Love conquers all, and that includes Rule 40

Asics you clever rascals!

The mega sporting goods brand found perhaps the most ingenious work around of the IOC’s draconian Rule 40:

.@goQueengo found her king. Congratulations on your engagement ?! #TeamASICSpic.twitter.com/51Xioim2fV

— ASICS America (@ASICSamerica) August 17, 2016

Queen Harrison is an American hurdler and Asics-sponsored athlete. Her boyfriend, triple jumper Will Claye (a Nike athlete) won a silver medal on Tuesday and promptly lept into the crowd, getting down on one knee to ask Harrison to marry him. She said yes and the internet swooned.

RELATED: Olympic silver medalist follows up performance with marriage proposal.

To jog your memory if you don’t pay close attention to how the IOC makes its billions: Rule 40 is their way of making sure that no unsanctioned brand makes a dime off the Olympics. Basically, they have sponsorship agreements with a select group of brands and they may celebrate the Games exclusively. Any brand caught mentioning such sacred words as “Rio,” “Games” or “effort” (yes, you read that right) are a no-no during the Olympics. Brands can’t communicate with their athletes about the Games. Not on Instagram, not a Tweet, not a Facebook post. No kudos; not even a fist-bump emoji. But a marriage proposal ain’t an Olympic event (although, we bet the IOC are reviewing this).

Many brands have protested the very existence of the rule. In the lead up to the Games, a mysterious social media campaign and accompanying website Rule40.com popped up (they even have clever T-shirts!). Turns it, it was funded by the running brand Brooks, who’ve been outspoken on behalf of their athletes over the years about sponsorship at international events. Women’s brand Oiselle has also been thorny about the whole thing, walking up to the line of breaking the rule, and benefitting in the media for challenging brands like Nike, who have an exclusive relationship with the American Olympic athletes (and have paid handsomely for it).

Oh, and for the record, Adidas has the global lockdown on apparel at the Games.

Asics, you’ve reminded us of one thing: Diamond rings>Olympic rings.