USWNT star Kristie Mewis opens up on iconic photo with fiancee Sam Kerr at Tokyo Olympics that everyone misunderstood

Rumours swirled that Mewis and Kerr were dating after the now-iconic photo of the pair together following their meeting at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 was taken, in which Mewis and the USWNT prevailed. Kerr confirmed the relationship days later on Instagram, but at the time the photo was interpreted by many as simply a heartwarming display of sportsmanship by Mewis towards her opponent.

Mewis has now opened up on the photo, three years on and after getting engaged to Kerr last year. Speaking on The Women's Game podcast, the West Ham midfielder called it "one of my favourite pictures that we have together".

"Honestly that moment is still one of my favourite pictures that we have together," the USWNT star said. "I don’t know who took it or how they caught that in such a perfect moment, but I still love that picture so much just because it shows two people caring and loving and just being there for each other. So I still will always love that picture and it means so much to me."

Kerr commented on the Instagram post: "Would of preferred me to be consoling her instead xx".

There will be no repeat of the scenes from Tokyo in Paris with neither Mewis nor Kerr called up to represent their countries at the 2024 Olympics. Mewis endured a difficult 2023-24 season with West Ham while Kerr ruptured her ACL in January, leaving both to look ahead to September and the start of the 2024-25 Women's Super League.