Kenny Bednarek, an American track and field sprinter and Olympic silver medalist, has his family and his lovely girlfriend, Sharmila Nicollet, cheering for him throughout his ups and downs.
For Bednarek, the entry of his golfer girlfriend, Sharmila, into his life in 2020 was no less than a lucky charm. Having struggled with his injury before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, his lover helped him work on his injury and body, and voila, he won a silver medal in the 200-meter men’s final with a time of 19.68 seconds.
Throughout these years, the duo has been sharing adorable pictures of each other on their social profiles. Many adore their relationship, but fans also have queries about their wedding plans- though the pair has yet to answer these.
Key Takeaways:
- Kenny Bednarek, an American track and field athlete, is dating Sharmila Nicollet, an Indian-born golfer.
- Bednarek met his girlfriend in 2020 while recovering from a hamstring injury he had sustained in 2019.
- Kenny’s girlfriend, Sharmila, not only helped him recover from injury but also helped him find the right people to work on his body, hence his winning a silver medal in the 2020 Olympics.
- They celebrated their 4th relationship anniversary in June 2024.
- Kenny is seven years younger than his girlfriend.
Kenny Bednarek’s Girlfriend, Sharmila Nicollet, Is An Indian Of Mixed Ethnicity
Bednarek’s girlfriend, Sharmila Nicollet, was born on March 12, 1991, in Bangalore, India, to a French father, Marc Nicollet, and an Indian mother, Surekha Nicollet. As a result, Sharmila is an Indian by nationality and has mixed ethnic roots.
As reported, her mom is a perfumist and owns Padmini Aroma Ltd in Bangalore, while her dad is a software professional. Her parents did not meet in France, where Surekha was studying, but in Banglore in 1987.
However, Nicollet’s parents have separated, yet they contribute to Sharmila’s career. During an interview with Times Of India in 2009, her mother stated that she and her ex-husband were on good terms, and the latter also paid for their daughter’s golfing bills.
“Mark has not married again. We enjoy good relations; there is no rancor after separation. Mark pays for many of Sharmila’s expenses. It is he who bought her Callaway golf set worth Rs 1.8 lakh.”
Sharmila often shares pictures of her parents on her Instagram. For instance, in June 2024, she shared a collage of photos with her dad on Father’s Day. Similarly, in July 2020, she shared a throwback picture with her mom while wishing her birthday.
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Dating Story Of Kenny Bednarek And His Girlfriend, Sharmila Nicollet: When Did They Meet?
Bednarek and his girlfriend, Sharmila, have been dating for four years. While the 2022 World Championships silver medalist has yet to detail how he met his lover, he shared some insight on his courtship during his interview with NBC Sports in 2022.
Ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Kenny sustained a hamstring injury in the final of the 2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Later, due to COVID-19, the Olympic games were postponed.
In 2020, he met his golfer girlfriend, Sharmila, who reportedly helped him work on his body for the then-forthcoming Olympics. However, the American track and field athlete didn’t specify how he crossed paths with her.
Kenny won a silver medal in the 200m final at the 2020 Olympics, thanks to his supportive girlfriend.
The two have been in a relationship since June 1, 2020- evidenced by Sharmila’s IG post of June 2024 when they celebrated their 4th anniversary.
She captioned, “Happy 4 year Anniversary baby Too many amazing memories, adventures around the world and hairstyles to choose from 06-01-2020………to be continued.”
Kenny first took to Instagram to disclose his relationship with Sharmila Nicollet in October 2020, while Sharmila did not share the picture of her athlete boyfriend until Valentine’s Day of 2022.
Since then, they have been sharing adorable pictures of each other- showcasing their admiration, wishing birthdays/anniversaries, and sharing their vacation moments.
Is Bednarek And Nicollet Planning To Marry? Do They Have Children?
No, the pair has yet to get engaged- let alone disclose their plans for the wedding. The Oklahoma-born sprinter has yet to propose to his girlfriend.
Kenny and Sharmila do not share any children. Instead, they are fur parents and own two dogs: a husky named Rambo and a goldendoodle named Coco.
Sharmila Nicollet Is A Golfer: More On Her Career
Bednarek’s girlfriend, Sharmila, is an Indian golfer who plays in the Ladies European Tour and has 11 professional wins so far. As reported, his lover turned professional in 2009 at 18 and became the youngest Indian golfer to qualify for the Ladies European Tour.
She also plays on tours such as the China LPGA Tour, the Women’s Golf Association of India, and the Ladies Asian Golf Tour.
She won the Hero-KGA tournament in 2012 and the Hero-WPGT in 2015.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Sharmila is the brand ambassador of:
- Haut Golf (2018- present)
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. (July 2015- present)
- Hero MotoCorp Ltd (July 2011- present)
Previously, she endorsed PUMA Group (2013-17), Marriott Hotels (2011- 17), Zion Hills Golf County (2011- 17), Audi India, Nike (2011-13), and BlackBerry (2010-12).
Besides golf, she is also fond of swimming. She is a former national sub-junior swimming champ. She competed at national and state levels and has over 72 gold and silver medals.
Nicollet graduated from Bishop Cotton Girls School (1997-2003) and attended Bangalore International School from 2003 to 2006.
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Kenny Is Younger Than His Girlfriend: What’s Their Age Gap?
Kenny, the gold medalist at the 2024 World Athletics Relays, was born on October 14, 1998, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 6 feet 2 inches tall sprinter is 25 years old as of this writing.
As for his girlfriend, Sharmila, born on March 12, 1991- she is already 33 years old. The couple has an age gap of seven years and seven months.
Yet, their age difference is no barrier to their love and understanding of each other.
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Chandra, an enthusiast of Hollywood and sports, offers readers a captivating blend of analysis and expertise spanning over five years, with engaging and informative content. He is a driving force behind the StarBiographer, with editing, research, and content management roles.
