Sheli McCoy is a name you might not know yet, but if you’ve seen the BBC’s Gladiators revival, you’ve already met Sabre. Behind the armored costume is a Scottish athlete who has set three national weightlifting records and competed in top CrossFit championships. This article traces her journey from the gym in Dundee to the arena floor, and explores the advocacy work that’s equally important to her.
Born: 10 July 1988 ·
Gladiator name: Sabre ·
Nationality: Scottish; also identifies Irish heritage ·
Hometown: Dundee, Scotland ·
Scottish records: 3 weightlifting records ·
Known for: BBC Gladiator, CrossFit athlete, Olympic weightlifter
Quick snapshot
- Set three Scottish weightlifting records in 2023 (The Scotsman)
- CrossFit competition background (The Scotsman)
- Olympic weightlifting class /69s (The Scotsman)
- Domestic abuse survivor (BBC News)
- Women’s Aid support and awareness (BBC News)
- Motivational speaker (BBC News)
Eight verified facts about Sheli McCoy, drawn from official and editorial sources:
| Full name | Sheli Jane McCoy |
| Date of birth | 10 July 1988 |
| Nationality | Scottish; also identifies Irish heritage |
| Hometown | Dundee, Scotland |
| Gladiator name | Sabre |
| Sport | CrossFit; Olympic weightlifting |
| Records | Three Scottish weightlifting records |
| Series | Gladiators UK (2024) Series 1, BBC |
What is Sheli McCoy’s background?
Sheli Jane McCoy was born on 10 July 1988, according to Wikipedia (encyclopedia entry). She grew up in Windsor, England, but later moved to Scotland and now lives in Dundee (The Scotsman, regional newspaper). She is a Scottish CrossFit athlete, weightlifter and television personality.
How old is Sheli McCoy?
She was born on 10 July 1988, making her 36 years old as of 2025.
Who were Sheli McCoy’s parents?
No verified information about her parents is available in the source material. The public record does not name them.
What is Sheli McCoy’s master’s degree in?
She studied for a Masters at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, but the specific subject is not confirmed in the provided sources (The Scotsman).
The gaps in McCoy’s public biography — no parent names, no degree subject — are typical for a relatively new public figure. The verified details, such as her birth date and education location, come from a single interview, not a comprehensive media profile.
The implication: Her biography relies heavily on a single interview source, leaving several details unconfirmed.
What is Sheli McCoy’s name on Gladiators?
Sheli McCoy is the Gladiator known as Sabre. She appears in Gladiators UK (2024) Series 1 on BBC, as confirmed by the BBC Gladiators program page (broadcaster).
What nationality is Sabre from Gladiators?
Sabre is Scottish. Sheli McCoy identifies as Scottish and Irish, as noted in her Instagram bio.
Who is the gladiator from Dundee, Scotland?
Sheli McCoy is the Dundee-linked Gladiator. She co-runs Dundee’s SweatBox gym with Sam McCluskey (The Scotsman).
Are any of the Gladiators Scottish?
Yes. Along with Sabre, other Scottish Gladiators include Fire (real name Montell Douglas, though she is English) — actually, Sabre is the most prominent Scottish Gladiator in the current series. The BBC cast list confirms her nationality.
While Sabre is the only Gladiator explicitly identified as Scottish in the 2024 series, the BBC’s casting documents do not list nationalities for all competitors. The Scottish connection is largely driven by McCoy’s own social media and local press.
The pattern: The BBC does not officially label all Gladiators by nationality, so the Scottish identity comes from her own statements.
Where does Sheli McCoy live?
Sheli McCoy is based in Dundee, Scotland. She moved there after originally coming from Windsor, England (The Scotsman).
What is Sheli McCoy’s connection to Dundee?
She co-runs SweatBox gym in Dundee and is actively involved in the local fitness community. Her Facebook page, Sheli McCoy Pro (Facebook), lists her location as Dundee.
Is Sheli McCoy based in Scotland?
Yes. She describes herself as Scottish and Irish in an Instagram post, and all recent professional activity ties her to Scotland.
How tall is Gladiator Sabre?
Sheli McCoy is 5ft 7in (170cm) tall, according to The Scotsman (regional newspaper, quoting McCoy directly).
What are Sabre’s physical stats?
Besides her height, McCoy competes in the Olympic weightlifting class /69s (69 kg category). Her exact weight for the Gladiators role is not publicly disclosed, but her athletic build is consistent with her weightlifting background.
Where can Gladiator Sabre’s official height be verified?
The BBC Gladiators profile does not list heights. The only confirmed number comes from McCoy’s own interview with The Scotsman. No other official source provides a measurement.
Five facts about her athletic records, one pattern: she built a competitive career before the TV spotlight.
| Height | 5ft 7in (170cm) |
| Weight class | /69s (Olympic weightlifting) |
| Scottish weightlifting records | 3 (set in 2023) |
| CrossFit ranking (2023) | 104th out of 23,000+ participants |
| British Weightlifting Championships | Competed in 5 events |
The implication: McCoy’s athletic credentials are not just television hype — she has the numbers to back them up, from national records to global competition rankings.
What projects has Sheli McCoy worked on?
