Elizabeth Smart’s fitness coach, Robyn Maher, is sharing the secrets behind her bodybuilding competition success.
“She followed a plan, a healthy meal plan, all this time,” Maher shared in an interview with Extra published on Wednesday, April 22. “And then weight training most days of the week. So typically, five to six days a week focus on specific muscle groups. That’s what you’re judged on when you get up on stage. She did really well at this last competition.”
Smart, 38, surprised some followers on Tuesday, April 21, when she revealed via social media that she has been competing in bodybuilding competitions.
In her latest Instagram post, the child safety activist shared a photo of herself onstage in a bikini.
“This was a big change for me, it was hard, it pushed me, challenged me not to give up,” Smart wrote via Instagram. “I am so proud of myself for doing this. I am so proud of my body, and I want to celebrate it.”
Maher was quick to praise her client and friend for earning a 1st place trophy. She also celebrated the progress Smart has made in recent months.
“She’s improved. She’s gone through a transformation,” Maher shared. “And, you know, she didn’t get any top award just because she’s Elizabeth Smart. Like, it was fair and square.”
According to Maher, Smart’s first competition was one year ago in Salt Lake City. She competed under her married name because “she wasn’t looking for any attention.”
Over time, Smart made “great progress with her physique” and became stronger.
“This woman’s been through everything and came out on top, but physically, she can lift some heavy, heavy weight, which is awesome,” Maher shared. “We set new goals for her. She competed last year again, two times, did a national level competition, and then now here again.”
Smart was kidnapped from her bedroom in June 2002 when she was 14 years old. After more than nine months of captivity, during which time she was subjected to physical, sexual and psychological abuse, police rescued Smart.
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Since her highly publicized rescue, Smart has become an advocate for survivors, shared her story publicly in two best-selling books and opened up about the horror she endured in Netflix’s 2026 documentary Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart.
Maher is excited that Smart wanted to speak out about her bodybuilding journey, partly because she feels proud of what she accomplished in the health and fitness space.
“Her legs are super strong. She’s run all these marathons. That woman can squat a lot of weight,” Maher shared. “I keep calling her fitness Barbie. That’s my nickname for her.”
