Scots Gladiator Sheli McCoy hails Pride of Scotland Unsung Heroes
Scots gladiator and weightlifting champion Sheli McCoy has hailed Pride of Scotland's unsung heroes as some of the 'strongest' humans on the planet.
Sheli, who is known to her fans as Sabre, is looking forward to celebrating the winners of our 2025 People's Oscars at the glittering ceremony on Monday night.
The 36-year-old, who is on track to represent Scotland in weightlifting at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, says when it comes to record-breaking strength our unsung heroes are world champions.
Last year Sheli, who lives and runs a gym in Dundee, presented Abbie Jarvis and Kaylynn Donald with their Teenagers of Courage Award.
Both schoolgirls were victims of sickening attacks by other children and bravely waived their anonymity to back a Daily Record campaign to support victims of youth violence.
Kaylynn, 14, was brutally attacked on a school bus in Ladybank, Fife and Abbie, 15, was lured to a park in Glasgow and beaten unconscious as other kids filmed the vicious assault.
Sheli said: 'I felt so privileged to present Kaylynn and Abbie with their award last year. Those girls both underwent a torrent of horrific bullying and abuse.
'Yet here they are having the courage to stand up and speak out about their ordeals to help others. They are inspiring and educating a whole generation as well as motivating others to stand up to bullies. They are both real-life gladiators.'
The TV star, who trains between 16 and 19 hours a week, added: 'The Pride of Scotland awards are so special because you are sitting in a room filled with people who have bravery, courage and spirit in bucket loads but never seek anything from it.
'They don't make a song or dance about their achievements so it's brilliant they are being given the recognition they truly deserve.
'Last year was the first time I ever walked a red carpet and I feel honoured to have been asked to come back and help celebrate the nation's biggest and brightest stars - the unsung heroes.'
Sheli, who shot to overnight fame after the first episode of the Gladiators reboot aired on the BBC last January, admits she gets recognised everywhere she goes.
She said: 'I can't walk down the street anymore without being recognised but it's fine because I love it. People always apologise when they meet me but I tell them not to as they are the reason I have a job that I love.
'I have felt unwanted and unwelcome and it's awful. I don't want anyone else to ever feel like that so if I can chat away to someone for five minutes or sign something for their kids then I am up for that.
'I never imagined just how popular Gladiator would be but it has changed my life in a good way. It has been the megaphone I needed to get my fitness message out there.'
The Robert Gordon graduate added: 'Since becoming a Gladiator I have been asked to come and do lots of seminars and talks to young people about overcoming adversity and accepting challenges through fitness.
'I was already trying to spread this message but no one was listening to me but now they are. Sabre has opened the door for me to be the educator that I have always wanted to be.
'The exposure has also prompted me to start a new fitness initiative called 'Next Generation Fitness Kids' and this summer I will be running camps to teach primary school children about how keeping fit will help them to become healthy, hydrated and motivated.'
Gladiators is hopefully coming back for a third series but in between filming the hit BBC show Sheli has been busy winning more weightlifting titles.
The Crossfit champion said: 'I competed in the Easterns weightlifting championships last month in both the seniors and the masters 69kg categories and won both and set six new Scottish records.
'The next step for me is the British championships which I have qualified for and if I have success there I could be selected for the Commonwealth Games.
'Becoming a Commonwealth athlete has been a dream as underneath it all I am an athlete and I was selected as a Gladiator because I am an athlete.
'Life is pretty good at the moment and on my mum's advice I am trying to take a moment every now and then to appreciate it.'
Joining Sheli at the Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards with P&O Cruises at the Glasgow Hilton on Monday night will be BGT legend Susan Boyle, Star Wars actor Denis Lawson, singers Nathan Evans, Calum Bowie and Cammy Barnes and Strictly's JJ Chalmers and Dr Punam Krishan.
Love Island's Paige Turley and Saint Phnx's Stevie Jukes will be going live from the red carpet and presenter Laura Anderson will be manning the Pride of Scotland bar.
First Minister John Swinney will also be there to celebrate the best of Scotland and there will be a performance from Britain's Got Talent finalist Vinnie McKee.
- The 2025 Pride of Scotland winners will be revealed in an 8-page pullout in Monday's Daily Record
- You can catch all the red carpet action on the Pride of Scotland Facebook, Instagram and YouTube page from 5.30pm on Monday night
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