Elizabeth Smart is proving that winning does not always mean standing at the top of a bodybuilding leaderboard. After competing at another major bodybuilding competition, the 38-year-old advocate and author openly acknowledged that she finished at the bottom of both divisions she entered — but she refused to let the results define the value of her achievement.
Elizabeth Smart Refuses to Let the Rankings Define Her
Smart competed at the North American Championships in Pittsburgh, entering the Masters 35+ category and Open Class D, a height-based division. She revealed that she placed at the bottom of both classes, but said she had an enjoyable experience and remained grateful for the opportunity to compete.
Rather than hiding the result, Elizabeth Smart celebrated the progress she believed she had made since her previous appearances. She said her physique and stage presence had improved and praised her coach, her best friend who competed alongside her, and the supporters who came to cheer her on. Her message was less about defeating other competitors and more about proving something to herself.
Elizabeth Smart Makes Bodybuilding About Courage, Not Just Trophies
The latest bodybuilding competition is another chapter in a fitness journey Smart began publicly embracing earlier this year. In April, she revealed that she had already competed several times and described the experience as difficult, challenging and empowering. At the Wasatch Warrior competition in April, she earned first place in the Fit Model Novice category, along with second in Class D and third in Masters 35+.
For Smart, bodybuilding has also represented an opportunity to challenge fears surrounding judgment and body image. She previously explained that appearing onstage in a bikini felt extremely vulnerable, but she wanted to celebrate her body rather than feel ashamed of it. Her latest comments continue that message, emphasizing the discipline and bravery required simply to step onto the stage and pursue a difficult personal goal.
Smart’s latest result may not have produced a trophy, but her response suggests she is measuring success differently. For someone determined to keep trying new challenges, improving and refusing to give up, finishing at the bottom of a competition has not stopped the journey.
[…] […]