Gabby Thomas, the dazzling track star who sprinted her way to three gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, just added another piece of bling to her collection—and this one’s not from the podium. On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, Thomas and her boyfriend-turned-fiancé Spencer McManes announced their engagement, sending fans into a frenzy over the heartwarming celebrity news. McManes, the charismatic founder of wellness drink brand Kaviva, dropped to one knee during a Texas staycation, presenting Thomas with a massive diamond ring that’s already stealing the spotlight. “I’m still in shock,” Thomas gushed in an Instagram post, her joy radiating brighter than her Olympic hardware.
The proposal unfolded like a scene from a rom-com, set against the golden hues of a rooftop Airbnb in Austin, Texas. McManes, a master of surprises this time around, orchestrated the moment with finesse—complete with Thomas’s best friend and a photographer hiding in the wings to capture every tearful smile. “Normally he’s terrible with surprises,” Thomas laughed in a joint interview with People. “This was the one time he totally pulled it off.” The result? A picture-perfect memory that’s already melting hearts across social media, cementing this couple as 2025’s breakout love story in sports and entertainment.
From DMs to “I Do”: How They Met
The sparks between Thomas and McManes first flew in 2021, ignited by a mutual friend with a knack for matchmaking. “They said we’d be a cute couple,” Thomas recalled, grinning at the memory. Acting on the tip, she followed McManes on Instagram—a move that set the wheels of romance in motion. “I got the notification that Gabby Thomas followed me,” McManes told Vogue. “I thought, ‘That’s crazy! The Olympian?’” Wasting no time, he slid into her DMs with a playful opener: “What did I do to earn a follow?” Her response—a flirty “Just keep being you”—marked the start of a connection that’s now headed for the altar.
Their first date came in 2022, a casual dinner in Austin where their shared love of food (and a little competitive banter) sealed the deal. “We bonded over spicy tacos and trash talk,” McManes said in an Instagram video titled “United Through Food,” posted March 25. From there, the couple became inseparable, weathering Thomas’s grueling Olympic training and McManes’s entrepreneurial hustle. By the time he popped the question, their bond had grown into something unbreakable—a testament to the friend who saw their potential long before they did.
The Proposal: A Rooftop Fairytale
McManes chose Austin—a city he knows well from his Yale football days—for the big moment. The couple had planned a low-key staycation, a rare break from Thomas’s packed schedule as a three-time Olympic champion and McManes’s work scaling Kaviva, a CBD-infused drink brand gaining buzz in wellness circles. Little did Thomas suspect that the rooftop of their Airbnb, overlooking the Texas skyline, would become the stage for a life-changing question. “He told me we were just going up for a drink,” she said. “Next thing I know, he’s on one knee, and I’m crying like a baby.”
The ring—a jaw-dropping cushion-cut diamond estimated at 4 carats, flanked by smaller stones—sparkled as brightly as Thomas’s medals. Jewelry expert Lauren McCawley of Diamond Nexus told E! News, “That’s a statement piece—easily worth $80,000 or more.” McManes, ever the romantic, paired it with words that hit Thomas straight in the heart: “You’re my gold medal, Gabby. Will you marry me?” Her “Yes!” echoed across the rooftop, captured in photos now flooding X and Instagram with captions like “Love wins!” and “Olympic-sized romance!”
Two Athletes, One Power Couple
Thomas isn’t the only competitor in this duo. McManes, 29, boasts his own athletic pedigree, having played linebacker for Yale University’s football team from 2013 to 2016. Known for his tenacity on the field, he later traded tackles for tries with the Austin Huns Rugby Club, sharpening the grit that’s fueled his rise as a beverage mogul. “We’re both driven,” Thomas said in a Sports Illustrated profile. “He gets the grind of training, the highs and lows—it’s why we click.” Their shared passion for fitness and ambition has fans dubbing them a “power couple” poised to dominate beyond the track and boardroom.
Thomas, 28, cemented her legacy at the 2024 Paris Games, winning gold in the 200-meter, 4×100-meter relay, and 4×400-meter relay—a haul that made her the first American woman to triple up in a single Olympics since Allyson Felix in 2012. Off the track, she’s a Harvard grad with a master’s in public health, balancing stardom with advocacy for STEM education. McManes, meanwhile, launched Kaviva in 2020, tapping into the booming $4.5 billion functional beverage market. Together, they’re a blend of brains, brawn, and beauty—qualities that’ll shine as they plan their wedding.
Fans Go Wild: A Social Media Celebration
The announcement hit like a starting gun, with fans and celebs racing to congratulate the couple. On X, #GabbyThomasEngaged trended within hours, alongside posts like “From Olympic gold to a diamond ring—Gabby’s winning at life!” and “Spencer McManes just scored the ultimate MVP.” Track legend Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone chimed in with, “So happy for you, Gabby! That ring is 🔥.” Even Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin—himself making headlines this week—dropped a “Congrats, champs!” The outpouring reflects 2025’s pop culture obsession with feel-good moments amid chaos.
Thomas and McManes leaned into the hype, sharing a joint Instagram reel set to Bruno Mars’s “Marry You.” “She said yes, y’all!” McManes captioned it, while Thomas added, “Forever starts now.” The video—featuring the proposal, a kiss, and Thomas flashing her ring—racked up 500,000 views in a day, proving their story’s shareability. “This is the kind of love story we need right now,” one commenter wrote, summing up the public’s swoon.
Wedding Bells and Beyond: What’s Next?
With the Olympics behind her and a wedding ahead, Thomas is savoring this golden chapter. “We’re still figuring out the date,” she told People. “Maybe late 2025 or early 2026—something small but special.” McManes hinted at a Texas venue—“It’s where we fell in love”—with Kaviva cocktails on the menu. For now, they’re basking in the glow, planning a honeymoon that might include a nod to Thomas’s Olympic roots—Paris, anyone?
This engagement isn’t just celebrity gossip—it’s a triumph of love and resilience, blending sports stardom with entrepreneurial flair. As entertainment news 2025 heats up, Gabby and Spencer’s journey promises more headlines, from wedding details to their next big wins. Share this heart-melting tale with every romantic and sports fan you know—because when gold meets diamonds, it’s a story worth celebrating.
