Zoe Smith weightlifting, as part of Team GB at this year’s London Olympics has made her one of our Olympic heroes, for reals.

Zoe Smith Weightlifting

Eighteen year old Londoner, Zoe Smith, is due to represent weightlifting in the 58kg weight category on Monday. After being featured on BBC3 documentary ‘Girl Power: Going For Gold’ earlier this year, Zoe was attacked in a series of twitter messages by, “ignorant” internet trolls who said she looked like a, “bloke” and a “lesbian.”

Instead of shrugging it off, Zoe wrote a blog on the defensive. It was all about the, “close-minded, ignorant chauvinistic twerps,’ who criticised how she looks. The feisty weightlifter commented that she has never, “lifted weights in order to look hot,” for men and, “couldn’t give a toss,” if it made her more attractive.

She wrote:

“Most of the people that do think like this seem to be chauvinistic, pig-headed blokes who feel emasculated by the fact that we are stronger than them. Simple as that. It’s sad to see abuse from girls who labelled me ‘weird’ for my shape too. You’d think that young women around the same age as us would commend us.”

Discussing the resulting comments on her own blog, Zoe added, “To think people still think like this is laughable. We’re in 2012!” However, Zoe Smith has her own corner of support in her team, family and boyfriend.

Manager, Gab Stone, said he was, “Immensely proud,” of the way she had responded. “She is such a level-headed girl that it is sometimes hard to believe she is only 18,” he added.

“This sort of abuse is something we take really seriously and I think some other athletes her age would be really affected by it. But I think the way she has responded is absolutely brilliant.

“Zoe is absolutely not the stereotype weightlifter – as well as being very talented and hard working she’s a very pretty girl and incredibly intelligent.”

Both strong in physique and kick ass in mind, we can’t wait to see Zoe do us proud on Monday! Enjoy this video of Zoe Smith weightlifting:

See Ab Fab do the Olympics in The Wisdom of Jennifer Saunders…

Burlexe is a sensational London burlesque show inspired by the women who created the genre and perform the art. It fuses burlesque performance with storytelling, dancing with acting.

We look to influential and successful women as our inspiration and Zoe Smith Weightlifting is one such source.

Join us for the Burlexe show by booking your ticket.

(Photo via Press Association)