There were beautiful scenes on the weekend when Australian swimming champion Mack Horton married his long-term partner Ella Walter.
The couple have been an item since their schooldays and got engaged in January last year.
They married on Saturday in a beautiful vineyard setting with Horton, 27, giving his Instagram followers a glimpse of the spectacular moment, posting two beautiful pictures and a story.
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Horton’s caption was simple. “Married,” he wrote, allowing his pictures to do the talking.
And Australia’s long list of swimming royalty were quick to comment.
Olympic gold medallists Gian Rooney, Bronte Campbell and Grant Hackett were just some of the glittering names to send their congratulations.
Mack Horton and Ella Walter have been dating since high school. Credit: Instagram
Channel 7 presenter and former Australian representative Joh Griggs was another star to comment, while a host of sporting identities, including AFL player Rhys Stanley liked the pics.
“Ella Walter you stunner! So happy for you both 💗,” Rooney wrote.
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And 21-year-old swimming sensation Lani Pallister said: “This is divine 💙💙”
Fans were also thrilled with one saying: “Congratulations! Here’s to a wonderful life for the two of you.”
Walter is a nurse and when Horton announced his engagement in January, 2022, he said: “To the rest of our lives,” and added a Champagne emoji.
Horton is best known for winning a 400m freestyle gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016.
Australian swimming royalty were quick to send their congratulations. Credit: InstagramMack Horton added this pic to his story before the wedding. Credit: Instagram
He also made headlines at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships, when he called Chinese swimmer Sun Yang a drug cheat and refused to shake hands and stand on the podium with him after their race in which Yang beat Horton home.
Horton received a warning for his behaviour even though Sun was later issued with an eight-year doping ban.
While Horton’s stance was applauded by some, he has also been criticised for his silence when Australian swimmers have been caught out by drug testers.
“My position remains firm — clean sport must be a priority for all athletes, all sports and all nations,” Horton said in 2019.
Horton’s best days in the pool may be over and earlier this year he missed out on qualifying for the World Championships at the Australian selection meet.
However, he says is still hoping to make the Australian team for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Only last week he competed in a half Ironman event in Maroochydore, Queensland, and, although he was a long way away from the winners at the end, he was indeed first out of the water.
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