Chari Hawkins is an American heptathlete, having represented the US at the 2019 and 2023 World Championships where she finished 12th and ninth respectively. Hawkins is married to Charles O'Neal III, a senior operations trainer at Booster.
Hawkins and O'Neal III reportedly met in 2010 in a training group for the track and field team at Utah State University.
After dating for seven years, they reportedly got engaged in 2017 with O’Neal III proposing at the River Bottoms Ranch in Midway, Utah. The two married in September 2020 in an invite-only wedding in the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was limited to only close family and friends and Hawkins stated that all the necessary precautions were taken during the wedding.
"Our goal was to follow all state and county guidelines to ensure that we had a safe and successful event. We also proactively created our wedding to be more static than interactive as an additional precaution," Hawkins said as per People.
Charles O'Neal III studied at Utah State University, where he participated in the long jump and sprints from 2010 to 2015. He pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing at the university and worked part-time as an IT consultant.
After completing his bachelor's, O'Neal worked as a senior account manager for Otis Elevator Co., a company that develops, manufactures and markets elevators, escalators, and moving walkways.
O'Neal then returned to school for his Masters in Marketing between 2017 and 2018 before joining Booster, a company out to reinvent how vehicles get energy while eliminating pollution. He started as a partner growth manager at the company and is now a senior operations trainer.
"Together forever"- Chari Hawkins’ husband Charles O'Neal III declares after tying the knot with the heptathlete
Chari Hawkins’ husband Charles O'Neal III was over the moon after exchanging vows with his long-term girlfriend.
O'Neal shared the news of their wedding on Instagram, extending gratitude to everyone who had walked with them in their journey of love as they sought to cement their relationship.
"Many of you have watched @_charihawkins & I grow up together! We took our time and are so excited to be together forever! I want to thank you all for supporting our 10-year journey! Show some love! ❤️Thanks @people for sharing our story," O'Neal shared.