USA hockey's Hilary Knight turns out to watch fiancée Brittany Bowe skate in 1,500m

MILAN — Less than 24 hours after winning her second career Olympic gold medal, Hilary Knight went to Milano Speed Skating Stadium to watch fiancée Brittany Bowe compete in her final Olympic race.

Knight, who led the U.S. women to an overtime win over archrival Canada to become Olympic champions, arrived about halfway through the lineup for the 1,500 meters, joining Bowe's family and parents, Debbie and Mike, in the stands with her hockey bag and teammate Kelly Panek in tow.

But Bowe, a two-time Olympic medalist competing in her fourth Games, finished in fourth, 0.61 seconds back of the gold medal winner Antoinette Rijpma-deJohn of the Netherlands, who pulled off a huge upset to win. Bowe called it "heartbreaking" to finish all three of her races here in fourth.

When the starting gun went off for Bowe's pairing, her parents and siblings leapt to their feet, clapping furiously while Knight clapped and cheered, still seated. On the last lap, Knight rose to her feet, looking more nervous for Bowe's finish than ahead of the women's hockey gold medal last night, grabbing Panek's arm. When Bowe crossed the finishing line just off the podium in fourth, her family and Knight took their seats again, seemingly equal parts sad Bowe couldn't pull out a medal in her final Olympic race and proud of her and her race.

Knight, captain of the U.S. hockey team, and Bowe met four years ago at the Beijing Olympics. They got engaged Wednesday, the day before the gold-medal hockey game.

Knight’s goal in the third period tied the game Thursday, Feb. 19, and Megan Keller scored in overtime to give the U.S. women their third Olympic title. The goal also gave Knight the U.S. Olympic records for both points (33) and goals (15).

Knight is also the first U.S. hockey player, male or female, to win five Olympic medals.

Bowe had said initially she didn't know if she'd go to the gold medal game because she gets so excited watching Knight's game and didn't need that much adrenaline the night before her race.

"I am just really torn what to do with that because I get so amped up and I am exhausted after a hockey game," Bowe said last fall. "I'm kind of sad. It might have to be watching on TV from the village, but we'll see."

Bowe did go, staying long enough to see Knight win gold and congratulate her before heading back to rest up for her race.