Shelley Beattie
Encyclopedia
Shelley Beattie was a professional female bodybuilder
and actress.
At the peak of her competitive career as a professional bodybuilder Beattie managed to reach the top-three at the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia contests, the two most prestigious shows for female professional bodybuilders. She was also well-known for having been one of the few deaf professional female bodybuilders in the world, making the cover of DeafLife magazine twice in the '90s. After her retirement she joined the Grinder on America3's America's Cup team and managed to reach second place in such competition in 1994 and again in 1995.
, California
. At the age of three, Beattie suffered a hearing loss from an aspirin overdose. Her peers' misunderstandings and lack of education about people who are deaf led to trouble socializing. Since she could only understand her classmates if they were facing her, she had difficulty communicating with her classmates, who assumed she was mentally disadvantaged and rejected her. Beattie became a loner and began to use sports to deal with her frustrations and lack of social life. She also learned sign language and had several operations and speech therapy to improve her ability to communicate.
In school, Beattie began to compete in track and field, including Heptathlon
, Cross Country
, Hurdling
, and 400 meter sprints
. A gifted athlete, she was a natural in all these events. Her specialty was the low hurdle, where she set school records. As a standout in track and field, Beattie enjoyed the competition. Her hearing loss was not a factor when she was running. Beattie began lifting weights at 14 to improve her time in the hurdles and 400s. She wanted to compete against the boys since she was so much better than the girls on her team. Weight lifting was also a way for Beattie to rebel. She wanted to stand out from the other girls, and knew that weight lifting would allow her to achieve this. She first began weight training in her high school's small weight room, and made quick gains. By the age of 15, she was seeing the results of her time in the gym.
At the age of 16, she tripped over a hurdle and damaged her ankle. Beattie believed the injury would prevent her from continuing to compete in track. Her family life, which was characterized by instability, added to her anxiety and frustration, leading to an array of personal problems. She found that weight lifting helped her cope with her situation.
Beattie attended Western Oregon State College in Monmouth
from 1984 to 1988. There, she focused on weight training and power lifting to help her deal with her emotional challenges, as well as to help her heal her body. She graduated in 1988, having obtained a degree in Child Psychology and Special Education
. While at Western, Beattie also studied Jazz dance and choreography, and joined a dance company. She found choreography and dance helped her to both control and express her emotions. During this time, Beattie also began to compete as an amateur in bodybuilding competitions. She entered her first competition, the Portland Rose Cup Novice, at 124 pounds, and finished 4th in the heavyweight class. Following this experience, Beattie decided a career as a professional bodybuilder was for her.
Beattie continued to compete regularly through the late 1980s, reaching the top five of every amateur competition she entered, and soon began to win every amateur show she competed in. She soon developed a friendly rivalry with Nikki Fuller
, to whom she many times finished second at the amateur level. But this changed when Beattie teamed up with Oregon State exercise and physiology graduate Aaron Shelley in 1989. With him, she made tremendous progress and became a transformed bodybuilder in 1990. With improvements in her diet and training, she managed to take the overall title at the 1990 NPC Emerald Cup, the Pacific Coast Championships, and earned her pro card in bodybuilding when, at age 22, she won the overall title at the 1990 NPC
USA Championship.
Afterwards Beattie had a very demanding schedule. Weight training at a professional level, coupled with working two jobs (she was a group home counselor for developmentally delayed teenagers) left her with little time or energy. She scheduled her workouts around her jobs. When she received sponsorship by a major fitness company, she had the financial stability to quit one job and follow a more normal training schedule.
During her competitive days as a professional she competed at a height of 5 in 7 in (1.7 m) in a body weight of around 144 pounds (65.3 kg) and soon became known for her great genetics as well as her graceful and artistic presentation while competing. Beattie credited the genetics of her athletic family for her physical abilities: her mother is a 6 feet (1.8 m) athlete, while her sister is a 5 in 10 in (1.78 m), 180 pounds (81.6 kg) basketball player at Portland State University
. After winning the 1990 NPC USA and turning pro she found herself in some problems with the politics of the bodybuilding federation known as the IFBB
; she was unable to compete at the 1990 Ms. Olympia after her USA victory. She also was unhappy when some contest promises were not fulfilled. Beattie said, "Certain benefits and reimbursements from the USA that I was supposed to receive have never happened. I have made the proper people aware of this situation, so I'm hoping that one day they will fulfill their obligations." After missing the 1990 Ms. Olympia she competed for the first time as a professional at the 1991 Ms. International
where she finished 3rd. The same year she reached 7th at Ms. Olympia
. The next year, 1992, she added more poise and grace to her physique and presentation and managed to finish 3rd at Ms. Olympia, her highest professional bodybuilding achievement.