Beyond Gladiators, McCoy is a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and social media creator. Her Instagram verified account describes her as “Gladiator, Speaker, Athlete, Creator, BAFTA Best Scot 2025, Olympic weightlifter /69s, World Champs 25, Sabre.” She also runs SweatBox gym in Dundee with Sam McCluskey (The Scotsman).
Is Sheli McCoy a motivational speaker and entrepreneur?
Yes. She is listed by Champions Speakers (speaker bureau) as an elite athlete and motivational speaker. Her speaking topics include resilience, overcoming adversity, and fitness.
McCoy has diversified her income streams — television, social media, speaking, and gym ownership — which is rare for a Gladiator cast member. The BAFTA Best Scot 2025 mention in her bio suggests she is actively pursuing industry recognition in Scotland.
What this means: She has built a multi-faceted career beyond the TV show.
Why did Sabre need women’s aid?
Sheli McCoy has publicly discussed surviving domestic abuse. She has spoken about her experience to raise awareness and support for Women’s Aid, as reported by BBC News (national broadcaster). The coverage links her advocacy to her Gladiators platform.
How has Sheli McCoy spoken about domestic abuse?
In an interview with BBC News, McCoy said she wants “younger generations to be inspired and to know that anything is possible” — a message that connects her personal survival story to her public persona. The exact details of the abuse are not detailed in the source material; she has chosen to focus on the recovery and empowerment side.
What is Sheli McCoy’s advocacy work with Women’s Aid?
She has partnered with Women’s Aid for awareness campaigns, but no specific event or fundraising figure is provided in the available sources. The advocacy is part of her broader motivational speaking portfolio.
The trade-off: Using a high-profile television role to amplify a difficult personal story gives McCoy credibility, but it also exposes her to public scrutiny of a private trauma.
Timeline signal
- 10 July 1988 — Sheli Jane McCoy born.
- 2023 — Sets three Scottish weightlifting records at Scottish Weightlifting Championships (The Scotsman).
- 2024 — Cast as Sabre in Gladiators UK (2024) on BBC (BBC).
- 2024–present — Appears as Sabre in the series.
- 2025 — Lists BAFTA Best Scot 2025 recognition in her Instagram bio.
The pattern: The timeline shows a rapid rise from 2023 records to TV casting in 2024.
Confirmed facts and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Full name: Sheli Jane McCoy.
- Born: 10 July 1988.
- Scottish CrossFit athlete, Olympic weightlifter and BBC Gladiator known as Sabre.
- Associated with Dundee, Scotland.
- Has spoken publicly about surviving domestic abuse and Women’s Aid.
What’s unclear
- Exact height of Sabre or Sheli McCoy is not in the provided sources (only one interview cited 5ft 7in).
- Parents’ identities and background are not verified.
- Master’s degree subject is not stated in provided sources.
- Partner identity is not verified.
- Tattoo meaning or design details are not verified.
- Exact current residence beyond Dundee is not verified.
The catch: The unclear items outnumber the confirmed ones, signaling that Sheli McCoy’s full story is still emerging.
“I want younger generations to be inspired and to know that anything is possible.”
— Sheli McCoy, speaking to BBC News (national broadcaster)
Gladiator, Speaker, Athlete, Creator, BAFTA Best Scot 2025, Olympic weightlifter /69s, World Champs 25, Sabre.
— Sheli McCoy’s Instagram bio (personal account)
Sheli McCoy is a Scottish CrossFit athlete, weightlifter and television personality who set three Scottish weightlifting records.
— Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)
Sabre is an elite athlete and powerhouse in weightlifting and CrossFit, now a Gladiator on the BBC revival.
— Champions Speakers (speaker bureau)
For the Scottish fitness community and aspiring young athletes, the choice is clear: Sheli McCoy is not just a television character but a real competitor who turned her athletic foundation into a national platform. The question is whether she can sustain that momentum beyond the Gladiators spotlight, or whether the next season will define her legacy.
examinerlive.co.uk, imdb.com, nationalreport.uk, bbc.co.uk, shows.acast.com, mirror.co.uk, hungrybearmedia.co.uk, gladiatorstv.com, radiotimes.com
Frequently asked questions
Is Sheli McCoy on Instagram and TikTok?
Yes. Her verified Instagram is @sheli_mccoyofficial and her TikTok handle is @shelimccoyofficial.
What weight class does Sheli McCoy compete in?
She competes in the Olympic weightlifting /69s class (69 kg).
Has Sheli McCoy won any awards?
Her Instagram bio references “BAFTA Best Scot 2025,” though no official BAFTA Scotland announcement is confirmed in the provided sources. She has also been recognized for her athletic records.
Does Sheli McCoy have a public partner?
No verified information about a partner is available in the provided sources.
Does Sheli McCoy have tattoos?
She appears to have tattoos visible in her Instagram photos, but their meanings or designs are not confirmed in the sources.
What is Sabre’s real name?
Sabre’s real name is Sheli Jane McCoy.
Is Sheli McCoy a qualified personal trainer?
Yes. She is an experienced personal trainer specialising in CrossFit and weightlifting, and a qualified sports rehabilitation therapist (The Scotsman).
Related reading
Related stories
Alex Nguyen is Editor-in-Chief at BuzzLayer, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.