Hilary Knight Compares Real-Life Romance with Brittany Bowe to 'Heated Rivalry'

The U.S. Women's Hockey Team captain sees parallels between her relationship and the popular book and TV show.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Hilary Knight, captain of the U.S. Women's Hockey Team, has compared her real-life romance with Olympic speed skater Brittany Bowe to the relationship portrayed in the popular book and TV series 'Heated Rivalry'. Knight shared that while she and Bowe don't play the same sport as the characters in the show, there are similarities in how they had to 'sneak around' to connect during the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The couple, who met in the 'bubble' of the Olympics, have since moved in together in Salt Lake City and Knight proposed to Bowe during the 2026 Winter Games.

Why it matters

Knight's comparison of her relationship to the fictional 'Heated Rivalry' highlights the challenges that LGBTQ+ athletes can face, even as acceptance and visibility have improved in recent years. The parallels draw attention to the need for more inclusive and supportive environments in professional sports.

The details

According to Knight, she and Bowe were able to connect and form their relationship during the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where they felt safe enough in the 'bubble' to interact without fear of spreading COVID-19. Knight said they would 'sneak down in the stairwell' to visit each other, similar to the secret rendezvous portrayed in the 'Heated Rivalry' TV show. The couple has since moved in together in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Knight proposed to Bowe during the 2026 Winter Olympics.

  • Knight and Bowe met at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
  • The couple moved in together in Salt Lake City, Utah after the 2022 Olympics.
  • Knight proposed to Bowe during the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The players

Hilary Knight

Captain of the U.S. Women's Hockey Team and fiancée of Brittany Bowe.

Brittany Bowe

Olympic speed skater and fiancée of Hilary Knight.

Ilya Rozanov

A character in the TV show 'Heated Rivalry', based on the book by Rachel Reid.

Shane Hollander

A character in the TV show 'Heated Rivalry', based on the book by Rachel Reid.

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What they’re saying

“This is real. It was kind of wild for me to watch that.”

— Hilary Knight, U.S. Women's Hockey Team captain (House of Maher podcast)

“As soon as we got to that point in the village where it's like, okay it's contained, we can't actually get it or spread it in theory, it was like sneaking down in the stairwell to go to the speed skater level, like where they were. And kind of like sneaking around the village.”

— Hilary Knight, U.S. Women's Hockey Team captain (House of Maher podcast)

What’s next

The couple has not announced a specific wedding date, but their engagement during the 2026 Winter Olympics suggests they may plan to tie the knot in the near future.

The takeaway

Hilary Knight's comparison of her real-life romance with Brittany Bowe to the fictional 'Heated Rivalry' highlights the progress that has been made in LGBTQ+ representation and acceptance in sports, while also underscoring the continued need for more inclusive and supportive environments for all athletes.