Beth Tweddle announces engagement to boyfriend Andy Allen

Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle has revealed her engagement to boyfriend Andy Allen.

Andy popped the question to the 31-year-old in Brazil's Iguaza National Park, where she was working as a BBC commentator for the Rio Olympics, presenting her with a diamond solitaire.

Speaking to HELLO! magazine, she exclaimed: 'I was totally shocked! I knew he was the one for me, but I had absolutely no inkling of what he was planning to do, or that he'd been brought a diamond ring with him to Rio. It was a moment I will never forget. I am so excited about the future'.

2016 has been a difficult year for Beth, who is now retired from gymnastics, after she experienced a painful accident filming Channel 4's skiing competition show The Jump.

The injury, which occurred during training, left Beth needing emergency surgery to fuse fractured vertabrae in her back, and whilst she has since regained much of her physical strength, her recovery is still ongoing.

Beth and Andy have been dating for two years

'It's something I still find hard to talk about,' she says. 'I am still seeing a psychologist to process what happened, and am working with my physiotherapist and surgeon at getting full range in the neck and getting everything to strength. It's still quite a long road.'

However, she adds that Andy has been her rock throughout the process.

'He is the one waking me up and seeing me sobbing my heart out. My parents and friends have been there for me, but Andy is the one who sees me at night when I am really struggling.'

Speaking of the proposal, Andy said: 'At first I wasn't sure it was something I should do. But it had been a really bad year and I thought it would be a lovely way to finish it off.'