The fans of Zharnel Hughes, a British athlete, were anticipating his extraordinary performance in the men’s 200-meter at the Paris Olympics. But it started with hamstring tightness and ended with his sixth-place finish in the 100-meter semifinal heat. Disappointment? Yes! But quickly Zharnel overcame it by claiming bronze in the 4x100m. Well, all this time, he would have probably wanted somebody to hold him. And who would have helped him?
Our bet is on Shenel Francis, the love of his life. Probably, Shenel must have given Zharnel the support he needed. On that note, let us take a closer look at Francis and know all about her!
Who is Shenel Francis?
Shenel Francis is a mom, dentist, entrepreneur, social media influencer, and Zharnel Hugesh partner. Their story isn’t just about winning races but also about establishing partnerships. When Hughes blazed across the track in 2023, rewriting the British 200m record books, Francis was there, not just standing as a spectator but as his pillar of stability.
Hughes is often seen crediting Francis for his success. In an interview ahead of the 2023 World Championship, he once said that he stays grounded and focused because of the habit of journaling, which was taught to him by his girlfriend. He had said, “In 2018, my girlfriend bought me a journal, and I just started writing down my thoughts on training, what I have coming up, and how I’m feeling going into competition.”
It seems the habit of writing before going to bed helped Zharnel Hughes analyze the day and his performance. And it’s visible from his 2023 200 m run at Diamond League, where he placed a new British record by clocking 19.73.
What is Shenel Francis’ profession?
Shenel Francis balances a dual professional identity as a dental hygienist and entrepreneur. She works at Jam Smiles Dental, applying her expertise in oral healthcare, a career rooted in her 2021 Bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene. Simultaneously, she has also launched her brand of scented candles with the name Esenek.co Candles in 2021.
These are luxurious hand-poured candles. This initiative reflects her flair for craftsmanship. Thus, we can say that on the professional end, Francis seamlessly merged her scientific precision in healthcare and her artistic passion, showcasing a dynamic character blended with practicality and entrepreneurial spirit.
Not just that, but Shenel is also a social media influencer with more than 10k followers on Instagram, where she keeps sharing life updates.
When did Shenel Francis and Zharnel Hughes start dating?
This power couple’s love story kicked off way back in 2018! Shenel and Zharnel initially kept things super private, quietly building their bond away from the spotlight. However, in 2022, they decided to come out in public. This is when the couple started sharing pictures. One such post includes them walking hand-in-hand dressed in casuals in the streets from September 2022.
Fast-forward to October 2024, and they dropped the biggest news yet: They were expecting their first little baby! The announcement added a whole new chapter to their low-key-but-loving journey. Again, the news was shared by the couple from their Instagram account, holding a small poster that read, “BABY HUGHES COMING SOON.”
The world finally got to see the first glimpse of their baby during Christmas 2024. They shared cute moments of them celebrating Christmas in their matching red and black check pajamas. The post was captioned, “First Christmas with our newest addition. Merry Christmas from our family to yours.” This led to many of their fans and well-wishers going, “Aww.”
What do you think about this adorable couple? Do let us know in the comments down below!
The post Who is Zharnel Hughes’ Partner? Everything to know about Shenel Francis appeared first on EssentiallySports.
