Jenn Tran’s ex Matt Rossi will always have The Bachelorette to thank while reflecting on running the 2024 New York City marathon.
“I realized while traveling to New York City to run the New York City marathon, that I never told you guys the real reason why I signed up,” Matt, 28, said in a video posted via TikTok on Saturday, November 2. “During a little side quest to New Zealand, I met a 70 year old man who told me that he was training for a triathlon.”
Matt noted that the man said his training began as a way for him to “spend time with his two adult sons” who were also competing in triathlons. However, Matt recalled the man saying that his workouts “slowly turned into a way for him to prove to himself what he’s capable of at any age.”
“Throughout life, we face a lot of different challenges. But it’s persevering through these challenges that really show us who we are,” Matt said. “This year hasn’t been a super easy one for me, but by conquering a challenge like the New York City marathon, I’ve been given the momentum to carry through that energy to other facets of my life.”
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He concluded, “So here’s to doing hard things and finishing quickly. Oh wait, that came out wrong.” Matt captioned the clip, “Let’s do this thang.”
Matt received support from Jenn, 26, in the comments section of the upload, who wrote, “Proud of you .” He replied with the heart hands emoji.
@themattyrossi Lets do this thang
#nycmarathon #nyc #travel #vlog
Matt went on to complete the race on Sunday, November 3, in 3 hours, 50 minutes and 44 seconds.
Matt and Jenn dated on and off after their initial relationship began in 2020, four years before she was announced as the season 21 Bachelorette. During Jenn’s stint on the ABC reality series, Matt traveled to New Zealand to attempt to win her back.
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In their initial conversation, Matt surprised Jenn by dropping the L-word and she extended an invite to the cocktail party where he explained his feelings.
“[When] we first really tried things out, we were much different people. We were not the adults that we are today,” he told Jenn during an August episode. “And I just feel like as we’ve grown into more adults over time, we’ve just found this bond growing stronger, and I hope that you can see how much that you mean to me. I’m just not ready to let it go.”
Jenn said in a confessional that she felt “torn” about welcoming him onto the show, adding, “I’m fighting between this past versus this newness. I don’t want to hurt anyone, but I have to make a decision.”
Ultimately, Jenn sent Matt packing and he broke the news of his departure to the remaining suitors before leaving the show.
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“I just wanted to take a second to let you guys know I did come here completely on my own volition, but she let me know her future’s in this room,” he said. “She feels confident that you guys can offer something I can’t, and I’m just here to apologize, I’m not here to take anything away from your experience. I wish you all the best. I wish her the best.”
While viewers did not see Matt again, he claimed to have made an appearance at the Men Tell All episode. “When they made me come to Men Tell All, rehash everything out, just to cut the whole segment out…,” Matt wrote via TikTok in August, alongside a mirror selfie of him in a suit. “Release the tapes it got juicy,” he teased in the caption.
Jenn ultimately ended the show engaged to Devin Strader, but the pair called it quits before the After the Final rose episode in September. Jenn claimed at the time that Devin, 28, “regretted” the engagement and “was checked out.”
Days later, Devin released a 13-minute video explaining himself alongside hundreds of text messages between him and Jenn. He apologized hours later for uploading “sensitive information” to social media.
Jenn, for her part, went on to compete on season 33 of Dancing With the Stars, where she was partnered with Sasha Farber. Romance rumors have since swirled about her and Sasha, 40, with Jenn’s brother even weighing in on their relationship with a playful comment. After Jenn shared an Instagram montage on Sunday of her time on DWTS with Sasha, James wrote, “When’s the wedding rehearsal? 
.”
