text: Former Olympic swimmer Eamon Sullivan has revealed the details of his romantic proposal to his girlfriend, Perth lawyer Naomi Bass. The smitten couple were holidaying in Japan and were out for a walk one evening when Bass mentioned how the beautiful setting among the cherry blossom trees would be perfect for a proposal, Sullivan, 29, told Woman's Day. The sporting hero has won two silver Olympic medals and a number of gold and bronze at the Commonwealth games. 'We were walking one night and came across a lone tree in full bloom, complete with white doves,' he told the magazine. Scroll down for video . Former Olympic swimmer Eamon Sullivan and girlfriend Naomi Bass recently got engaged on a trip to Japan . The couple met in Perth in 2011, and Sullivan proposed to Bass beneath a cherry blossom tree in Kyoto . 'Naomi said "Gee this is so romantic; it would be a good spot for someone to propose". So i dropped to one knee and asked her to marry me,' the former swimmer revealed. Sullivan said he had planned to pop the question on that trip, but not until a few days later. However he took the opportunity and surprised his girlfriend so much she wasn't even able to respond straight away. Bass, 28, told Woman's Day she was so overwhelmed that she just 'kept laughing and crying' and had to calm herself down before she could respond. Her now-fiance presented her with a two-carat solitaire set among 14 pale pink diamonds the colour of cherry blossoms, a reminder of where the special moment took place. The proposal took place in Kyoto, Japan two weeks ago, and the happy couple are now back in Perth . Bass, 28, (right) told Woman's Day she was so overwhelmed that she just 'kept laughing and crying' The proposal took place in Kyoto, Japan two weeks ago, and the happy couple are now back in Perth, where they met in 2011. News that the couple were an item emerged in June 2014, shortly after Sullivan announced his retirement from competitive swimming due to a shoulder injury. The sprint king previously dated fellow swimmer Stephanie Rice for two years before the couple split prior to the Beijing Olympics in 2008. At the time it was suggested that the pair's relationship ended to ease the focus on the power couple ahead of the sporting event. Sullivan won two Olympic silver medals in Beijing and was on track to compete in the Commonwealth Games until he suffered more shoulder issues.
target: Eamon Sullivan proposed to girlfriend Naomi Bass in Kyoto, Japan .
  The pair were out for an evening walk when he dropped to one knee .
  Proposal took place under a cherry blossom tree filled with white doves .
  Pair met in Perth in 2011, where they live with their three dogs .
  Sullivan previously dated fellow Olympic swimmer Stephanie Rice .