She retired from bodybuilding competition after placing 7th in the 1993 Ms. Olympia contest. Retirement from bodybuilding didn't bring and end to her athletic endeavors, though. Beattie competed as a grinder on the America³
sailing team (the first all-women's America's Cup
team). Grinders alternate between periods of inactivity and grueling physical work during each sail hoist, tack, and gybe. They require tremendous strength as they operate the winches that reel in the sheets and halyards.
During the early 1990s, Beattie also joined the American Gladiators
TV show as "Siren", performing in 44 episodes between 1992 and 1997. Because she was deaf, she received visual cues from referee Larry Thompson as well as from fellow Gladiator, Salina "Elektra" Bartunek, while competing. Spectators would wave their hands in the air or stomp their feet, rather than applaud, to acknowledge her performances.
She was in a long term relationship to John Romano, a well-known columnist for the magazine Muscular Development, for six years.
Until her death, Beattie lived on a farm east of Salem
, Oregon, with her partner, Julie Moisa, and worked with people with physical impairments. She also made drums and jewelry, and worked as a personal trainer.
, attempted suicide in Portland, Oregon on February 13, 2008 and died February 16, 2008 as a result of hanging herself.
Shelley Beattie was in the hospital for depression for six weeks when she hanged herself. She lived for four days but never regained consciousness.
Female bodybuilding
Female bodybuilding is the female component of competitive bodybuilding. It began in the late 1970s when women began to take part in bodybuilding competitions.-Beginnings:...
and actress.
At the peak of her competitive career as a professional bodybuilder Beattie managed to reach the top-three at the Ms. International and Ms. Olympia contests, the two most prestigious shows for female professional bodybuilders. She was also well-known for having been one of the few deaf professional female bodybuilders in the world, making the cover of DeafLife magazine twice in the '90s. After her retirement she joined the Grinder on America3's America's Cup team and managed to reach second place in such competition in 1994 and again in 1995.
Biography
Shelley Ann Beattie was born in Orange CountyOrange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. At the age of three, Beattie suffered a hearing loss from an aspirin overdose. Her peers' misunderstandings and lack of education about people who are deaf led to trouble socializing. Since she could only understand her classmates if they were facing her, she had difficulty communicating with her classmates, who assumed she was mentally disadvantaged and rejected her. Beattie became a loner and began to use sports to deal with her frustrations and lack of social life. She also learned sign language and had several operations and speech therapy to improve her ability to communicate.
In school, Beattie began to compete in track and field, including Heptathlon
Heptathlon
A heptathlon is a track and field athletics combined events contest made up of seven events. The name derives from the Greek hepta and athlon . A competitor in a heptathlon is referred to as a heptathlete.-Women's Heptathlon:...
, Cross Country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, Hurdling
Hurdling
Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women...
, and 400 meter sprints
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
. A gifted athlete, she was a natural in all these events. Her specialty was the low hurdle, where she set school records. As a standout in track and field, Beattie enjoyed the competition. Her hearing loss was not a factor when she was running. Beattie began lifting weights at 14 to improve her time in the hurdles and 400s. She wanted to compete against the boys since she was so much better than the girls on her team. Weight lifting was also a way for Beattie to rebel. She wanted to stand out from the other girls, and knew that weight lifting would allow her to achieve this. She first began weight training in her high school's small weight room, and made quick gains. By the age of 15, she was seeing the results of her time in the gym.
At the age of 16, she tripped over a hurdle and damaged her ankle. Beattie believed the injury would prevent her from continuing to compete in track. Her family life, which was characterized by instability, added to her anxiety and frustration, leading to an array of personal problems. She found that weight lifting helped her cope with her situation.
