There’s no doubt about it – gladiator fever is back and it’s motivating us all to be stronger. While American Gladiators started in 1989, the recent success of international relaunches in Australia, France and the United Kingdom has re-ignited the global phenomenon. And it was in Great Britain that the world’s first “Gladiator Experience” opened its doors at the National Exhibition Center in Birmingham. So, as a childhood Gladiators fan who is now a grown-up fitness writer, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to enter the field, and while I quickly learned that winning wasn’t always possible, I also learned that giving my best effort was impossible.
Write for M&F not your average day job. In the last few years I trained with the strongest forces in the world, fought in a professional fightand even defeated by the English Rugby League team. And, during each of these painful but very encouraging sessions, I learned that the joy of sports is not limited to those who are elite athletes. Fortunately, it was this positive, if somewhat naïve, attitude that prevailed as I donned my competitor’s uniform and prepared to solo the Gladiators’ final assault course, known as the Eliminator. This is where my experience became epic.
M&F The writer takes the “Eliminator” in the Gladiator Experience
The climax of each episode of Gladiators requires two contestants to race through The Eliminator’s assault course to win the show outright. As a journalist, my initial plan was to gently walk around the circuit with my cameraman, mainly for photo purposes, but this plan to physically dismantle the entire course soon fell apart when the Gladiators’ real rival and Eliminator’s record holder. Nathan Bland tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I wanted to race with him. My answer? Of course not! And yet seconds later, the whistle blew and I found myself navigating the torture terrain of the course. In all fairness, Bland, who reached the semi-finals of the reality show, was never in danger of losing me and often slowed down to encourage my progress, but when I tested my body and mind, it was not easy and I left it all on the floor of The Eliminator in Birmingham.
For the uninitiated, the Eliminator course is the same in all countries and includes challenges such as obstacle beams, balance beams, cargo nets, a very high zip wire and the famous walker. When the whistle blew, Bland explained that the first hurdle bars needed a “big jump” to get through, and so far so good. I then hoisted myself up to the elevated platform by rope and gingerly stepped over the first balance beam to scale the endless cargo net that ran over the wings. “That’s the worst part,” suggested Bland, as I tried to climb up, the lactic acid taking full effect.
However, what goes up must come down, and I managed to tuck both legs under my knees as I ended my zip wire tour with the kind of crash landing that creates an audible crunch in both of your legs. Needless to say, the health and safety team were there to check on me, but with my rival coach urging me on again, I picked myself up and completed a final set of balance beams before running into a walker and falling flat on my face. Adrenaline levels were through the roof at this point though, so I stood up and grabbed the last rope to cross the finish line. beating? Yes! Blue? Of course? Am I proud of myself? Absolutely!
You don’t have to be a gladiator to step out of your comfort zone
While you don’t have to be a gladiator to try this experience, it’s comforting to know that competitors like Nathan Bland are on hand to provide some much-needed help. And it must be said that even the gladiators themselves face certain events. Gladiator Fire (Montel Douglas) held British women’s 100m record of 11.05 seconds but competing in events like “Hang Tough,” where he has to tackle opponents through a series of high-stakes hoops, puts him in unfamiliar territory. “The more you do it, the better you get,” Fire tells M&F.
For Gladiator Electro (Jade Packer), who is one of the fastest runners in the world and an IFBB Pro Bodybuilder, one of the biggest challenges is, surprisingly, sprinting events like “Unleashed” where the pace is set from the start. “You only have one shot,” Electro explains before reaching his opponent.
Elsewhere, Gladiator Athena (Karenjeet Kaur Bains) is a medal-winning forcebut says that high events test his low center of gravity. On the other hand, Diamond (Livy Sheldon) prefers “The Wall”, but this is Cyclone’s (Listus Ebsocel) favorite event. Undoubtedly, each athlete’s different backgrounds lead to different strengths and weaknesses, and such exposure is inspiring because it means that regardless of our personal fitness level or where we are on our journey to greatness, the whole point of the Gladiator Experience is to find the hero in all of us and push our own physical limits.
“For starters, I’m not your friend,” Gladiator Phantom explains about his attitude towards his opponents. “Because I want you to do it without any signatures, without any help. I want you to bring your best self and at the end of it we can break bread.”
Fortunately, the Gladiator Experience is a family affair, while keeping you as close to the intensity of the TV show as possible. “It brings what we do to life,” says Fire. “But, how challenging and fun it is.”
The Gladiators Experience continues at the NEC in Birmingham, England until August 31, 2026. For more information, Click here!
