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Love is in the air at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games – even among rivals.
Spanish figure skater Olivia Smart and former US Olympic ice dancer Jean-Luc Baker are engaged as the latter popped the question on Valentine’s Day on Saturday.
Smart said “yes” and shared the news on Instagram.
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Former Team USA Olympic ice dancer Jean-Luc Baker and Team Spain ice dancer Olivia Smart pose for a photograph after proposing in the streets of Milan on day eight of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Joosep Martinson/Getty Images)
“It’s always been you,” the couple wrote in a video leading up to the proposal on the streets of Milan.
Smart was clearly shocked at the moment, while the video showed Baker holding up the ring as his new fiancé competed on the ice below.
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These two had been friends for a while, but on the ice, Team USA and Spain were obvious rivals as they competed for the same award.
In the 2022 Beijing Games, as well as two World Championships, Baker and Smart competed against each other for gold.
Smart finished ahead of Baker in the 2022 Games when she finished eighth to his 11th.
Former Team USA Olympic ice dancer Jean-Luc Baker proposes to ice dancer Olivia Smart of Team Spain in the streets of Milan on day eight of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Joosep Martinson/Getty Images)
Baker was in the stands this time for the Milan Cortina Games, while Smart competed with partner Tim Dieck in the ice dance. They came ninth in the competition.
Smart may not have finished the way she hoped, but at least she didn’t leave Milan without some sort of hardware.
Baker had won bronze in his Olympic career and brought it home at the 2018 Winter Games. He has not been able to compete since 2023 due to injuries.
Olivia Smart and partner Tim Dieck of Team Spain compete in the Ice Dance – Free Dance on day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
As the heat of competition continues in Milan, it’s hard not to enjoy a loving moment between these two.
