Gladiators star and athlete dies, aged 60

Lize van der Walt, best known as Gold on the 1990s series of Gladiators , has died, aged 60.

The trained athlete, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2013, died on Sunday (19 April).

Her death was announced by the show’s official social media page, reading: "We're deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Gladiators ' golden girl, Gold .”
Van der Walt was chosen from thousands of applicants to become one of the show's new Gladiators in 1997, and a tribute said she “quickly made her mark” despite having her appearances cut short due to a nagging injury.

“She showed incredible resilience and when she did compete, she proved that all that glistens truly was Gold,” the statement read.

South Africa-born Van der Walt, who grew up in Switzerland, received a gold medal for the 400m in 1987, when she was 21, and was also a keen adventurer.

She climbed Table Mountain in Cape Town before relocating to the UK in the 1990s.

While there, she worked as a personal trainer and, noticing her aptitude for fitness, van der Walt’s friends urged her to respond to an application looking for new Gladiators cast members.

The show’s new star made her debut on the sixth series and appeared in nine episodes.

Her entrance music was “Gold” by Spandau Ballet.

After leaving the show, van der Walt moved back to South Africa, where she pursued a successful career as an artist and also trained as a psychosocial coach.

The BBC added: “Our thoughts are with her son Michael, her family, friends and all who knew and loved her.

Thank you for the memories, Lize.

You will always be part of Gladiators history.”
At its peak, Gladiators – originally broadcast from 1992 to 2000 and presented by John Fashanu and Ulrika Jonsson – drew huge audiences to its Saturday evening ITV slot as the famous call of “Contenders Ready?

Gladiators Ready?” echoed across TV screens.

It made household names of stars including Trojan, Jet, Nightshade and Hunter.

It returned for a short-lived Sky reboot in 2008, presented by Ian Wright and Kirsty Gallacher, with Bradley Walsh and his son Barney presenting a new iteration currently airing on BBC One.

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