'Our little one on the way'- Zharnel Hughes & girlfriend Shenel Francis share heartwarming baby news

Zharnel Hughes and his longtime girlfriend have announce they are expecting their first child.

Great Britain's fastest man Zharnel Hughes and his long-time girlfriend Shenel Francis have announced they are expecting their first child together.

The couple, who have been dating since 2018, made their exciting news public through a heartfelt Instagram post, sharing a series of adorable photos that showcased their joy and anticipation.

Hughes, shared the news with his followers, expressing his gratitude and excitement for the new chapter in his life.

"Blessed beyond measure with our little one on the way," he wrote in the caption, alongside pictures of himself and Shenel, with Shenel proudly displaying her baby bump.

The post quickly garnered attention from fans and fellow athletes, congratulating the couple on their upcoming bundle of joy.

Hughes and Francis kept their relationship private for several years before going public in 2022.

Shenel Francis, a dental hygienist at Jam Smiles Dental and a social media influencer, has also made a name for herself in her own right.

She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of Technology, Jamaica, in 2021.

Despite their public personas, the couple has managed to keep much of their personal life away from the spotlight, making the pregnancy announcement even more special for their followers.

This joyful news comes after a challenging yet rewarding athletic season for Hughes.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, he competed in both the men's 100m and the 4x100m relay events.

In the 100m, Hughes narrowly missed advancing to the finals after clocking a time of 10.01 seconds in his semifinal heat, placing sixth.

However, he rebounded spectacularly in the 4x100m relay, helping Great Britain secure a bronze medal with a time of 37.61 seconds, finishing behind Canada and South Africa.

For Hughes, the bronze medal in Paris was particularly sweet after the heartbreak of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

During that event, Hughes and his relay teammates had their silver medal stripped after C.J. Ujah tested positive for banned substances.

The 2024 bronze marked Hughes' first Olympic medal, a significant achievement in his storied career.

Off the track, Hughes has always been open about the mental and emotional aspects of his journey as an elite athlete.

He once credited journaling as a powerful tool that has helped him stay grounded and focused on his goals.

“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,” Hughes revealed in an interview with British GQ ahead of the 2023 World Athletics Championships as per SportsKeeda.

“Before going to bed, I'll reflect on the day I had: what can I work on, what could be better going into the following day or week. Consistency is key to being successful, and writing things down helps me stay on top of things.”

Hughes' dedication paid off at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, where he won his first individual medal, a bronze in the 100m with a time of 9.88 seconds.

He finished behind American sprinter Noah Lyles and Botswana's Letsile Tebogo.

It was a momentous occasion for the athlete, who had previously earned two relay medals at the World Championships, including a silver in 2019 and a bronze in 2022.