Shelley Beattie
Vital statistics:
Age: 27
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 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.
Next scheduled competition: 1996 Ms. Galaxy contest
To contact:
Shelley Beattie
c/o America3 Foundation
4960 North Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
USA
Voice: (619) 221-2100
Fax: (619) 221-0155
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