COVER INTERVIEW
We talk to the new female Gladiators of the smash hit BBC TV show to discover their fitness secrets, and find out more about the women behind the iconic red and blue costumes
ATHENA aka Karenjeet Kaur Bains
‘As Athena, the Greek goddess of war and wisdom, I have all the characteristics of being strong and powerful. I can deadlift 175kg, bench press 100kg, squat 150kg and I’m a Commonwealth champion powerlifter as well as the Guinness World Record holder for doing the most bodyweight squats in a minute. But I’m also fast and agile, thanks to my athletics background. I did athletics for a period of 10 years until I transitioned into power lifting at the age of 17, and I’m a former threetime sprinting champion for Warwickshire.
‘Having speed and strength is a lethal combination, but I’ve also got brains as an ACA chartered accountant. I’m always trying to outsmart the contenders and be one step ahead without giving anything away, so I try to remain calm and composed – even when nervous or psyching myself up to compete in front of 3,000 people at the Utilita Arena Sheffield. I’m all about being aggressive yet focused when it comes to getting into action, and channelling my athletic mindset helps me to go out there and perform at my best while managing the adrenaline rush.
‘I really enjoy the strength-related games such as Gauntlet, where I get to use my battering ram to literally smash contenders down. I’ve always had very strong upper-body strength and regularly do weighted pull-ups. In fact, having that strong upper-body strength – which I’ve developed over many, many years – has transitioned really well into being a Gladiator.
‘I also love Powerball. Being able to get really physical with the contenders by blocking and tackling them gives me the chance to showcase my agility. As a power lifter, I know people have certain expectations of me, but I love to break barriers and surpass expectations. To this day, I train with my dad in our home gym, and we’re always evolving and adapting my training to my next goal. My training became more functional in the lead up to filming Gladiators and, while I still worked with heavy weights, we increased my reps and volume to build lung capacity and give me the ability to run after contenders in any direction.
‘I feel like I’ve been born and bred to be a Gladiator. It’s such an honour and a win, not only for me, but for my whole family. I’m South Asian and, coming from a diverse and minority background, I love breaking stigmas because South Asian women don’t stereotypically get involved in strength sports. I love smashing those glass ceilings and being an inspiration and a role model for the next generation, especially for any women who have been
