CIARA MAGEEAN revealed her fiance wanted to pop the question on three previous occasions – only for life and the weather to get in the way.
The Irish athlete got engaged to long-time partner Tom Moran last week.
The Portaferry woman had met her future husband through their shared involvement in athletics in UCD.
When it came time to get down on one knee, Tom laid out a number of potential scenarios in his head for how he was going to do it.
However, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, as his plans were curtailed on a number of occasions.
Mageean explained to Evoke.ie: “He bought a ring in Switzerland and was planning on proposing in Switzerland, but I was obviously going through a rough time.”
His attentions next turned towards the Olympics in Paris, only for a cruel injury to prevent his future wife from competing.
The 32-year-old added: “After the Olympics in Paris, whenever we have a little bit of time together.
“And then obviously that didn’t go to plan. So yeah, the poor lad’s been waiting for his opportunity.”
Back home, he hatched a plan that got disrupted in the most Irish way possible – the weather.
The 32-year-old revealed: “He had actually planned out the day.
“We were going to head out for some food and he had sourced a little spot along the River Shannon to get down on one knee and then true to Irish weather, it poured.
“He ended up proposing while we were both chilling in front of the Christmas tree.”
To this day, Tom remains one of her training partners who helps in her preparation to major championships.
Amid her gleeful interview after bagging a European Championship gold medal, she shouted him out as being a source of comfort as a listener too.
She told former sprint star-turned-RTE trackside interviewer David Gillick: “I’m excited about what’s to come.
“I said to my boyfriend earlier today that I’m looking forward to going training. This is just a start to the year.
“Words can’t even come close to describing how I feel.
“Everyone back home knows how long I’ve been doing this and how hard I’ve been trying.
“I was super nervous but I had a plan and a mission – to hear Amhran na bhFiann on top of the podium.
“I wanted to do this for Ireland. I love everyone at home to bits. We did it!”