28-year-old woman was on top of the world after completing her first triathlon — then her boyfriend’s finish-line surprise made it unforgettable
There's no end to getting creative with expressing love for one's partner. Florida woman Cindy Al Ghawi witnessed one such gesture from her boyfriend, Hossam Sayegh. She had just finished a triathlon in West Palm Beach, as reported by PEOPLE on April 12, 2026. However, Al Ghawi had no idea there was something else, instead of a medal, awaiting her at the finish line. Her boyfriend had planned a special surprise for her, and when it arrived, the triathlon became an unforgettable experience for the couple.
The 28-year-old participant in the BillBone Olympic Triathlon overcame every stage before reaching the finish line. She began with a 400-meter swim, followed by a 200-kilometer cycling stretch, and finished with a five-kilometer run, completing the event in 1:35:34 on Sunday, April 12, 2026, as per WPBF News. Al Ghawi felt “accomplished” and was in her “own world” as she crossed the finish line. Her family and her boyfriend of four years were already there to welcome her. The man handed her a rose, which she realized was artificial. He asked her to open the rose, and what she discovered sent her excitement soaring. “I see a beautiful diamond ring. He gets on his knee and asks to marry me,” Al Ghawi told the outlet.
The woman was already happy to see her family after completing the triathlon, but this surprise, a marriage proposal, definitely became an added milestone to mark. It was followed by a nod to the proposal as she said yes. Al Ghawi also revealed that she had planned to participate in the triathlon at the start of this year. She was looking for a change in her life, and even without any prior experience, she signed up for the competition.
However, her boyfriend kept the proposal plan a secret until she crossed the finish line. “It was such an amazing feeling,” Al Ghawi, who works as a communication specialist with Miami Inter Air Inc, said. The Miami-based couple is originally from Lebanon and met four years ago while studying as students at Florida International University. Her boyfriend, Sayegh, a research scientist, was certain about Al Ghawi and decided to pop the question. “I’m going for her,” he said. The triathlon felt like the perfect moment, though he revealed he had only shared his plans with her parents.
As the happy moment unfolded during the event, other participants joined in celebrating their engagement and posed for photos. The ceremony was also brightened by the presence of Olympians Kirsten Kasper and Kevin McDowell, who posed for photos with the couple. Event promoter Jennifer Sardone-Shiner revealed that she was the one who brought the couple’s photographer in with the Olympians. For the couple, it became a day they will always look back on, with their wedding planned for next year.
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