'A dream come true' for Gladiators contender Keeva

A local gym owner, now through to the BBC Gladiators quarterfinals, says the experience has been a “dream come true.”

Keeva Neely, 24, from Swatragh, went to the iconic show's try-outs ‘never expecting anything to come of it’—but battled her way into the next stage of the competition in an episode that recently aired.

Keeva explained that she ‘wanted to shout from the rooftops’ when she got the call and credited her family for being a huge support throughout the process.

“When I found out I was going to be on the show, I wanted to shout from the rooftops, but I had to keep it quiet. I felt so grateful. It was so hard not being able to tell anybody, especially since I post so much of my daily life on social media. Even when I was away filming, I couldn’t tell my gym members where I was, which was tough!”.

“I did tell my family and a few close friends, as they got to be part of the crowd when I competed, and their support made it more magical for me. I could see my family in the arena. I always had them there for support, and I could hear their voices over everybody else’s. They didn’t care about the outcome—they were just so happy I had this opportunity.”

Although confident in her preparation, Keeva admitted feeling nervous before competing on the show, but she found ways to stay focused.

“I don’t think it matters how prepared or confident you are in your abilities—there will always be moments of self-doubt. I was nervous before each event, but I reminded myself this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s something I’ll talk about for the rest of my life.”

“I focused on saying positive things to myself. Even standing on the arena floor before an event, I was repeating affirmations in my head.”

She added: “I expected the crowd to be off-putting, but the audience support was unreal. I’m not used to that many people watching me but walking out and seeing all those people there for us, it made it so special. I was so grateful to make it into the next round."

Keeva’s love for fitness began as a teenager, and at just 21 years old, she opened Storm Energy, her own business in Swatragh.

ABOVE: Keeva in action in the gym.  Photo: Tertia Neely @_stormshoots

“I’ve always been into fitness from my early teens onwards. I used to work as a gym receptionist, and I noticed the positive impact exercise had on the members passing through each day. I decided at that point, ‘that is the kind of person I want to be for someone’.”

“Although I was only 21 when I set up my gym, I would say I’m mature for my age. When I tell people how old I am, they’re shocked. But the opportunity came up, and honestly, it was a now-or-never scenario. I decided to take the leap and take each day as a it came. I have built a business out of something I love to do, and I am so grateful for my members. I still can’t believe I have my own place.  It has been the best few years of my life.”

Offering advice to those feeling overwhelmed by the gym environment, the fitness expert recommended 'giving it a go for three weeks' to see how it can shift their mentality.

“Gyms can feel intimidating, which can put people off, but there’s nothing better than overcoming that and making it part of your routine. It takes three weeks to form a habit. If you want to try, give it those three weeks. If you don’t like it, that’s fair enough, but I’d always say give it a go—you’d be surprised by the progress you can make."

“Nine times out of ten, especially with my gym members, they absolutely love it. The difference I’ve seen in people from when they start to now is unbelievable. It can be hard at first—honestly, it would be hard for me to pick up a new habit—but if I wanted to make a change, I’d stick with it for those three weeks to see how I get on.

One of five sisters, Keeva highlights her younger sister Tertia as an example of how habits can change.

“I always use my sister Tertia as an example of how habits can change over time. If you’d known her three years ago, you wouldn’t believe the progress she’s made.  Tertia now sees training as a habit, rather than a chore. She was one of those people you couldn’t have paid to go to the gym, but now she goes at least five times a week. She’s always asking me for tips and tricks, and I absolutely love that. If I can be a role model to someone—and that someone be my sister—that’s a win for me… although she might not like to admit it!”

You can catch up on Keeva’s first round performance on BBC iPlayer.