{"id":20605,"date":"2026-05-20T20:53:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T20:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=20605"},"modified":"2026-05-20T20:53:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T20:53:02","slug":"who-is-elizabeth-smart-kidnapping-survivor-is-a-bodybuilder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=20605","title":{"rendered":"Who Is Elizabeth Smart? Kidnapping Survivor Is a Bodybuilder"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Elizabeth Smart<\/strong> has spent more than two decades reclaiming her story \u2014 first as a kidnapping survivor, then as a wife, mother and advocate for sexual violence victims. Now, she is stepping into a new chapter as a competitive bodybuilder, and she says the sport has fundamentally changed how she sees herself.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always felt like there was a way I needed to present myself,\u201d Smart exclusively told Us Weekly<\/em><\/a> in May 2026. \u201cBodybuilding has helped free me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smart first stunned social media followers in April 2026 when she shared a photo of herself in a blue bikini and high heels, revealing a dramatic physical transformation. The reveal came nearly 23 years after the Salt Lake City native was abducted from her bedroom at age 14 \u2014 a case that captivated the nation and continued to draw renewed attention through Netflix\u2019s January 2026 documentary, Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Smart\u2019s Kidnapping and Rescue<\/h2>\n

Smart was kidnapped on June 5, 2002, by Brian David Mitchell<\/strong>, a drifter her family had previously hired to help around their home. She wasn\u2019t rescued until March 12, 2003, marking more than nine months of captivity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>How Many Siblings Does Elizabeth Smart Have? Meet Her 4 Brothers, 1 Sister<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tElizabeth Smart lived through the unthinkable when she was kidnapped from her own bedroom in 2002 when she was just 14 years old. More than two decades later, Elizabeth has credited her family with helping her deal with the traumatic experience. While her parents, Ed Smart and Lois Smart, previously spoke to the media about [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

During that time, Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee<\/strong>, held Smart at a campsite, where she endured sexual assault, physical abuse and psychological manipulation. Mitchell, who claimed to be a prophet acting on commands from God, declared Smart his \u201cwife\u201d on the night of the abduction and raped her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt didn\u2019t matter what I did. Ultimately, he raped me,\u201d Smart recalled in the Netflix documentary<\/a>. \u201cI remember being in a lot of pain. I remember begging him to stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smart also revealed that Mitchell had planned to kidnap seven young girls in total. She was eventually rescued after convincing Mitchell to return to Salt Lake City by telling him God had commanded it, and citizens recognized the trio from a composite sketch and alerted police.<\/p>\n

Mitchell was convicted in December 2011 and sentenced to life in federal prison. Barzee received a 15 year sentence and was released in 2018.<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Smart\u2019s Bodybuilding Transformation<\/h2>\n

Smart began her competitive bodybuilding journey in January 2025 and has since lost roughly 30 pounds. The goal-oriented nature of the sport appealed to her in a way few other pursuits have.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always liked having a goal from when I studied music in school to then marathon running and wanting to improve my time,\u201d Smart told Us<\/em>. \u201cHaving a very clear, defined goal with a due date, something to work towards really appealed to me that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

In April 2026, Smart competed in the Wasatch Warrior fitness competition in Salt Lake City, entering under her married name. She has been married to Matthew Gilmour<\/strong> since 2012, and the couple shares three children: Chloe, James and Olivia.<\/p>\n

Smart placed first in the Fit Model Novice category, second in Fit Model D and third in Fit Model Masters 35+. Fellow competitor Lila Cowdell<\/strong>, who finished third in Fit Model D, told Us<\/em> she had no idea she was sharing the stage with Smart.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe competed in the same class. I actually had no idea it was her,\u201d Cowdell said. \u201cShe held herself very tall and she\u2019s very humble.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inside Elizabeth Smart\u2019s Fitness Routine and Diet<\/h2>\n

Smart trains five to six days a week for 45 minutes, focusing on isolated muscle groups and lifting as heavily as possible. She previously revealed she can deadlift while holding a 65-pound dumbbell in each hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to have a coach around [to] spot me or [say], \u2018No, you can do heavier,\u2019\u201d Smart told Us<\/em>. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of work, but I didn\u2019t know just how much work it was gonna be.\u201d<\/p>\n

The shorter training sessions have actually given Smart more time with her kids compared to her previous marathon training. \u201cRunning took up hours and hours and hours, and then I was exhausted the rest of the day,\u201d she said. \u201cMy long training runs got to a point where they were just so long that once I finished them, I didn\u2019t want to do anything the rest of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Elizabeth Smart’s Dad Shares His Thoughts on Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tElizabeth Smart\u2019s dad, Ed Smart, is sharing his thoughts on the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie\u2019s mom, Nancy Guthrie. Ed, 70, reflected on Elizabeth\u2019s 2002 abduction while explaining the importance of Nancy\u2019s family sharing public pleas for her safe return home during an interview on Fox & Friends on Thursday, February 5. \u201cWhat are the chances [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

She also aims for 10,000 steps a day through everyday activities. \u201cSo cleaning my house, walking my dog, stepping on the treadmill \u2026 however, I get 10,000 steps in a day, that\u2019s typically my goal,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

Smart admitted that sticking to a diet has been the hardest part of her transformation. \u201cI really enjoy food. I like food,\u201d she said. \u201cEating will always be, physically, mentally, the hardest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Smart Responds to Online Backlash About Bodybuilding<\/h2>\n

After Smart revealed her bodybuilding transformation on Instagram, she faced a wave of online criticism<\/a>. She later wrote that she feared being judged as \u201cunworthy to continue work as an advocate for all survivors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her fellow competitors quickly came to her defense. Cowdell told Us<\/em> she was \u201cfrustrated with the backlash\u201d Smart received.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is getting quite a bit of hate and doesn\u2019t deserve to be a victim,\u201d Cowdell said. \u201cThis is a sport that people work so hard for and it takes a lot of discipline and strength for a normal person let alone someone who has gone through such trauma and pain. I applaud her for taking back her body and presenting it with such confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Competitor Jimmy Rex<\/strong>, who briefly met Smart years earlier at a game night in Provo, Utah, echoed that sentiment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just thought it was really cool,\u201d Rex told Us<\/em>. \u201cI know how much like doing the show helps you, just for self confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

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