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Trotwood grad almost wins American Gladiators
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Dayton native ShaNay Norvell came one step away from winning "American Gladiators."
Norvell, a 1994 graduate of Trotwood-Madison High School, is the female runner-up on the NBC competition series. She finished second on the Sunday, Feb. 17, season finale to female champion Monica Carlson.
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"It was a phenomenal experience," Norvell said. "It was a show that I watched as a child, so it was very inspiring and very much an honor to be a part of something that I admired as an adolescent, and to know that I had a chance to really represent my family, to represent my home town and to be now a new role model for children who were in that same position that I was.
"So it was just multi-faceted and very rewarding."
Hosted by Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali, "American Gladiators" matches amateur athletes against one another and the show's "gladiators" in contests of strength, agility and endurance. It is a revival of the original syndicated series that ran from 1989-1996.
Norvell, 31, is a personal trainer and fitness competitor based in Atlanta, Ga. She was pleased to be an "American Gladiators" finalist.
"To know that out of over 30 contestants it was me and three other people to make it to the finals, it was definitely a huge accomplishment," Norvell said. "I felt very good to know that every time I pushed I was able to succeed.
"Even placing second I still felt great, because I knew based on the conditions and how everything was laid out that I really put forth my best effort, and that you could run it again another day and it may be a total different outcome."
Norvell's previous honors include 2007 Arnold Schwarzenegger International Fitness Champion, and 2006 and 2005 Ultimate Fitness Challenge Champion.
She has been featured in fitness magazines including "Muscle & Fitness," "Iron Man" and "Women's Tri Fitness."
At Trotwood-Madison, Norvell was a Varsity Cheerleading captain, Track & Field Captain State qualifier, Homecoming Queen, Student Government president and band member.
She is the daughter of Cynthia Mitchell and Richard Norvell of Trotwood, and sister of LaDawn and Delbert Hickman of Trotwood.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2419 or dlarsen@DaytonDailyNews.com.
