Para triathlete Lionel Morales Gonzalez gets engaged after proposing to his girlfriend at the Paris Paralympics village

Triathlete Lionel Morales Gonzalez proposed to his girlfriend Jessica at the Olympic Village with the 2024 Paris Paralympics underway. Lionel Morales will compete in the men's triathlon event, scheduled to take place on September 1, 2024.

Lionel Morales, who was a victim of a motorcycle accident in 1997, signed the first marriage proposal in the Paralympic Village on Thursday, August 29, by getting down on one knee and asking his long-time girlfriend, Jessica, who didn't hesitate for a single moment before saying "yes."

In an X post by Paralympic Games, the 50-year-old was seen pulling off the act in front of the Paralympic village dining hall. After the successful celebration, Jessica nestled in Morales' arms and the soon-to-be married couple shared a kiss.

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Lionel Morales' fellow delegation members witnessed the moment and hugged the couple, celebrating the beginning of a new journey.

Lionel Morales Gonzalez cultivated different sports like surfing, underwater fishing, skateboarding and boxing, since shifting to the Spanish island, Lanzarote, at 5. He also won the Spanish junior boxing championship title at 18.

However, his life took an unfortunate turn in 1997, when a tragic motorcycle accident resulted in the amputation of his left leg from the knee. Lionel Morales Gonzalez persevered and competed in the para-triathlon at the Rio Olympics 2016 with his indomitable fighting spirit. He finished seventh in the race, a position he will look to upgrade in his second Olympic edition in Paris.

Lionel Morales Gonzales also showcased his prowess at the European, World, and National Champion stages. The past year, he secured first place in the Paratriathlon World Cup, second in the Para Triathlon World Championship, three podium finishes at the Paratriathlon World Series, and two Spanish Paratriathlon Championship titles.

Lionel Morales Gonzalez thanked his resident island for his sporting success

Lionel Morales Gonzales currently resides on the island of Lanzarote, which is a place without barriers and suitable for all types of athletes.

"I am privileged to be able to train on the island all year round and not be affected by the change of season. I have colleagues on the peninsula who start swimming with a wetsuit from October onwards and this year, for example, in December, I have not yet used one," he expressed gratitude. (via Lanzarote Sports)

He added:

"I think I am the best example to confirm that Lanzarote is prepared for adapted sport: good roads with incredible landscapes, wide avenues and a sea that I can easily access from different places."

Lionel Morales Gonzalez also shared that 'age is not an impediment' and he will continue to compete with the same desire.

About the author

Agnijeeta is a US Olympics journalist at Sportskeeda. She holds a Master’s degree in English and has worked as a school teacher, a blogger, a content writer and a sports writer over the past 5 years. A lover of high-adrenaline track and field events, she was also a sprinter during her school days.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone happens to be her favorite Olympian, and the athlete’s feat of breaking four records within 13 months inspires her, apart from the American's body language on and off the track. Grant Hackett swimming with a partially dysfunctional lung and winning gold in Athens is her all-time favorite Olympic moment.

Agnijeeta believes that deriving of unique angles from podcasts and interviews carried out by Olympics.com, along with hype-building of potential Olympic events on social media can help fill the coverage gap during the off season.

When not at her work desk, Agnijeeta likes to sing and paint. She also plays string instruments like guitar and ukulele and is an avid player of word puzzles.

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Edited by Neha