Playing together professionally on a football pitch is an unusual way to meet your future wife but for Matildas star Katrina Gorry, it was meant to be.
Katrina announced her engagement to Swedish footballer and Vittsjo GIK teammate Clara Markstedt in a heartwarming social media post, with fellow Matildas stars quick to congratulate them.
The couple tell Woman’s Day they got engaged while on a romantic weekend trip away to Falkenberg on the Swedish west coast last month.
“She was just the person I wanted to be around.”
(Image: @emeliebjorkman)“I said no at first because I was in shock and then I said, ‘Of course, yes!'” Katrina, 30, laughs.
“We had a picnic by the water, played some cards and Clara showed me a video of our past year together. She wrote me a letter, told me to close my eyes and got down on one knee. It was beautiful.”
In keeping with Swedish tradition, Clara, 33, picked out two bands for the fiancees and transformed her grandma’s diamond rings into bands.
While wedding plans aren’t on the horizon just yet, the duo are hoping to have their nuptials in 2025 on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays.
“We’re going to try to keep it as traditional and beautiful as we can,” says Katrina.
“A lot of the Matildas have been my family for a long time so they were so excited for me. I’d love to have them there.”
Gorry (Centre) celebrating on field with Matildas captain Sam Kerr (L) and Elise Kellond-Knight (R).
(Image: Getty)The couple first met in late 2021 after Katrina joined Swedish club Vittsjo GIK where Clara plays as a striker. The pair struck up a friendship, with Clara helping Katrina find a place to live for her and 23-month old daughter Harper.
The soccer stars went on their first date in May 2022 when Katrina’s mum Linda had flown from Australia to visit her new grandchild.
“The last thing I was coming to Sweden for was to find love,” Katrina laughs. “I think Clara was sending different signals, but I wasn’t picking up on them. I think my mum picked up on it before I did!”
For Clara, it was seeing Katrina be a mum to Harper that sealed the deal.
“She was just the person I wanted to be around,” she says. “It was obviously a package deal, but I loved them both. We became a team from the beginning.”
With just a week to go until the Women’s World Cup kicks off, the young family have landed in Australia, with Katrina now in training camp.
She knows she’ll see her family, Clara and her “little champion” Harper cheering her on along the sidelines.
Harper will be cheering on her mum Katarina in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
(Image: @emeliebjorkman)“One of Harper’s first words was ‘football’. She loves watching the games – her favourite outfit is our little Matildas kit,” Katrina smiles.
However, there could be tension in the household if Sweden plays Australia in a knockout game!
“You always root for your country,” says Clara. “But the Matildas and Australia are family now too.”
