The One Exercise That Makes Sydney Sweeney's Abs 'Rock Solid'
If The White Lotus and Euphoria are some favorite titles on your watch list, you're likely a fan of actress Sydney Sweeney. Sweeney's more recent project, however, takes her far from her role of Beatrice in Netflix's rom-com Anyone But You and puts her in the ring as she plays world champion boxer Christy Martin.
When you're the star portraying the only female boxer to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated, you certainly have your work cut out for you. An intense fitness regimen is called for, and we're here to share everything Sweeney's doing to prepare for the role, along with the key fitness habits that keep her in excellent shape.
Sweeney has always admired Martin's accomplishments. The celeb shared a few details on Instagram in October 2024 about her role in the upcoming biopic, along with the intense workout that's prepping her.
"Over the past few months, I've been immersed in training to bring to life the story of an incredible woman—a true champion who fought battles both inside and outside the ring," Sweeney captioned the post. "Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope, and I'm honored to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all."
Sweeney Has a Martial Arts Background
Sweeney has a background in martial arts, according to Deadline, which makes the role of Christy Martin a perfect match for the actress.
"I grappled and did kickboxing from 12-19 years old. I've been itching to get back into the ring, train, and transform my body," Sweeney told Deadline. "Christy's story isn't a light one, it's physically and emotionally demanding, there's a lot of weight to carry. But I love challenging myself … I'm passionate about the fighting world, Christy's story shines a light on her incredible rise to the top while showing the struggles of fame behind the curtains."
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She's Doing Cardio and Strength Training for the Christy Martin Biopic
A video Sweeney posted on her account is a testament to the actress's dedication to convince the audience she's a pro boxer. Cardio and strength training are both key players. Specifically, Sweeney's workout clips included boxing, pushups, standing lat pushdowns, and what appears to be tire flips. These are all essential exercises in building strength and muscle.
Sweeney Does Slalom Waterskiing, Which Makes Her Abs "Rock-Solid"
The most crucial exercise that makes Sydney Sweeney's abs "rock-solid?" Something her mom taught her when she was young: slalom waterskiing.
"The moment I could walk, my mom put me on what's called a U-board to learn how to ski," Sweeney told Women's Health. "I remember that whenever we would go by the docks of my grandma's or my cousin's house, I'd wave. I felt so cool because I could take off one hand. That's my earliest memory of skiing, but I've been doing it as long as I can remember. It's my favorite."
She added, "It's a lot of upper-body strength; it's balance, it's core, it's legs—you get tired really fast. I see such a change in my body after an entire summer of [skiing]. My arms are stronger, more sculpted. My abs are rock-solid. But I never look at it as a workout because it is so much fun."
Slalom waterskiing is a stellar total-body workout because it fires up your core, arms, and legs via coordination and balance. "It is low-impact, which will long term be good on the body's joints," explains Rachel Weber, co-owner and PT at Jack City Fitness. "In doing this activity your abs, obliques, and lower back are constantly engaged to stabilize your core. It's not just about aesthetics—it's about building functional strength that supports overall health."
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The Celeb Is Also a Fan of Hiking, Solidcore, and Running
Some of Sweeney's additional fitness habits include hiking, Solidcore (on a Pilates-esque reformer), and running, according to Women's Health—all of which are chock-full of benefits.
Running, for instance, isn't just about getting in a solid cardio workout. "It's also a fantastic way to strengthen key muscle groups like the glutes, quads, hamstrings and core," explains Coach Amanda Grimm, a certified running coach and PT at We Run. "Every running stride applies a force of two to three times your body weight, making running an underrated option for strengthening the legs, core and stabilizing muscles."
