Legendary Love: The Most Heartwarming Relationships in Sports

A love story during an intense sports career could be a dream for an athlete. After finishing a game they’ve worked all their life to compete in, they run home — into their partner’s arms. 

On the other hand, fans may enjoy watching athletes’ relationships blossom while they appreciate their love. 

The public and media seem to love a good romance. Here are some of the best love stories the sports world has to offer.

David and Victoria Beckham:

The Beckhams are famous in both the sports and entertainment worlds for their strong, three-decade-long relationship, and how they bridged the two businesses with love. 

Before having even met, David Beckham was star-struck after seeing the pop group Spice Girls on TV, in which Victoria Beckham portrayed Posh Spice.

“I want to marry that one,” Beckham said about Victoria, according to People.

The two grew up just 15 minutes apart in London, but they didn’t officially meet until after one of Beckham’s Manchester United soccer matches in 1997, according to Elle. In a letter to her younger self, Victoria wrote “love at first sight does exist,” after the match, according to Elle. 

The two became engaged at the beginning of 1988, then married in the summer of 1999, according to InStyle. 

A striking moment for the pair was when rumors of Beckham cheating were swirling on the internet in 2004, though Beckham announced he was “very happily married,” according to Business Insider. 

The two welcomed three children into their lives from 1999 to 2004, and then their fourth and in 2011, according to People.

With a large family, they continue to squash any unsavory rumors, and remain strong and steady to this day. 

From shared London backgrounds to showcasing their talents and receiving globally-recognized fame, the two have brought their worlds together and showcased their love and admiration for each other. 

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf:

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf both showcase their talents on the tennis court and their love off of it. 

The two officially met after they both won their respective Wimbledon tournaments in 1992, though Agassi said he had a crush on Graf four years prior to meeting, according to People. 

The two didn’t see each other again for five years, when Agassi was getting divorced from his first wife and Graf was dating an auto racer. Their coaches organized a joint practice for the two in Key Biscayne, after which Agassi surprised Graf with a bouquet of flowers and a “beautiful” letter, according to People. 

Agassi and Graf started regularly seeing each other and were soon smitten, officially marrying in 2001 — and having their first child together only days later. They welcomed their second child to the family two years later. 

The couple have managed to keep their family affairs relatively private through the years, but their admiration has been obvious in how they talk about each other, with Agassi’s constant admiration for her strength, according to ABC News. 

Perhaps they took it literally when they first played each other in tennis and heard the score “love.” 

Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe:

Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe gave hope to the LGTBQ+ sports community, according to People. Both legends of their respective sports — Bird for women’s basketball and Rapinoe for women’s soccer — they didn’t seem likely to cross paths, but ended up meeting at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. 

With Rapinoe already having come out in 2012, Bird followed suit after the relationship was announced in 2017. They made history as they posed nude together for the body issue of ESPN Magazine — the first same-sex couple to be featured. 

The two have continued to fight for their love. After Rapinoe said she wouldn’t go to the White House if the U.S. were to win the World Cup, President Donald Trump criticized her online, according to The New York Times. Bird defended Rapinoe by publishing an essay titled “So the President F*cking Hates My Girlfriend” in The Players’ Tribune. 

The two make a fiery couple who bring pride to the LGBTQ+ community, evident by their appointment as Grand Marshals in the 2024 Seattle Pride Parade, according to Seattle Pride. 

Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall: 

The 2024 Summer Olympics had a plethora of beautiful love stories play out on screen. One such couple were track and field competitors Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall, who bloomed from high school sweethearts to Olympic power couple. 

The two met at a track meet in high school and instantly fell for each other, according to the Olympics. Davis-Woodhall attended school in Agoura Hills, Calif., while Woodhall studied in Syracuse, Utah. 

The two practice together. They challenge and support one another. 

“Let’s be there for each other and let’s go to practice,” Woodhall said, according to the Olympics. 

Woodhall and Davis-Woodhall are Paraylympic and Olympic champions, respectively. Woodhall was born with fibular hemimelia and had his legs amputated at eleven months old, according to the Paralympics. Woodhall competes in track with running blades. 

At the 2024 Olympics, Davis-Woodhall made history by recording a gold-winning jump of 7.10 meters. Cameras captured the moment when Davis-Woodhall fell into the sand with a look of shock on her face, before running over to celebrate with Woodhall who was in the stands.

The two embraced in a fierce hug, with laughter shaking from their bodies. The moment went viral online. 

A month later in September, Woodhall took on the Paralympics, where he won gold in the 400m T62 event with Davis-Woodhall there to support, according to the Paralympics. 

Armand Duplantis and Desiré Inglander:

Another 2024 Olympic love story was put on display by France Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis.

Duplantis made Olympic history by breaking a world record — previously set by himself in April — with a performance of 6.25 meters, according to the Olympics. 

After clearing the pole and landing squarely on the safety mat, Duplantis immediately sprinted to his then-girlfriend, now fiance, Desire Inglander with a smile on his face. 

The two embraced in a kiss, both shaking with laughter and tears. The embrace trended online. Then, in October, Duplantis proposed to Inglander. 

But perhaps it’s no surprise these Olympians had these stories — they were in the city of love, after all. 

What makes these athletes’ journeys truly meaningful is not just how hard they worked in their sports, but how fiercely they love their partners — embodying the dual passions of competition and romance.