Athlete – Track and Field/Bodybuilding
Victoria Gay was born in Lexington in 1961. She attended Lexington Jr. High School before becoming a track and field champion in high school for the Bryan Station Defenders, all with God’s blessings and the help and support of Coaches Reba and Paul Woodall. As a sophomore, Victoria was second in the KHSAA state title in discus throwing. In her junior and senior years, she won the top title in throwing the discus, and in her senior year she also won the state title in the shot put, setting a new state record.
Victoria was instrumental in the Girls Track Team winning the state team championships all three years she competed. (1977, 78, 79). During her high school years, she was also the recipient of the President’s Award for Academic and Athletics. Her high school achievements, at the age of 16, earned her a Track and Field scholarship to Western Kentucky University in 1979, where she planned to major in physical education. Victoria changed plans in 1981 when she transferred to Texas Southern University and changed her major to petroleum technology.
In 1984, Victoria was selected to compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials. While preparing for the trials, she coupled her training with bodybuilding and became a three-time overall winner in Champion Female Bodybuilding. Her Championships propelled her to become part of the original American Gladiators TV show, on which she soon became known as “Jazz.” Her road to “Jazz” began in 1993 when she attended a contestant tryout and the producers asked her to become a Gladiator. Victoria, or Jazz, was soon regarded by announcers, contenders, and other Gladiators as the strongest and most athletic. She excelled in and was the top Gladiator in most of the show’s signature events and was featured in “Sports Illustrated” and numerous other sports and fitness publications.
Determined not to be one dimensional in her career, Victoria also worked for a leading oil and gas company called Hill Petroleum, which is now called Valero. She now works for Lubrizol, a Berkshire Hathaway corporation, as an analyst. Her educational background, varied skills, and many interests have given her opportunities to experience a wide range of career fields. Her motto is “If you don’t know, then learn.” Victoria has been an engineer technician for Traffic and Transportation in traffic forecasting in Houston, Texas, an emergency care attendant, chemical fire fighter, licensed massage therapist, certified personal trainer, an owner in hardware and software distributing, a real estate agent for Trillionaire Assets, a loan officer, and an insurance agent with Nationwide. Her accomplishments also include being a celebrity spokesperson for the Children’s Miracle Network. Victoria has received the Trailblazer Award in Women’s Sports, Texas Southern University President Athletic Award with the highest academic achievement, a Proclamation from the state of Kentucky, and being named a Kentucky Colonel.
Victoria considers herself as having been very blessed to excel in many career endeavors. However, saving the best but certainly not the last, her son, Barry Wayne Bowman Jr., grandchildren Bari, Kayla, Duke, and Blake, and her great-grandchildren are the keystone and best accomplishments of her entire life.
