
One of the brightest stars of the legendary 1990s sports entertainment show Gladiators has died. Lize Van der Walt was 60 years old. Born in South Africa, Van der Walt grew up in Switzerland, quickly distinguishing herself as a breakout runner and climber. After moving to the United Kingdom and finding work as a personal trainer, her friends encouraged her to try out for Gladiators, a TV show centered around physical prowess and athletic fortitude. Van der Walt, who was called Gold on the program, became a sensation in her 1997 debut. However, persistent injuries kept her sidelined. She eventually left the show and moved back to South Africa to become an artist and psychosocial coach. But that wouldn’t be the end of Van der Walt’s TV career. She returned to the Gladiators Arena in 2000, which representatives from the show called a “proud full-circle moment.” Years later, in 2013, Van der Walt was diagnosed with cancer. She died this past Sunday. Following her death, the BBC thanked her for the memories. “You will always be part of Gladiators history,” the broadcaster wrote in a statement.



