Beattie attended Western Oregon State College in Monmouth
Monmouth, Oregon
- History :Monmouth was settled in 1853 by a group of pioneers who made a point of allocating to build both a city and a "college under the auspices of the Christian Church" and proceeds from the sale of these lands were used to found Monmouth University. By the early 1880s the college fell on...
from 1984 to 1988. There, she focused on weight training and power lifting to help her deal with her emotional challenges, as well as to help her heal her body. She graduated in 1988, having obtained a degree in Child Psychology and Special Education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
. While at Western, Beattie also studied Jazz dance and choreography, and joined a dance company. She found choreography and dance helped her to both control and express her emotions. During this time, Beattie also began to compete as an amateur in bodybuilding competitions. She entered her first competition, the Portland Rose Cup Novice, at 124 pounds, and finished 4th in the heavyweight class. Following this experience, Beattie decided a career as a professional bodybuilder was for her.
Beattie continued to compete regularly through the late 1980s, reaching the top five of every amateur competition she entered, and soon began to win every amateur show she competed in. She soon developed a friendly rivalry with Nikki Fuller
Nikki Fuller
Nikki Fuller is an American professional female bodybuilder and actress. At her largest, Fuller weighed and her biceps measured...
, to whom she many times finished second at the amateur level. But this changed when Beattie teamed up with Oregon State exercise and physiology graduate Aaron Shelley in 1989. With him, she made tremendous progress and became a transformed bodybuilder in 1990. With improvements in her diet and training, she managed to take the overall title at the 1990 NPC Emerald Cup, the Pacific Coast Championships, and earned her pro card in bodybuilding when, at age 22, she won the overall title at the 1990 NPC
National Physique Committee
The National Physique Committee is the largest amateur bodybuilding organization in the United States. Amateur bodybuilders compete in various competitions from local to national competitions sanctioned by the NPC...
USA Championship.
Afterwards Beattie had a very demanding schedule. Weight training at a professional level, coupled with working two jobs (she was a group home counselor for developmentally delayed teenagers) left her with little time or energy. She scheduled her workouts around her jobs. When she received sponsorship by a major fitness company, she had the financial stability to quit one job and follow a more normal training schedule.
During her competitive days as a professional she competed at a height of 5 in 7 in (1.7 m) in a body weight of around 144 pounds (65.3 kg) and soon became known for her great genetics as well as her graceful and artistic presentation while competing. Beattie credited the genetics of her athletic family for her physical abilities: her mother is a 6 feet (1.8 m) athlete, while her sister is a 5 in 10 in (1.78 m), 180 pounds (81.6 kg) basketball player at Portland State University
Portland State University
Portland State University is a public state urban university located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1946, it has the largest overall enrollment of any university in the state of Oregon, including undergraduate and graduate students. It is also the only public university in...
. After winning the 1990 NPC USA and turning pro she found herself in some problems with the politics of the bodybuilding federation known as the IFBB
International Federation of BodyBuilders
The International Federation of BodyBuilders is a competitive bodybuilding organization founded in 1946 by brothers Ben and Joe Weider and is the highest level of competitive bodybuilding in the world. Currently, the IFBB consists of seven different sub-divisions for different competitors ,...
; she was unable to compete at the 1990 Ms. Olympia after her USA victory. She also was unhappy when some contest promises were not fulfilled. Beattie said, "Certain benefits and reimbursements from the USA that I was supposed to receive have never happened. I have made the proper people aware of this situation, so I'm hoping that one day they will fulfill their obligations." After missing the 1990 Ms. Olympia she competed for the first time as a professional at the 1991 Ms. International
Ms. International
Ms. International is a contest of professional female bodybuilding, organized by the International Federation of BodyBuilders . "The Ms. International" is generally considered to be the second-most prestigious competition for female bodybuilders . It was first held in 1986, and has been held...
where she finished 3rd. The same year she reached 7th at Ms. Olympia
Ms. Olympia
Ms. Olympia is the title given to the winner of the women's bodybuilding portion of Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilders . It was first held in 1980, and since 2000 it has been held at the same...
. The next year, 1992, she added more poise and grace to her physique and presentation and managed to finish 3rd at Ms. Olympia, her highest professional bodybuilding achievement.
