Former Gladiators star Lightning left fans stunned as she showed off her age-defying figure on Thursday, over 30-years after she sH๏τ to fame on the BBC show. 

Kim Betts, 53, trained as a gymnast and bodybuilder before becoming the only female Gladiator to appear throughout the initial run.

Proving exercise is clearly still a pᴀssion of hers, she took to Instagram with a snap as she displayed her incredible abs while posing for a before and after sH๏τ from her 90s heyday. 

Kim looked incredible in a skimpy grey top and joggers while flaunting her six-pack and pieced belly ʙuттon.

But she told her thousands of followers that achieving such a figure is ‘never about age’ and is more about finding ‘balance’ in life.

Writing:: ‘It’s never been about age… Health is your wealth. Balance of life is key.’

Former Gladiators star Lightning left fans stunned as she showed off her age-defying figure on Thursday, over 30-years after she sH๏τ to fame on the BBC show 

Kim Betts, 53, trained as a gymnast and bodybuilder before becoming the only female Gladiator to appear throughout the initial run (pictured 1992) 

Fans rushed to the comments writing: ‘Wow you look amazing Kim’: ‘Fabulous’: ‘Just beautiful then and now’: ‘Any chance of you ageing like the rest of us??’: ‘Gorgeous as always’: ‘Like a fine wine, just gets better and better with age’: ‘You look better now then when you were younger stringer and fitter’: ‘Iconic then and now’.

It comes after Kim said how grateful she was for her time on the show because it changed the lives of other people. 

Reminiscing about her time on the show, she said on This Morning: ‘It’s only now as well that I realise, and I still get lots of stories being sent to me saying, ‘you inspired me so much, you changed my life, you motivated me,’ and you think, ‘wow’,’

‘It really was quite powerful, the message that it out across and how it did inspire and change people’s lives.’ only now as well that I realise, and I still get lots of stories being sent to me saying, ‘you inspired me so much, you changed my life, you motivated me,’ and you think, ‘wow’, it really was quite powerful, the message that it out across and how it did inspire and change people’s lives’.

The second series of the rebooted Gladiators returns on Saturday and fans of the BBC show will be excited to know that there are two new Gladiators set to terrorise the brave contenders for the upcoming season. 

The likes of Giant, Legend, Fire, Nitro, Diamond, Fury, Steel, Comet, Bionic, Electro, Phantom, Viper and Athena will be back on our screens this weekend. 

The gang will be joined by newbies Cyclone and Hammer. 

Cyclone, 23, whose real name is Lystus Ebosele, has said: ‘I’ve got the look, I’ve got the energy and I’ve got the muscles.’ 

Kim looked incredible in a skimpy grey top and joggers while flaunting her six-pack and pieced belly ʙuттon 

She told her thousands of followers that achieving such a figure is ‘never about age’ and is more about finding ‘balance’ in life. 

Fans rushed to the comments writing: ‘Wow you look amazing Kim’: ‘Fabulous’: ‘Just beautiful then and now’

The star is a Irish powerlifter who boasts an incredible 97.5k followers on Instagram. 

She regularly shares videos from her workouts, as well as glam sH๏τs on her profile. 

BBC Gladiators official Instagram page shared a snap of her promo sH๏τ with the caption: ‘There’s a Cyclone coming… 

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‘Cyclone is a whirlwind of destruction that will blow away the compeтιтion. Strong, determined and with awesome power, nothing will get in her way.’ 

Many rushed to the comments section to share the love. 

One said: ‘She is PHENOMENAL.’

Another chimed in: ‘What a babe!!!’

‘She looks like she means business,’ a third added. 

Meanwhile Tom Wilson, from Nottingham, has joined the cast as Hammer. 

The 32-year-old is a world rowing champion ready to show everyone what he’s made of. 

Gladiator’s BBC Instagram page shared: ‘RAAARGH!

‘Feel the unstoppable force of Hammer, on a mission to crush anything and anyone in his path. 

‘Hammer is a combination of height, strength and speed, ready to shake the arena to its foundations… Contenders, beware!’

His personal Instagram bio states that he’s a personal trainer and gold medal British Champion for rowing. 

Irish powerlifter Cyclone will be showing off their strength in the second series 

Hammer AKA Tom Wilson is another newbie to join the Gladiator gang 

Gladiators premiered back in 1992. 

The game show, which was originally presented by Ulrika Jonsson, John Fashanu and Jeremy Guscott, had 13 successful series. 

The programme aired until 2000.  

Gladiators did return on Sky One in 2008 for one year, and was presented by Ian Wright, Kirsty Gallacher and Caroline Flack. 

Fans were over the moon when a second revival was confirmed. 

Watch the new series of Gladiators this Saturday (January 18) on BBC One at 5:30pm.