Amanda Wah Shares Her Experience on Gladiators and Its Impact
Amanda Wah, a 36-year-old gym owner, reflects on her thrilling Gladiators journey
Amanda Wah, Gladiators, Lymm, Warrington, BBC One
Lymm: Amanda Wah appeared on Gladiators and had an amazing time. The 36-year-old owns Momentum Collective in Haydock Street. She has loved the show since childhood.
Amanda remembers watching Gladiators as a kid. She admired the strong athletes, especially the women. They showed that strength and beauty can go together.
She never played with Barbies, so being on Gladiators was a dream come true. Amanda applied for the show after encouragement from her gym friends and partner, Nat.
In April, they told her it was time to prove herself. Amanda thought, “There are 30,000 applicants; I probably won’t get in.” But she did! A producer called her to try out in London.
She was in the car with her daughter when she got the call. They listened to the voicemail together. Her daughter said, “I believe in you. Why can’t this be you?” That gave Amanda a boost of confidence.
In July, Amanda faced a tough day-long tryout. She called it “adult PE.” It was intense, but being around other athletes pushed her to do her best.
Weeks later, she got the call that she was selected as a contestant. Amanda was shocked and thrilled. She knew only ten women would make it, and thousands applied.
In August, Amanda brought 160 supporters to watch her compete. She asked how many tickets she could get, and they said, “As many as you want!”
Having so many friends and family there made her feel strong. She felt like she had an army behind her, which calmed her nerves.
Amanda competed in several rounds against fellow contestant Toni. She faced cramps but didn’t let that stop her. She won three out of five rounds.
In the final round, The Eliminator, Amanda had a slight lead. She won the race and secured her place in the next stage of the competition.
Despite the pressure, Amanda felt comfortable performing. “Adrenaline is a magical drug,” she said. Filming took 12 hours, but the episode was just an hour long.
She felt like a celebrity during the production. Everyone was supportive, and it was all about her that day. Amanda watched the episode with 60 friends and family members at her gym.
Seeing the backstory was emotional for her. She felt grateful for everyone who came to support her.
Amanda’s journey is more than just a childhood dream. She turned her grief into strength after losing her mom to dementia. She believes in living in the moment.
“Life is too short,” she said. “Maximize your day-to-day life and enjoy it.” Amanda will now move on to the quarter finals of Gladiators, airing on BBC One.