Three-time ITU Olympic distance World Champion Emma Snowsill and recently retired swim-bike sensation Craig Walton announced their engagement Sunday.

Snowsill took the occasion of her 27th birthday to proclaim her intention to marry Walton, who serves as her coach in preparation for the Beijing Olympics. The duo has been together since 2003 as elite international triathletes and real life partners.

Since Walton's retirement from competition after his final win at Noosa this spring, they are now both concentrating on Snowsill’s Beijing preparation. Snowsill and Walton left Australia for the United States Monday, where Emma will compete at the $700,000 Hy-Vee BG Triathlon World Cup and at the Life Time Fitness Triathlon in Minnesota as lead up events before going into final Olympic preparation.

No wedding date has been announced.