Steel, real name Zack George, opened up on his ‘unhealthy’ past (Picture: INSTAGRAM @zackgeorge)
One of the first contenders for the new reboot of Gladiators has shared his incredible health journey as he’s transformed into the UK’s fittest man.
Steel, real name Zack George, will be joining Fury, real name Jodie Ounsley, in the arena, as they take their place as the new generation of superhumans.
Gladiators, returning to our screens after 20 years off-air, will be hosted by father-son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh, as the show’s athletes battle against contenders to test their speed, skill, stamina and strength.
As well as winning the title of the UK’s fittest man in 2020, Zack has ranked number 26 out of a whopping 126,461 on the global CrossFit leader board, leading to his unbreakable strength earning his new name.
However, he wasn’t always a fitness fanatic.
He said: ‘I led a really unhealthy lifestyle.
Zack is the UK’s fittest man (Picture: Instagram/zackgeorge)
‘I practically inhaled chocolate and ate McDonald’s and KFC — a family bucket — five times a week.
‘The more fast food I ate, the more I craved it. It was a vicious cycle.’
Zack added to The Sun that he was ‘really lazy’ and would ‘kick up a fuss’ if his family urged him to go on a walk during the weekends.
‘Being overweight makes you feel rubbish. You can’t walk or run far so you don’t want to exercise and you often end up finding comfort in fast food,’ he continued.
Zack was announced as one of the first Gladiators (Picture: Instagram/zackgeorge)
But he’s now transformed his life and is motivated to help people with their own fitness, hoping he can inspire a new, young generation of fans to get into fitness as well.
Ahead of making his Gladiators debut, he said: ‘I was inspired by the Gladiators as a child, but never imagined I’d be physically fit enough to be considered a “superhuman”!
‘I hope a new generation of fans will look up to me as their new strong, unbreakable hero, Steel.’
Zack will be joined by professional Exeter Chiefs rugby player Jodie, who is a former England Women’s Rugby Seven’s player, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu British Champion and five times World Coal Carrying champion.
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She also won the title of Deaf Sports Personality of The Year in 2020.
As if her accolades weren’t enough, Jodie even has Gladiators in her blood, as her father was a contender on the show in 2008, and she has been training to outdo him ever since.
Gladiators returns to BBC soon.
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‘It was a vicious cycle.’