Michigan Cheerleader, Fitness Influencer Turned Heads Before Final Four
Both the men's and women's Michigan basketball teams made deep runs into their respective NCAA Tournaments.
The women's team was ousted by No. 1 seed Texas in the Elite Eight while the men's team is very much alive as the Wolverines get set for a battle against Arizona in a Final Four matchup of the lone two remaining No. 1 seeds.
As the two get set for a tip at 8:49 p.m. ET, one Michigan student and fellow athlete is stealing some of the show.
Michigan Cheerleader Ava Axelrood Is a Fitness Trainer
Michigan cheerleader Ava Axelrood decided a demanding schedule as a student and cheerleader wasn't quite enough. While more athletic than most of her college peers, she took her fitness journey to another level over the past few years, documenting said journey on Instagram where she has over 124,000 followers.
In January she posted about her fitness journey in a "reintroduction" after amassing so many followers. Axelrood, who also coaches, revealed she thought she was doing everything "right" by exercising every day and eating "little."
She said she was, "chasing my dream body but constantly getting the opposite results: inflammation, burnout, gut issues, and a body that simply wouldn’t respond."
That's when she decided to change everything.
"I learned how to do less, eat more, and train with intention that not only transformed my physique, but healed my gut, lowered inflammation, and built a lifestyle I can actually sustain," she said.
The results speak for themselves, evidenced by her toned abs – developed with focused deep core work instead of just burning out her abs with a quick circuit.
Her latest video amassed over 30,000 views in just six hours as she showed her followers just how she tones her core.
Axelrood is a NASM certified personal trainer, nutrition and wellness coach in addition to her cheerleading duties.
She'll be cheering on the Wolverines tonight as they hope to advance to the national title against the winner of UConn-Illinois.
Arizona and Michigan tip off at 8:49 p.m. ET on TBS, truTV and HBO Max.
Related: Dan Hurley's Wife Caught Attention With Behavior After Elite Eight Victory Over Duke