Elizabeth Smart, a child safety advocate and former kidnap victim, said bodybuilding is an empowering experience.
A small athlete becomes a hot topic in search of great power
Lucy is just like any other 9-year-old girl, except she can deadlift 180 pounds and has set three American records through the United States Powerlifting Organization.
Elizabeth Smart is making a profit.
The child safety advocate and former child abduction victim revealed in an Instagram photo posted on Tuesday, April 21, that she has started competing in bodybuilding competitions.
Smart acknowledged the shocking change in the caption.
“When I posted a photo of me on stage in a bikini on my Stories, it probably shocked a lot of people. I can understand the shock, because if you had asked me a few years ago if I would ever compete in a bodybuilding show, I would have said, ‘Absolutely not! Not in 100 years!'” Smart, 38, wrote.
Smart, who was only competing in her fourth contest, said she was nervous about sharing information because she was worried about being judged and not being taken seriously as an advocate.
“Last weekend I was struck by how eerily familiar these feelings and thoughts are for so many survivors,” she added. “We are more than just one topic, one idea, one label.”
She went on to celebrate her body’s transformation, saying, “It’s taken me through all the worst days, all the hellish experiences it’s given me. It’s given me the birth and care of three beautiful children. My body has supported me through all the challenges life throws at me, and I’m not ashamed of it.”
Smart’s kidnapping is one of the most publicized incidents in American history. The 14-year-old was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City, Utah, in June 2002. She spent nine months in “horrible” captivity before being rescued, where she was sexually abused by Brian David Mitchell, a man her family had previously hired for “chores.” Mitchell and his then-wife and co-defendant, Wanda Barzee, were arrested by law enforcement shortly after.
Mitchell was convicted of kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines “for the purpose of sexual activity.” He is currently serving a life sentence. Barzee pleaded guilty in 2009 but was released in 2018. Barzee was arrested again in 2025 after visiting multiple parks, which violates his status as a sex offender.
Since her rescue, Elizabeth Smart has become a child safety activist, founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, and written about her experiences. She lives in Utah with her husband and three children.
“I only wish that we all find the courage to pursue new experiences, goals, self-improvement, and most importantly, happiness,” she wrote.
Contributed by Amaris Oaks, USA TODAY