She retired from bodybuilding competition after placing 7th in the 1993 Ms. Olympia contest. Retirement from bodybuilding didn't bring and end to her athletic endeavors, though. Beattie competed as a grinder on the America³
America³
America is the name of both a racing yacht and syndicate that vied for the America's Cup in 1992 and 1995.-1992 Cup victory:The program was operated by Bill Koch and Harry "Buddy" Melges in the 1992 America's Cup...
sailing team (the first all-women's America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
team). Grinders alternate between periods of inactivity and grueling physical work during each sail hoist, tack, and gybe. They require tremendous strength as they operate the winches that reel in the sheets and halyards.
During the early 1990s, Beattie also joined the American Gladiators
American Gladiators
American Gladiators is an American competition television program that aired in syndication from September 1989 to May 1996. The series matched a cast of amateur athletes against each other, as well as against the show's own gladiators, in contests of strength and agility.The concept was created by...
TV show as "Siren", performing in 44 episodes between 1992 and 1997. Because she was deaf, she received visual cues from referee Larry Thompson as well as from fellow Gladiator, Salina "Elektra" Bartunek, while competing. Spectators would wave their hands in the air or stomp their feet, rather than applaud, to acknowledge her performances.
She was in a long term relationship to John Romano, a well-known columnist for the magazine Muscular Development, for six years.
Until her death, Beattie lived on a farm east of Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, Oregon, with her partner, Julie Moisa, and worked with people with physical impairments. She also made drums and jewelry, and worked as a personal trainer.
Death
Shelley Beattie, who had long battled bipolar disorderBipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
, attempted suicide in Portland, Oregon on February 13, 2008 and died February 16, 2008 as a result of hanging herself.
Shelley Beattie was in the hospital for depression for six weeks when she hanged herself. She lived for four days but never regained consciousness.
Filmography
- American Gladiators (TV Series) - Siren (1992–1996)
- Hot Shots! Part DeuxHot Shots! Part DeuxHot Shots! Part Deux is a 1993 comedy/parody film, and a sequel to the 1991 comedy Hot Shots!.Directed again by Jim Abrahams, the film stars Charlie Sheen, Lloyd Bridges, Valeria Golino, Richard Crenna, Brenda Bakke, Miguel Ferrer, Rowan Atkinson, and Jerry Haleva...
(1993) - Siren
Contest history
- 1986 - Portland Rose Cup Novice 4th (HW)
- 1987 - Collegiate Emerald Empire 1st (HW)
- 1987 - Portland Rose Cup Novice 3rd (HW)
- 1988 - Portland Rose Cup Novice 3rd (HW)
- 1988 - Oregon Championships 3rd (HW)
- 1989 - Western Oregon Championships 1st (HW)
- 1989 - Collegiate Emerald Empire 1st (HW)
- 1989 - Vancouver Natural Championships 1st (HW)
- 1989 - Portland Rose Cup Novice 1st (HW)
- 1989 - NPC Emerald Cup 2nd (HW)
- 1989 - Pacific Coast Championships 2nd (HW)
- 1990 - NPC Emerald Cup - 1st (HW & Overall)
- 1990 - NPC USA Championship - 1st (HW & Overall)
- 1991 - IFBB Ms. International - 3rd
- 1991 - IFBB Ms. Olympia - 7th
- 1992 - IFBB Ms. International - 7th
- 1992 - IFBB Ms. Olympia - 3rd
- 1993 - IFBB Ms. International - 9th
- 1993 - IFBB Ms. Olympia - 7th
Other Competitions
- 1994 Grinder on America3 America's Cup team - 2nd
- 1995 Grinder on America3 America's Cup team - 2nd
Magazine covers
- December 1990 - MuscleMag International
- July 1991 - DeafLife Volume IV, Number 1
- January 1991 - NPC News
- December 1992 - DeafLife Volume V, Number 6
- March 1993 - Female Bodybuilding
- August 1993 - Muscular Development
- December 1993 - Iron ManIron Man (magazine)Iron Man Magazine is a publication which discusses bodybuilding, weightlifting and powerlifting. It was founded in 1936 by two Alliance, Nebraska natives, Peary Rader and his wife, Mabel Rader.-History:...
- February 1994 - Muscular Development
- September 1994 - Muscular Development
- November 1994 - Women's Physique WorldWomen's Physique WorldWomen's Physique World is a magazine covering female bodybuilding and fitness and figure competition, published since 1984.The first issue was dated Fall, 1984, and featured Lori Walkup on the cover...
- January 1998 - Muscular Development