Latest news with #Sheli
Daily Record
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Scots Gladiator Sheli McCoy hails Pride of Scotland Unsung Heroes
TV star Sabre can't wait to honour the winners at our glittering People's Oscars on Monday night. 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
Scottish Sun
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Scots Gladiator star reveals bizarre fan request that left her gobsmacked
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NOW the pugil sticks and the Travelator are packed away following another huge series of Gladiators, star Sabre is back to the day job as fitness instructor Sheli McCoy. The reboot, hosted by Bradley and Barney Walsh on BBC One, drew in millions for its second season, so a third series is looking inevitable. 5 Sheli as Sabre from BBC smash Gladiators. 5 Sheli in the day job as co-owner of the Sweat Box gym in Dundee. Credit: MICHAEL SCHOFIELD 5 Cheeky Sheli gives the peace sign while Sun man Matt struggles to keep up. Credit: MICHAEL SCHOFIELD 5 Sun man Matt is full of smiles after he rings the bell following his first ever pull-up. Credit: MICHAEL SCHOFIELD Sheli has not quit her day job, where for the past six years she has been the co-owner of gym Sweatbox Dundee in her home — but the show has a funny way of following her back there. Sheli says: 'I get sent cards and posters that kids have drawn for me, which is really nice. They're just addressed to, 'Sabre, Sweatbox, Dundee'. 'But the most common thing is wives messaging me for signed pictures for their partners, saying things like, 'My husband absolutely loves you'. 'They don't seem to mind and say things like, 'I'm fine he has a crush on you because I actually think you're really nice too'. 'But one wife wanted to create an entire wall of images of me in her husband's office. She even asked if there were life-size cardboard cut-outs of me. 'I was like, 'Woah, this is intense'.' Raised in Fife, Sheli, 36, has a master's degree in health science from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. But 'overweight' for her 5ft 7in frame, she then decided to get fit — really fit. She explains: 'Right now I am 68kilos (10st 10lbs) which is my competitive weight. 'But I was a size 16 and weighed the back end of 80kilos (12st 8lbs). Physically and mentally I feel a totally different person. I was a shadow of who I am now.' Gladiator Sabre's 'steamy' moment with Apollo in locker room Sweatbox is affiliated with CrossFit, which combines gymnastics, weightlifting and varied exercises performed at high intensity to build strength and endurance. It is why Sheli is the only female Gladiator to tackle 'contenders' across every obstacle course, including Duel and Powerball. She says: 'The amazing thing about CrossFit is that it trains every single muscle group. 'It focuses on the ten components of fitness from strength, speed, agility, balance, cardiovascular and muscular, basically to build the perfect human. 'I like to think of it as the Vitruvian man. CrossFit asks you to be good in every direction and with every force. 'So when Gladiators came up and we did our fitness tests, I scored really highly because there were 12 fitness tests, all totally varied, which is just CrossFit. 'On the show I can tell which contenders are CrossFit athletes as they withstand the games far better than the rest. Amanda Wah, who won the women's competition this year, is a CrossFit athlete.' Sabre has become a firm favourite with viewers and even cheekily gave winner Amanda a wink before pummelling her with the pugil sticks. But she says that is Sabre, not Sheli, explaining: 'We were to bring our personality, but turn it way up, and stick some bells and whistles on it. 'So the competitive element of Sabre is actually me. Obstacles like The Edge are so exhilarating. It's high. It's scary. It's rickety and when I get up there, my adrenaline is flowing. SHELI JOINS THE SCOTTISH SUN SHELI McCoy will be writing a new wellness and fitness column exclusively online for The Scottish Sun from this weekend. The gym owner promises to offer tips and suggestions for people of all ages and from all walks of life to help them: 'Live stronger, live longer.' Sheli says: 'I am so glad I have been given this opportunity to write for The Scottish Sun. 'My column is going to be helpful, with useful hints and tips on health, fitness and wellness. 'I'm really looking forward to offering my Health Science education and experience to help you.' 'When I come for you up there you better be ready to fly off The Edge because if I'm going down, you're coming with me.' She adds: 'But ultimately, I feel like my biggest gift is to encourage you to bring your best self for your own good. 