Kenny Bednarek‘s journey to athletic stardom is a testament to resilience and determination. Born into a challenging world, Kenny and his brother, Ian, spent their early years shuttling between foster homes, bewildered and unsettled. Their lives took a transformative turn when Mary Bednarek adopted them, bringing them to her hometown of Tulsa. There, they found stability and a loving home. From these humble beginnings, Kenny has soared to remarkable heights, becoming one of America’s most reliable track athletes. His silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics stands as a shining symbol of his perseverance and talent, and he now sets his sights on adding another Olympic medal to his collection in Paris.

In Tokyo, while Kenny struggled in the 100m, finishing seventh, his true prowess shines in the 200m. His impressive 20.00-second run in the semi-finals was the second fastest among all heats, positioning him as a strong contender for a podium finish. However, he faces formidable competition from fellow American Noah Lyles, who already claimed gold in the 100m.

A hint of rivalry colors their competition, particularly after the lane assignments for the finals. Kenny found himself in the outermost ninth lane, while Lyles secured the advantageous fifth lane, prompting Kenny to voice his frustration over this perceived bias on social media. This subtle tension adds an intriguing layer to the upcoming race, making it a must-watch event.

Adding to the emotional backdrop, Kenny’s mother and his supportive girlfriend, who is also an athlete, will be cheering him on from the stands. Her understanding of the pressures he faces daily as a sportsman underscores the personal stakes in Kenny’s quest for glory.

Now, let’s delve into the story of the remarkable woman by Kenny’s side—an athlete in her own right, who shares his journey and dreams.

Meet Kenny Bednarek’s girlfriend, Sharmila Nicollet

Sharmila Nicollet was born in present day Bengaluru, India on 12th March 1991. She was raised in unique surroundings as her father Marco Nicollet is French software professional while her mother, on the other hand, is an Indian named Surekha Nicollet. She is the owner of Padmini Arora Ltd, a perfume brand. Before she started her career in golf, she was a junior swimming champion winning 72 medals in total in just four years. She switched to golf as a child and gradually developed a keen interest amounting to a great junior career. Nicollet represented India in the 2006 Asian Games in the Pacific Junior Golf tournament. She turned professional in 2009 and was named Player of the Year in 2010.

She has previously said that many women don’t pursue golf professionally as there is no financial reward for it in India.“When I started off as an amateur, there were quite a few talented girls. But most of them didn’t think of pursuing it as a career because there wasn’t much money (to be made). While things have changed now, we are still way behind Europe and the America where every event attracts more than 100 golfers.” During the pandemic, Nicollet met Kenny Bednarek and quite quickly kicked off their relationship. It’s been three years and they look stronger than ever, as they regularly upload each other’s photos on social media.

What makes Sharmila Nicollet a world class golfer?

Sharmila Nicollet developed an interest in the sport at a very young age and has been training since then. She has been dedicated to it and thus has been so successful. The Franco-Indian was the youngest Indian golfer to qualify for the Ladies European tour. Her philosophy in the sport is to play well while looking good. During an interview, she said,  “I aspire to be the Michelle Wie of golf. Modelling offers come my way regularly but I think that if I become a champion golfer, then even bigger offers will drop by,”

While she hasn’t become a champion golfer yet, she is still the flag bearer of golf in India which is still in the developing stages. The golfer has aspirations for an Olympic appearance, however has failed to do so till now. Let’s see what the future holds for her. Whatever happens, Bednarek will be by her side and vice versa.