Lenton Announces Engagement After Two Years

SYDNEY, Australia. May 8. OLYMPIC, world and Commonwealth champion Libby Lenton has been hiding a secret from everybody but her family for the past two years.

Well, not exactly a secret, but she hasn't told the whole truth.

Her boyfriend, fellow swimmer Luke Trickett, is actually her fiance, and has been since November 2004.

Lenton reveals her hidden engagement in this week's edition of New Idea, saying: "I'm a very open and honest person, but the secrecy has been all about our ages – because I was only 19 at the time we got engaged, we didn't want to be judged.

"We told our families, who were thrilled, but no one else – sometimes people can be funny about young love."

Lenton and Trickett first met on a plane going to the 2002 Oceania Games in Noumea. It wasn't until Lenton's 18th birthday in January 2003 that she asked him on a date.

"My mum loves Luke. She knows he's a great balance for me because he is so organised, focused and determined in everything he does," Lenton said. "He's so supportive of everything I do."

Since becoming engaged Lenton has won an individual world title in 2005, and earlier this year was Australia's golden girl of the Commonwealth Games, winning five gold and two silver medals at Melbourne.

Two weeks later she collected five gold medals at the world short course titles in Shanghai.

In between training and international competitions Lenton will have to squeeze in her wedding.

"I'll be looking for a wedding dress to minimise the shoulders. But I won't turn into Bridezilla."

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