Connor Zilisch, a rising NASCAR star, is reportedly dating Lauren Bernardo, an 18-year-old swimmer from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Connor Zilisch is a 19-year-old American professional racing driver from Charlotte, North Carolina.
He’s widely regarded as one of NASCAR’s brightest young stars and currently leads the NASCAR Xfinity Series standings.
On August 9, 2025, Zilisch won his sixth Xfinity Series race of the season at Watkins Glen. But during his celebration, things took a dramatic turn.
While climbing onto the roof of his car in Victory Lane, Zilisch slipped and fell hard onto the pavement.
He was immediately taken to a local hospital, where scans confirmed a broken collarbone but no head or spinal injuries.
Currently, he is out of the hospital and back at the track, wearing a sling and smiling, but not racing.
Additionally, he’s working with doctors to decide whether surgery is needed to speed up recovery.
Connor Zilisch’s Alleged Girlfriend: Meet Lauren Bernardo
Connor Zilisch is rumored to be romantically linked to Lauren Bernardo, an 18-year-old rising star in collegiate swimming from Charlotte, North Carolina.
The two athletes, both from Charlotte, have been spotted together during the 2024 holiday season.
Bernardo shared photos on Instagram from Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings, featuring Zilisch alongside her family, with captions expressing gratitude.
One of the many images showcased swimmer Lauren Bernardo holding onto Connor Zilisch on a couch. She paired the image with a heartwarming caption, “Thankful for my peeps.”
Connor Zilisch and his rumored girlfriend Lauren Bernardo. (Source: Instagram)
However, the photo has since been removed or made private in recent days.
Despite this, both Zilisch and Bernardo continue to follow each other on Instagram.
They were speculated to be dating in 2024, but as of now, there has been no official confirmation from either Connor Zilisch or Lauren Bernardo regarding their relationship.
While neither has publicly confirmed the relationship, these posts have led to speculation among fans.
Lauren Bernardo is set to begin her freshman year at Louisiana State University (LSU), where she will continue her swimming career.
Specializing in the backstroke and individual medley events, she has a strong swimming background.
During her high school years at Charlotte Catholic High School, she won a state championship in swimming and also holds a black belt in karate.
At LSU, she plans to pursue a degree in construction management.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- In 2024, Connor Zilisch won his debut NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen International.
- Lauren Bernardo’s grandfather was an accomplished junior golfer, and her great-grandfather served as the Director of Space Education for NASA during the Apollo Program.
