Scots Gladiator star reveals bizarre fan request that left her gobsmacked

Scottish Sun

03-06-2025

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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.
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Sheli as Sabre from BBC smash Gladiators.
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Sheli in the day job as co-owner of the Sweat Box gym in Dundee.
Credit: MICHAEL SCHOFIELD
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Cheeky Sheli gives the peace sign while Sun man Matt struggles to keep up.
Credit: MICHAEL SCHOFIELD
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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 sweatboxdundee.co.uk