Story

Question

We consider ourselves matter-of-fact; writing a story about us is no different.

Answer

Ivana and Zac, two (now ex-competitive swimmers) met at Arizona State University in 2014. Zac is originally from a small town in Australia, Alice Springs, and Ivana is from a small town in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Trebinje. They love outdoor adventures, exploring, and working out! It was their passion for adventure and generally being active people that drew them to each other initially. After several road trips, many flights, lots of hikes, and thousands of workouts as girlfriend and boyfriend, Zac popped the question in 2021 (if you are reading this, you've probably gathered that Ivana said yes!). They have family and friends from all over the world who have helped them become the couple (and individuals) they are today, and they are very thankful for all of them.

Question

For those of you that would prefer a more romanticized version of these facts...

Answer

Once upon a time, in the sunny realm of Arizona State University, two competitive swimmers, Ivana and Zac, had a meet-cute that was more splashy than your average romance. With her roots in the quaint Herzegovinian town of Trebinje and his in the rugged Australian outback of Alice Springs, these two were destined to embark on a unique adventure of their own. From the very start, Ivana and Zac shared a fiery passion for outdoor escapades, exploration, and, well, working out. Who knew that sweaty gym sessions and treacherous hikes could form the basis of true love? Their encounters were less candlelit dinners and more sweaty high-fives after conquering yet another trail. They roamed across the continent, leaving footprints in the dust of the Arizona desert and the picturesque landscapes of greater North America. Road trips became their love language, flights their declaration of affection. As the miles ticked away, so did the walls that initially separated their hearts. The more mountains they scaled, the stronger their bond grew.

Question

And then...

Answer

In the year 2021, Zac threw the ultimate curveball. But it wasn't a curveball; it was a question – the kind of question that involves a ring, not a baseball. With a heart as big as the Australian horizon, he popped the big one. Ivana, heart racing faster than her sprint to the finish line, exclaimed a resounding "yes!" If you're following along, dear reader, you've by now deduced that she accepted. Their tale was no solitary endeavor. Friends and family from around the globe rallied behind them, forming a tapestry of support and love. Each person in their life was a thread weaving into the intricate fabric of their journey. From Herzegovina to Australia, from Arizona to places beyond, they collected memories and passport stamps as tokens of their shared history. And so, in this world where gym dates turned into forever dates, where love bloomed between swimmers turned adventurers, Ivana and Zac found their unique rhythm, setting the course for a lifetime of laughter, challenges, and, of course, many more sweaty escapades. As they ventured forth into the great unknown together, they carried with them the wisdom of their travels, the strength of their bond, and an unshakable gratitude for the journey they'd undertaken, hand in hand.