The child safety advocate recently revealed her newfound love for bodybuilding, and took home multiple awards at a Salt Lake City fitness contest
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NEED TO KNOW
- Elizabeth Smart competed in the Wasatch Warrior bodybuilding competition under her married name, winning first in her category
- Smart shared that her hesitation to compete stemmed from fears of judgment tied to her past trauma as a survivor
- She described bodybuilding as a challenging but empowering experience, and encouraged others to embrace new goals and happiness
Elizabeth Smart won first place in her category when she competed in a bodybuilding competition in Salt Lake City, Utah, over Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18.
The child safety advocate, 38, surprised fans when she posted a picture to Instagram of herself on stage at the Wasatch Warrior bodybuilding and fitness competition, where she took first place in the Fit Model Novice Category. She also took second place in the Fit Model category and ranked third in Fit Model Masters 35+.
Contestants are judged on condition, symmetry and balance, presentation (a.k.a. posing), and muscularity, according to division rules from the National Physique Committee.
Credit: Elizabeth Smart/Instagram
When she posted the photo from the competition — which Smart revealed was her fourth fitness event — she admitted, "I was too afraid to post it before. Worried that I would be judged, not taken seriously, somehow perceived as less than or now unworthy to continue work as an advocate for all survivors."
During her nine-month-long abduction at age 14, Smart was subjected to daily rapes and endured physical abuse and starvation. She was reunited with her family in March 2003, after she was found by authorities while walking the streets of Utah. She's now a champion for children's safety.
Smart competed under her married name — she wed husband Matthew Gilmour in 2012 — but as she explained in her Instagram caption, her hesitation about being judged was similar to her trauma from her abduction.
"It struck me how eerily familiar these feelings and thoughts are for too many survivors," she wrote. "I think it's easy to be labeled as one thing, and honestly, that's not me nor do I think it's any of us we are more than just one topic, one idea, one label."
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Smart went on to say that bodybuilding was "a big change for me, it was hard, it pushed me, challenged me not to give up. I am so proud of myself for doing this."
She continued, "I am so proud of my body, and I want to celebrate it. My body has carried me through every worst day, every hellish grueling experience, it's created and nurtured three beautiful children, my body has risen to every single challenge life has presented it with, and carried me through so I refuse to be ashamed of it."
"I refuse to feel embarrassed about trying something new and am embracing my chance at life to the absolute fullest I can," Smart wrote. "I only hope that we all find the courage to chase new experiences, goals, bettering ourselves, and most importantly happiness."
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
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