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