'If you beat me, I am so happy for you, because that's not an easy thing to do — it doesn't happen very often.' Back at home, her gym is a far cry from the Gladiators arena. On the day Sheli invited The Scottish Sun along, a young mum was working out beside a pram with her sleeping baby, while a middle-aged bloke in old beach wear was weightlifting. She says: 'You may notice that there are no mirrors in here, which is unusual for a gym. 'That's because we're not here to be looking at ourselves or posing like that old gym culture where everyone thinks their sports kit has to match and they have to look a certain way. 'This is a training space where you should just be able to sweat terribly, probably not looking your best and feel comfortable doing that.' SHELI GIVES MATT A GLADIATOR WORKOUT SHELI may be a fearsome sight for contestants as Sabre, but in her gym she's a totally different person. For starters Sheli says we're not here to compete with each other, because 'You would only lose' - of that I have no doubt. Instead she wants me to leave Sweatbox having achieved something I have never done before. She chooses pull-ups for me, which builds upper body strength in the back, shoulders and arms using nothing but your own bodyweight and a bar. Sheli says: 'The perfect shape for a man is a Dorito - wide shoulders, narrow waist.' I'm more of a Hula Hoop around the middle thanks to hitting my fattening fifties. After an extensive warm-up with rubber bands then some stretches, Sheli shows me how it's done. She powders her hands then uses an overhand grip to lift her lean frame effortlessly until her chin is well above the bar, repeating the process several times. Sheli says: 'My record is 21 in a row.' which is no surprise looking at her bulging forearms and biceps. I attempt to mimic her, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot raise my chin above that bloody bar. 'Just give it more beans,' Sheli says with gentle encouragement. With one last mighty pull, my chin finally clears the bar, with Sheli shouting, 'You've done it - now go ring the bell.' I do as told and everyone in the gym claps. Sure, I won't be competing on Gladiators any time soon, but just as Sheli promised, I did leave having achieved something new. Earlier this year, Sheli proved she had brains as well as brawn, winning a Gladiators special of BBC quiz The Weakest Link, hosted by Romesh Ranganathan. And she is in hot demand for other shows, recently filming an episode of Robson Green's Weekend Escapes, where she went paddleboarding on the River Tay with the Soldier Soldier star. She says: 'I've also had the opportunity to go on The Wheel with Michael McIntyre. 'I'm also doing House Of Games with Richard Osman and Bridge Of Lies with Ross Kemp which comes out soon.' And Sheli is determined to use her new platform for the greater good and to help people get fitter. She says: 'I'm now the patron of Women's Aid in Dundee and I do a lot of work with schools and colleges. 'So while it's great I get to do some really cool TV stuff it has allowed me to be a big sister to help people. 'Our ethos at Sweatbox is 'Live stronger, live longer' and maybe get fitter and lose a little weight in the process, just like I did. 'It was the graft that the overweight Sheli put in which has given me all these amazing opportunities today. 'If I can do it, anyone can.' *For more information on Sheli's gym go to
The Courier
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Dundee Gladiators star Sheli McCoy hints at return for show's third series
Dundee's Gladiators star Sheli McCoy has hinted at a return as Sabre in the third series of the BBC reboot. The Sweatbox Dundee owner participated in the show's second series final, taking on eventual champion Amanda Wah in the 'Duel'. Sheli, 36, told her Instagram followers on Wednesday that she is looking forward to returning to the show. She said: 'Thank you all for the incredible love and support through Season 2 of Gladiators. 'It's been an unforgettable ride bringing Sabre to life – fierce, fun, and here to demand the contenders bring their best efforts and earn their wins against us. 'I just cant wait to re-join my G family, keep building this movement and inspiring more people to fall in love with fitness and health in the most epic way.' Sheli has become one of the most popular stars in the reboot, with some comparing her to show legend Jet. She has additionally appeared in Michael McIntyre's The Wheel and other events as her character. The Gladiators team are also set to go on their first live tour across the UK. Sheli was recently seen filming in Broughty Ferry with Robson Green for the Soldier Soldier star's Weekend Escape series.
