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Beth Horn is one of the 12 new "American Gladiators" featured in a pumped-up revival of the '90s TV series by the same name.

Read below for an interesting article By Courtney Greve.

Another former Catholic schoolgirl from Chicago is about to burst onto the national stage.

But this fierce, buxom blond has a reason for wearing a scanty spandex getup.

Beth Horn is one of the 12 new "American Gladiators" featured in a pumped-up revival of the '90s TV series by the same name. It once again features amateur athletes battling each other and the show's signature "warriors" in contests of strength and agility.

The 31-year-old personal trainer brawls in the arena as "Venom" because she is "sweet and friendly on the outside, yet I will strike at any given moment."

"I definitely have a fierce side," she said.

I'll admit I found the original version of "AG" a bit cheesy for my tastes, sort of like He-Man and She-Ra action figures come to life, but I'm always ready to support a plaid skirt alumna.

So back to Horn's skin-tight costume, another signature of the series.

"We had many, many fittings," she said laughing. "They kept making this lower, that higher. It had to fit just right."

Horn comes by her exhibitionism naturally. As a former gymnast and the 2000 U.S. Fitness Champion, Horn said she's comfortable in the snug attire. She's 5 feet 8 inches, weighs in at 142 pounds and is toned from head to toe.

Still, the "AG" challenges required a longer adjustment period.

"Joust? Pyramid? Wrestling? It was all new to me," she said. "But if you're a good athlete, you catch on."

Horn, 31, is a native North Sider who claims to be the personal trainer of some high profile clients from the Southland, although she declined to share any names.

She graduated from the all-girls Resurrection High School, studied exercise physiology at Ball State University and had dreams of attending medical school before getting bitten by the body building bug.

She was quickly hired as a contract athlete for Weider Publications, which publishes magazines including "Flex," "Men's Fitness" and "Shape."

"I was paid to stay in shape, travel around the world and promote health and fitness," she said. "It was the right path."

Horn revealed her workout and diet regimen in a 2004 book called, "The Natural Way."

"I believe in being lean, strong and feminine," she said. "If you take care of your body, you feel good on the inside."

The best perk to being on the new "Gladiators" show is it provides an ideal platform for promoting exercise and overall health, she said.

"I'm not doing fitness competitions together and I can only hope this show gets picked up for a second season," she said. "But I will always work to help people love their bodies and change for the better."

As for "AG," it's the same format as the original syndicated version with athletic challenges such as the aforementioned joust, which now takes place 10 feet above a water tank.

"This time around takes the competition to the next level," Horn said. "It's true competition, true battle. We felt like rock stars (because) the lights were so bright and everything was so big. I always wanted to do something grand like this."

The folks at the peacock network forbade Horn from divulging any information about her bouts. You'll have to tune to NBC-TV (Channel 5) for tonight's two-hour premiere at 8 p.m., and the subsequent eight episodes, to find out.

Never enough girl power

Kendall Coyne is the shortest (by 4 inches) and slimmest (by 15 pounds) member of the 2008 U.S. Women's National Under-18 Hockey Team.

The 15-year-old from Palos Heights also is one of the youngest players to make the elite team.

But if you think Kendall, a Sandburg High School sophomore, is the underdog player, think again. Last year, the wunderkind forward scored 10 goals to lead her Team Illinois to a national title.

Team USA will compete this week in Calgary against Russia, Switzerland and Sweden in the inaugural International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship.

The roster was based on performance during an invite-only camp over the holidays at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Know a Southlander with bragging rights? Let me know.

Know more about Beth Horn (from American Gladiator Blog):

Birth Name: Beth Ann Horn

Born: December 2, 1976

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois

Fun Facts

* She is 5′ 8″ Tall & weighs 135 lbs
* Favorite Food is Chinese
* Attended Ball State University for Two Years
* Author of Book “The Natural Way”
* IFBB Pro
* Won National Fitness Championships in 2000

Movie Roles and Appearances

Television Roles and Appearances

* American Gladiators (2008) - Venom