Love goes through Budapest … When the battle for the medals over the 35 km walk at the World Championships in Athletics was decided, Dominik Cerny’s romantic hour struck. Finishing 19th, the Slovakian walker waited for his partner Hana Burzalova and got on his knees. The “yes” was worth its weight in gold for him.
The two Spaniards Maria Perez and Alvaro Martin already had the gold medals hanging around their necks when it got even warmer on Heroes’ Square in Budapest. Getting engaged immediately after the finish line is also not commonplace at World Athletics Championships.
However, Dominik Cerny plucked up courage and kneeled down to ask his partner Hana Burzalova, who finished 28th in the women’s race that was held at the same time. Burzalova said “Yes” and took the ring. Both then proudly posed for the photographers.
I thought about that throughout the race – maybe that’s what got me to the finish. I felt an inner energy, a special motivation.
“I decided two days ago to propose to my girlfriend”reported Cerny afterwards: “We’ve been together for almost an Olympic cycle, so almost four years. I think it was the right time.”
Request “top secret”
The request is one “top secret thing” been, the walker reported further: “I thought about it throughout the race – maybe that was what got me to the finish. I felt an inner energy, a special motivation.”
The fact that Cerny and Burzalova only played a minor role in the outcome of the World Championship race may have been irrelevant to them. At the Olympic premiere of the mixed relay next year in Paris, the couple wants “maybe start as family Cerny”said the Slovak.