The identity of Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Rice's new boyfriend has been revealed a week after the couple announced their relationship on social media.
Chron Australia can exclusively reveal the man photographed kissing the Australian swimming champion's cheek is former soldier Dane Christison from Brisbane.
Rice, 35, recently shared a series of loved-up photos of herself and Christison, 41, from New York on Instagram, telling her followers that the couple met through a church connection.
“I never expected the year to end like this!!!” Rice wrote in an Instagram post.
“I give my life to God, follow his call to move my life to Dubai, meet you in Brisbane in my first week at church and spend our first Christmas together in New York.”
Olympic swimmer Stephanie Rice, 35, (right) celebrated Christmas with boyfriend Dane Christison by her side during a romantic trip to New York City over the weekend
“I can't tell you how long I've been waiting for this. You just have to believe in your plan and your timing.
“God is so good and I can’t wait to see what He has in store for 2024.”
Rice also shared videos on her Instagram Stories showing her vacation in the United States, including a road trip and a train ride through the scenic Colorado Rockies.
In another video, the two were seen riding together in a car while listening to worship music.
Christison previously served in East Timor (Timor-Leste) and Iraq.
Rice revealed she met the former soldier, 41, through church
Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Rice has turned to God after her surprise move to Dubai to start a new life
Christison previously served in East Timor (Timor-Leste) and Iraq
He now runs a company called Survive to Thrive Nation, which coaches current and former military members on how to successfully transition back to civilian life.
“We train people to go to war, but we don’t train them to come home,” he said in an SBS Viceland documentary.
“Why don’t we condition ourselves to endure trauma?”
Rice shocked fans earlier this month by announcing she had moved to Dubai and had no plans to return to Australia.
She previously told her Instagram followers about her Christian faith and explained why it was the trigger for her decision to start a new life abroad.
The loved-up couple drove through the scenic Colorado Rockies while listening to worship music
The couple spent their first Christmas together in New York City
She shared a photo on Instagram of herself and other Kingdom City church members gathering for prayer.
“I honestly never thought I would be that person, showing up at prayer nights alone in a new country and connecting with a community through a church,” she wrote.
“But here I am and my goodness, it’s very special and has helped me feel so supported in this new home in Dubai.”
Kingdom City was founded in Perth in 2003 and was founded by Mark Varughese.
It has now grown into a global movement with branches in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Australia.