Dundee gym owner Sheli McCoy made her bow as Sabre when the reboot of the iconic TV show Gladiators hit screens in 2024.
Now, she is one of 16 Gladiators back for the second series.
Here, we profile Sheli McCoy and her work both on and off-screen.
What is Sheli McCoy’s background?
Sheli went to school at Ceres Primary in Fife.
She later graduated with a master’s degree from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, before setting herself up in Menzieshill in Dundee.
A keen sportswoman, she has competed in five British Weightlifting Championships events and CrossFit championships all over the world, becoming Scottish champion in both sports.
Sheli competed in the 35-39 category at the 2024 CrossFit Games, ranking 19th out of nearly 2,000 UK participants.
In 2023, Sheli also set three new Scottish records in Olympic weightlifting at the Scottish Championships.
This made her the fourth-highest-ranked athlete from the UK.
Sheli runs the SweatBox Dundee gym on Camperdown Road with former Dundee Stars player Sam McCluskey.
The gym offers a range of classes, from new starts’ and kids’ classes to functional high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and yoga sessions.
As well as having more than 10 years’ experience as a personal and CrossFit trainer, Sheli is also a weightlifting coach and sports rehabilitation therapist.
Sheli previously opened up on how being a victim of domestic abuse inspired her to become a fitness champion.
How did Sheli McCoy get involved in Gladiators?
During a Q&A with her followers on Instagram, Sheli revealed: “I was found, headhunted (by Gladiators bosses) and went through a challenging testing routine.”
She was unveiled as Sabre on Channel 4 show Steph’s Packed Lunch in May 2023.
She later revealed how she thought the calls to join the show were a hoax.
After being named as a new Gladiator, she proved her strength by lifting guest host Anna Maxwell Martin to her seat.
Sheli also wrote on social media: “It’s with a full heart I can finally say out loud – I am a Gladiator.
“I truly hope Sabre will inspire and empower the younger generation of strong capable females just as the gladiators I once watched inspired me to be a confident athletic women.
“It’s a dream come true. I’ll be taking part in the old, iconic games my mum and I once watched and I can’t wait to attack the new ones with her watching.”
During filming for the first series of the show at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena, Sheli tore a hamstring.
However, she still starred in the series.
After recording had come to an end, Sheli said each day was a “blessing” and every event was an “unforgettable experience that (I) would repeat in a second”.
She said: “I’m so thankful for such a phenomenal opportunity.
“I gave my absolute everything in each event to do justice to such an honour and privilege.”
What is Sheli McCoy’s Gladiators character Sabre like?
Producers of the new show – presented by Bradley and Barney Walsh – have described Sheli’s character as “fierce, powerful and agile”.
They said previously: “Contenders, be afraid of an attack from Sabre, she’s fearless and ferocious.
“Once she catches sight of prey, there’s no escape.”
What else does Sheli McCoy do away from Gladiators?
On top of her gym and Gladiators work, Sheli has become an influential online figure, where she promotes various campaigns and brands through her Instagram page.
She has also been learning to play golf and sharing her progress with fans.
Since joining Gladiators, Sheli has been on several other TV shows – including as a celebrity expert on Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel.
In 2025, she donated £6,450 to Dundee Women’s Aid after beating her fellow Gladiators in an episode of The Weakest Link.
The Courier has taken a closer look at Sheli McCoy’s rise to fame since appearing on Gladiators.
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