Gladiators Zone - Pole-Axe

The Gladiator and Contender begin on the whistle by running down a run-way which leads to individual 10.4 metre Poles. Once at the Poles they must begin to climb to the top. The Poles revolve and climbing struts protrude on a spiral route up the Pole. The first to climb to the top of the pole hits a button which retracts the other opponents climbing struts, leaving them descending on a safety harness to the arena floor and Pole-Axed.

Pole-Axe was the most dramatic event from the 1994 (Series 3) batch, and possibly of the entire show, even though it would on average only last about 10 seconds!

Pole-Axe holds the record for the latest showing of a new event (1994, Series 3, Heat 8). It also holds the record for the latest first showing in a season (1998, Series 7, Semi Final 1).

This event inspired the most fear into the American Gladiators (especially Sky) during training for International Gladiators 1, 1994.

In 1995 (Series 4), the same Gladiator faced both Contenders, even though it was standard for two Gladiators to be used in other events. However, on its return in 1997 (Series 6), this was changed in favour of 2 female and 2 male Gladiators being used.

It was withdrawn just before the 1996 season (Series 5) after Contender Nikki Claxton seriously injured herself in training. A safer version of Pole-Axe returned in 1997 with Contenders and Gladiators attached to a harness. With no need for the 6 foot high crash mat, both competitiors had a higher climb as well as having a starting run up to the pole. The new version lacked the excitment of the previous version and made only on appearance in 1998 (Series 7, Semi Final 1).

The reincarnated version of Pole-Axe made its debut in 1997 (Series 6) Heat 8 - Event 3, exactly the same as its first televised outing in 1994 (Series 3).

In the semi final of International Gladiators 1, 1994 and throughout 1995 (Series 4) the event was given a more pacier theme, but when the event was re-introduced the theme proved too short and the music was reverted back to what was used in 1994 (Series 3).

A loss on Pole-Axe was accompanied by 'Another One Bites The Dust' by Queen (1997, Series 6 - 1998 Series 7 only).