Great Britain’s Olympic medalist Zharnel Hughes and his Jamaican girlfriend Shenel Francis are set to become parents, as the couple revealed their exciting news on Instagram. On Sunday, Shenel shared a photo of her advanced baby bump, confirming that the pair are eagerly expecting their first child together.

Shenel, a dental hygienist and entrepreneur, has been by Hughes' side throughout much of his record-breaking career. The couple has been together since at least 2018, though they only went public with their relationship in September 2022. Earlier this year, they took their relationship to the next level, moving in together in early March 2024.

Shenel, who graduated with honours in 2021 from the University of Technology in Kingston, Jamaica, is not only a dental professional but also a businesswoman. She launched her own luxury hand-poured scented candle brand, Esenek.co Candles, in 2021. The couple’s bond has been a strong source of support for Hughes, who has continued to achieve major milestones in his athletic career, including breaking the long-standing British 200m record in 2023.

Hughes, a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics as part of Team GB's 4x100m relay squad, has often spoken of Shenel's influence on his life. In a 2023 interview with GQ, Hughes mentioned how Shenel was present as he meditated before one of his historic races where he surpassed John Regis' 200m record, setting a new British mark of 19.73 seconds.

Before his relationship with Shenel, Hughes was linked to European sprint champion Dina Asher-Smith. However, his relationship with Shenel has flourished, with both supporting each other's professional and personal endeavors.

Even though he is a resident of Great Britain, Hughes, who attended Kingston College in Jamaica, purchased a home in Jamaica earlier this year.