A SUPER-FIT mum who battled years of eating disorders became a surprise fiancée at the Ironman finish line.

When Sam Leliuga, aged 38, met Phil Love, aged 45, she had suffered bulimia, had a breast reduction, been through a divorce and lost both her parents when they were just 56.

But once she met Mr Love five years ago, all that changed.

A keen triathloner, who had competed in Ironman before, Mr Love introduced her to the benefits of exercising and the importance of eating properly.

Ms Leliuga started going out for runs herself, leading to half marathons. Then after last year’s Ironman UK triathlon, she signed up for this year’s competition along with her partner.

A rigorous training programme began and the mum-of-three battled hard to build her fitness up to be able to do the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and the 26.2 mile run.

The training paid off because, not only did she make it across the finishing line, but she beat her partner to it — and while she enjoyed a post-triathlon pizza, Mr Love eventually appeared and got down on one knee.

Ms Leliuga, from Firwood Lane, Tonge Moor, said: “I missed the initial proposal Phil did over the tannoy because I was on my phone listening to voicemails. He told me to stand in the square and I heard a man announcing something but didn’t make the connection. So when he did it in the marquee I didn’t expect it at all. I was freezing sitting with foil blanket wrapped round me, eating pizza and he got down on one knee. I was in total shock.

“I feel like I have overcome all my demons from the past because I never would have thought years ago that I could do something like this.

“I don’t know whether me and Phil will be racing next year as a married couple — maybe if we win the lottery. But I am so happy, it was a fantastic weekend.”

Ms Leliuga’s eating problems started after her parents divorced when she was aged just eight, which led to years of binging and purging.

She said: “I’d been overweight all through my teens, and because I’m only 4’10” I put weight on easily, and it shows more.”

She begged her doctor to give her a breast reduction to try to boost her confidence and continued to yoyo diet until she married her first husband and had her first two children Jake, aged 11 and Amy, 10. But when her father suddenly died of a heart attack when she was 26, she stopped eating altogether.

She went on to have another child, Alex, eight, overcoming bulimia whilst she was pregnant, but then her mum, Beryl died of cancer. She said: “When I met Phil, I was managing my weight by not eating.

“I got into running when I met Phil five years ago and he slowly started teaching me about exercise and the importance of eating properly to stop myself from starving.”

Mr Love, a psychiatric nurse, added: “This was my comeback Ironman because I had a bike crash a few years ago and I was a bit apprehensive about it because I really needed to beat Sam to be there at the finishing line to propose.

“But Sam’s incredible and she beat me — she had a belting race.

“There was no Plan B for the proposal really. I was just so ecstatic for her but realised that I’d have to do it in the marquee.

“I got down on one knee in front of everyone and asked her to marry me.

“She was crying with happiness and thankfully she said yes. At least we know we’ll never forget that day again.”