Shelley Beattie has passed away
Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 23:01 Information about Shelley's past:
Height: 5'7" Weight: 150-155 lbs
Notable Athletic Accomplishments: * 1988/1989 co-ed and women handcar world champion and two new world records (still unbeaten) * 1989 unofficial world record bench press: at body wt. 163 lbs benched 315 lbs. * 1990 USA
Bodybuilding Champion * 1991 Ms. International: 3rd place * 1991 Ms. Olympia: 6th place * 1992 Ms. Olympia: 3rd place * 1994-95 Grinder on America3 America's Cup team. Placed 2nd in World Championships Occupation: *
American Gladiator (Siren) * 1992-1997 athelete contract with Twin Labratories, the largest sport supplement company in the world * Contributing Editor of Muscular Development magazine * Public speaker on motivation, nutrition and overcoming adversity * Athletic model Favorite activities: Rock climbing (5.11), Olympic Kayaking, Modern, Jazz, Funk and Hip Hop dancing, Weightlifting/bodybuilding, rollerblading, gymnastics, biking, equestrian, football, swimming, track & field, national level heptathalete, riding her Harlely Davison, acting/dance theater, in-line skating, and jogging in deep sand
Hearing Loss: Started at age 3. By sixth grade, her right ear was so far gone she needed a hearing aid. The left ear followed shortly afterwards. College:Western Oregon State -- although receiving many scholarship offers due to her proficiency in track, she realized that she would need to quit track and concentrate on learning in order to make up for the education she missed due to her hearing loss Favorite quotes:
* Never doubt your abilities * Don't let others define who you are * God only gives us what we can take and what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger * Nelson Mandela's 1994 Inaugural Speech
Shelley Beattie is pretty much a complete embodyment of what I admire about female bodybulders. Shelley has managed to turn her life around from a suicidal teenager who couldn't come to grips with her hearing loss and found no support from her family to a very successful and popular athlete. She feels now that she has come to the point in her life where people see past her hearing loss. Although Shelley learned to sign in American Sign Language (ASL) she enjoys speaking. She has now learned to accept her hearing loss and states that she wants specifically to adopt a deaf child someday. Although her relationship with her real parents is improving now, her hearing loss (and her denial) caused many severe problems during her childhood and she was eventually placed into a foster home -- 3 foster homes.
Being stripped from her family took it's emotional toll on young Shelley and she began lifting weights about age 14 mostly out of frustration and loneliness. Although, the America Gladiators were relectant to hire Shelley because of her hearing loss, she has now become one of the most popular stars of the show. She also shares a column in Muscular Development magazine with husband John Romano. After a successful career as one of the top female bodybuilders, Shelley decided to leave bodybuilding to persue other interests.
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