Olympian Justin Best Proposes to Fiancée With Nod to 2,738 Snap Streak
Originally appeared on E! Online
Now that's one way to honor a Snap streak.
Team USA rower Justin Best, who won the gold medal in the men's four race with his rowing team at the 2024 Olympics Aug. 1, will be heading home from Paris with more than just a win: He also officially has a fiancée.
The 26-year-old proposed to Lainey Duncan, his girlfriend of over seven years, live on Today Aug. 5, surrounded by 2,738 yellow roses, a nod to couple's Snapchat streak that has lasted 2,738 days in a row. The two have kept the streak going since they started dating after starring as the co-leads in their high school's musical.
"Lainey Olivia Duncan, you are the love of my life," Justin said as he got down on one knee in front of the Eiffel Tower. "You have been with me since day one."
Justin explained that he knew Lainey was special, especially as she was incredibly supportive of his Olympic dreams from their very first date, telling him to "Go for it."
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"You are stunningly beautiful, ferociously intelligent. Your kindness is bent leaps and bounds," he continued. "I don't know anyone that doesn't love you."
But of course, he saved the best for last, saying to the 26-year-old, "This is going to be the easiest question of my life. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and raise a family together. Lainey, will you marry me?"
Lainey immediately gave a yes and the two shared a kiss, with Lainey getting red lipstick all over Justin's face and joking, "You look fabulous."
As for how Snapchat continues to be a vital part of their relationship?
"Obviously we communicated through Snapchat," Justin told her. "Our streak is 2,738 right now. So there are 2,738 yellow roses from Snapchat. Our love is truly now immortalized."
Lainey could not stop smiling, saying, "I am so, so happy. This is the best day of my life!"
And despite being an Olympian, Justin had plenty of nerves to contend with before the proposal.
"I am just as nervous as I was lining up for the start line," he told Today after putting a ring on it. "I don't know—if I had a heart rate monitor on, it might be like 130 beats per minute."
He added, "I got the gold and the girl—and she got the diamond!"
But Justin and Lainey aren't the only couple to get engaged in Paris. Team China badminton player Liu Yuchen popped the question to fellow teammate Huang Yaqiong after she won gold in the mixed doubles competition Aug. 2.
"I was surprised by the engagement ring," she told Olympics.com after the proposal. "I've been focusing on training to become an Olympic champion. I never expected it."
And Team Argentina's men's handball player Pablo Simonet also proposed to girlfriend, Maria Campoy—a member of the country's women's hockey team—in the Olympic Village before the Games, writing on Instagram July 24, "The woman of my life gave me the yes."
For more of the best moments for the 2024 Paris Olympics, keep reading.
(E!, Today and NBC are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
A Historic Win
Julien Alfred brought home Saint Lucia's first medal when she won the 100m.
Medal Monster
Cookie Monster looks a little too interested in taking a bite out of Team USA swimmer Katie Ledecky's Olympic medals.
You Can Take Them Hot to Swim
Team Italy showed off their dance skills during the artistic swimming competition.
Boats Away
The athletes participating in the men's Kayak Cross of the Canoeing Slalom competition dropped into the water.
Edging Out The Competition
Noah Lyles officially became the fastest man in the world when he narrowly won the men's 100m final.
The Medal Monster
Katie Ledecky had to hold on tight to her medals so Cookie Monster didn't gobble them up.
Winner's Circle
Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade and Jordan Chiles posed with their individual floor final medals.
En Garde!
France and Egypt facecd off in the fencing quarterfinals.
Elmo's World
Elmo's got a t-rex, a go fish card and a selfie with Olympians Suni Lee and Jordan Chiles.
Concentrate!
France's Felix Lebrun was extra careful while serving during table tennis.
Getting Dirt-y
Team Germany's Leo Neugebauer landed hard during the long jump.
Jumping Over The Eiffel Tower
Olivier Perreau of France didn't exactly jump over the actual Eiffel Tower, but close enough.
Running, Running
The women of the 500m race were going so fast, you could barely see their legs moving.
Vroom Vroom
BMX bikers head straight for the cameras during the semifinal race.
You Jump, I Jump
Anthony Harding and Jack Laugher of Team Great Britain were in perfect sync during the synchronized diving competition.
That's Gotta Hurt
Canada's Wyatt Sanford took quite the punch from Uzbekistan's Ruslan Abdullaev.
Nothing But Net
LeBron James proved once again he knows his way towards a slum dunk.
One Eye Open
Kim Yeji of Team Republic of Korea was busy prepping during the Women's 10m Air Pistol Final.
Get The Ball!
Egypt's Omar Assar leapt for the ball during an intense game of table tennis.
A Well Deserved Rest
Cassandre Beaugrand of Team France was excited (and exhausted!) after winning gold in the women's individual triathlon.
Selfie Queens
Team Brazil's Rebeca Andrade and Team USA's Simone Biles and Suni Lee posed for a selfie during the Gymnastics Women's All-Around Final medal ceremony.
Rebounding For The Win
Nigeria's Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah jumped for the ball during her match against France.
Life's A Breeze
Men's foil windsurfing embraced the wind as they raced to the finish.
Leaping to New Heights
For Simone Biles, the limit to greatness does not exist.
Watch the 2024 Paris Olympics daily on NBC and Peacock until the summer games end with the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
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