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 was just the beginning.

In Tokyo, while Kenny struggled in the 100m, finishing seventh, his true prowess shines in the 200m. Clocking 19.68s. At 25 years old, Kenny won his second 200m Olympic gold medal at the Paris Olympics. 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.

Who is Sharmila Nicollet?

Sharmila Nicollet was born in Bengaluru on 12th March 1991. She was raised in unique surroundings as her father, Marc Nicollet, is a 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.

During 2007-08, she achieved a record as the youngest woman to win the All-India Ladies Amateur Championship while collecting seven Open Amateur championship victories. The Indian Women’s Golf Association circuit recognized Nicollet as she won 11 tournaments while also securing victories at the Hero-KGA (2012) and Hero-WPGT (2015) events.

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.

How did Kenny Bednarek and Sharmila Nicollet Meet?

The couple, Kenny Bednarek and Sharmila Nicollet, started their relationship through a dating app contact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the precise content of their original talk remains unknown, it is evident that their connection formed immediately. World-class sprinter Bednarek teamed up with champion golfer Nicollet because of their shared dedication, along with their competitive spirit and self-discipline.

Today, the couple maintains a private lifestyle by appearing together in public only rarely since they revealed their relationship status in 2020. Their social media accounts reveal something different from their public appearances. They have continuously shared numerous pictures that document their life journey, including their training activities and their worldwide excursions. Nicollet celebrated their four years of relationship in June 2024 with an emotional dedication to each other.

According to Bednarek, Nicollet functions as his success catalyst and not merely as his dating partner. The backing Nicollet has provided him amounts to being the key factor behind his professional success, according to Bednarek, who said, “She is the biggest reason why I have been so successful…” His achievement stems significantly from the support he receives from Nicollet. Their relationship began with a dating app encounter and developed into a sports power couple because of love combined with shared determination and continuous motivating influence.