow skater Ellie Kam added “It was so beautiful. Congratulations.” Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher also weighed in with a surprised “Excuse me?!?!?! Did this happen before or after I saw you?!” Smart replied that the proposal had taken place “literally a couple of hours later,” adding a charming behind-the-scenes detail to the already sweet story.
What makes the proposal even more special is that Baker chose Valentine’s Day intentionally. The date marks the anniversary of when he first confessed his feelings to Smart during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, where the two were competing against each other. At the time, Smart was in a relationship with someone else, but the two had already shared more than a decade of close friendship. As Baker explained in a video posted on the Olympic Channel, “At that point, we had been best friends for some 11 or 12 years.”
Baker opened up about the internal battle he faced before speaking his truth, describing a specific moment of clarity. “I remember that feeling in my stomach, thinking I wouldn’t feel comfortable just being a guest at her wedding,” he shared, adding, “Honestly, I couldn’t keep living without her knowing how I felt.” It was after both had completed their free skate programs in Beijing that Baker made the decision it was time to say something. That honest conversation set off a chain of events that eventually led to a Valentine’s Day engagement on the cobblestone streets of Milan.
The two have quite the competitive history behind them. At the 2022 Beijing Games, Smart competed for Spain with her then-partner and placed eighth in the ice dance event, while Baker finished eleventh representing the United States. Baker had previously reached the podium at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, earning a bronze medal in the team event. Since Beijing, however, he has not competed due to a string of injuries and has not yet made an official announcement about retiring from the sport. Their story is a reminder that the Olympics, often celebrated for athletic achievement, can also serve as the backdrop for deeply personal and life-changing moments.
Ice dancing, the discipline both Smart and Baker competed in, is one of the most technically and artistically demanding events in figure skating. Unlike pairs skating, ice dance does not include jumps or throws but instead focuses on intricate footwork, rhythm, and the emotional connection between partners. Competitors are judged on two segments: the rhythm dance and the free dance. The sport has roots in ballroom dancing and became an official Olympic event at the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Games. Olivia Smart holds dual British and Spanish nationality, which is why she represents Spain rather than the United Kingdom on the international stage. Baker, a native of the United States, has trained with some of the top coaches in North America throughout his career.
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