A London-based personal trainer says she came close to quitting her fitness career altogether after facing relentless harassment from men at the gym.
Char Borley, 40, a former competitive bodybuilder who now holds qualifications as a personal trainer, sports therapist, and nutritionist, said her passion for fitness was nearly derailed by inappropriate behaviour from male clients and gym-goers.
Despite building a strong social media following of over 500,000, Char revealed she only lasted a month offering one-on-one training sessions after being repeatedly hit on by men who were more interested in flirting than fitness.
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They said they wanted motivation, but all they really wanted was fun,” she said. Some would ask her to squat in front of them, others pushed for her phone number, and one even invited her to train privately at his home a line she refused to cross.
She described the experience as disheartening. “I spent so long training and educating myself in fitness, but everything I said went in one ear and out the other,” she said. “It made me question whether this was what I’d have to deal with if I wanted to pursue the career I love.”
Even after switching to female-only pole dancing and burlesque classes, Char said she couldn’t escape the attention.
She recounted how one man waited outside her gym for years, crying at the entrance when he wasn’t allowed in, and another stalked her for nearly a decade, using fake identities to try to book sessions with her after spotting her on TV.
Eventually, the pressure forced her to quit working in gyms entirely. “It honestly drove me to breaking point,” she said.
Now, Char trains and coaches online, and the shift has proved lucrative she claims to earn around £2,000 per hour and has brought in more than £200,000 over the past two years. Still, she’s hesitant about returning to in-person teaching.
Even during her own workouts, she says she continues to deal with unwanted male attention. “They’ll ask if I’m a PT or offer to help with my weights,” she said.
I usually just tell them, ‘I’m probably lifting more than you love,’ and the look on their faces is priceless.” Some have secretly filmed her, though she says she usually walks away before confronting them. “It’s a shame I can’t go to the gym without getting harassed,” she added.
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