Soccer Aid star Livi Sheldon's life as Gladiators' Diamond, fitness guru fiance and football past
Soccer Aid star Livi Sheldon's life as Gladiators' Diamond, fitness guru fiance and football past
'Diamond' is out for revenge as she takes to the pitch at Old Trafford for this year's Soccer Aid
Sheldon soared to fame on Gladiators but dreamt of becoming a professional footballer
Soccer Aid is back for 2026 with a host of famous faces from the world of sport, music and entertainment taking to the Old Trafford pitch to raise money for UNICEF.
After winning the title for the first time in eight years last time out, England are looking to defend their crown, with the likes of Tom Grennan, Louis Tomlinson and Dame Denise Lewis joining forces with football legends including Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville for the Three Lions.
However, they are up against an impressive World XI side that has called in a host of stars from the beautiful game, including Rivaldo, Carlos Tevez, Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic and Leonardo Bonucci.
The football stars will be joined by famous faces like Tony Bellew, Martin Compston, Bryan Habana, Richard Gadd and Gorka Marquez.
Also joining the World XI is Livi Sheldon - perhaps better known to viewers as Diamond from the hit BBC reboot of Gladiators.
The 31-year-old, who made her Soccer Aid debut last year, is out for revenge to help her team steal back the title from England and is well-equipped to do so, having been a keen footballer since an early age.
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Having initially played for a boys' side she eventually moved over to a girls' team, where she was captain for many years.
Sheldon also played for her local team Worcester City Ladies as a midfielder and was again named skipper, before later leaving football behind and moving into bodybuilding and personal training.
"I played from the age of six, up until around the time I was at college - around 18, 19," she told Forbes last year, as she revealed she had trained with Worcester City again after being called in to play at Soccer Aid.
"Then I actually had another little stint for a couple of years when I was 23 or 24. And then I didn't kick a ball until I got asked to play Soccer Aid!"
"It's been a while but I've been practising lots and Worcester City have been really helpful with letting me train with them again."
She added: "I would absolutely have loved to be a professional footballer. The opportunities the girls have now...
"At Worcester City, they have a development squad there now which bring young girls and boys up from the age of six, and bring them through the different age groups.
"The pathways they have there for different teams is just incredible so I think if I was young Liv playing now, I think she may have well been a professional footballer."
After starting weight training aged 18, the 6ft star can now squat a huge 120kg, while her bodybuilding career saw her reach the final of the 'England Toned Figure' competition.
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She now lives in Worcester with her fiancé Grant Gibbs, with the pair both working as online personal trainers.
Gibbs describes himself as a "body transformation and mindset coach", while Sheldon runs her own training app called LivFitness.
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