Photo: Getty Images
Olympic sprinter Gabby Thomas is engaged!
On Tuesday (March 25), news broke that Thomas got engaged to her longtime boyfriend Spencer McManes during an intimate proposal in Austin, Texas.
Thomas told Vogue that she didn't know the engagement was coming, but there were a few signs that McManes might be getting down on one knee. Around Valentine's Day, McManes had taken her ring shopping at Tiffany's in New York City.
McManes had also made a reservation at the couple's favorite Austin restaurant. J. Carver's, leading up to the proposal. When Thomas broke a nail on her left hand during track practice, McManes quickly Venmoed his soon-to-be fiancee $50 to get it fixed.
Despite the signs, Thomas said she was still shocked when she found McManes surrounded by flowers on the rooftop of the Airbnb they rented for a staycation before track season. Thomas also spotted her best friend and a photographer.
“That's when I realized, ‘Oh my gosh, this is happening,” Thomas said. “Normally he’s very bad with surprises—and this was the one surprise I think I've ever witnessed him keep.”
Thomas' and McManes' engagement comes roughly three years after they started dating in the fall of 2022.
When Thomas won three gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, McManes was seen supporting the sprinter in the crowd, wearing a "Team Gabby" shirt.
The couple acknowledged that the build-up and aftermath of the Olympics were chaotic and emotional.
“We grew closer through it,” McManes said. “Last season helped us solidify our relationship and work really well as a team through the ups and downs.”
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