FEMALE GLADIATORS
INDRA
LINDA EKWALL
Before joining Gladiatorerna, Indra was a well-known sports personality, taking part in many bodybuilding and fitness competitions. She won the Swedish Championships twice and also came fifth in the World Championships.
In 2000, Indra released a book called Fitness For Her, a book that teaches women how to take better care of their bodies. Shortly afterwards, Indra joined the Gladiatorerna team for it's second season and was an instant hit. She excelled in Attackboll (Powerball) and Pyramiden (Pyramid).
Before the fourth series of Gladiatorerna was due to be filmed, Indra and her boyfriend (Gladiator Zeke, Kim Justin) were tragically killed in a car crash in Sweden, just days after they announced their engagement. The first episode of the fourth series was dedicated to the memory of Indra and Zeke.
KOBRA
ALEXANDRA VUSIR
Kobra, originally from Yugoslavia moved to Sweden with her parents and three brothers at the age of one.
Kobra started bodybuilding at the age of 17 after looking into the mirror and thinking she needed to be bigger and fitter, then took part in her first competition in 1985 at just 21 years old.
After many competitions she travelled to the United States of America to be part of the Bodybuilding Mecca program in Santa Monica. It was here that she met American Gladiator Zap (Raye Hollitt), and the two became firm friends and even released a fitness video together called Women's Physique World.
When the Swedish Gladiators was created Kobra knew she had to be a part of the show and auditioned for the part of a Gladiators, and after a gruelling audition, Kobra was born.
Kobra was adept to all the events but her specialist event was Duellen (Duel).
After just one season, Kobra left the show as she became pregnant just before the filming of the second series and was then unable to compete.
MEDUSA
ANNA ROSÉN
Medusa, a well known bodybuilder in Sweden entered the world of bodybuilding at the age of 18 and started entering competitions almost immediately and has never looked back.
In 1996, Medusa competed in the Norrlandsmästerskapen, in 1998 she competed in the WABDL (World Cup, Oregon USA Bench-press & dead-lift), and in 1998 and 1999 she won the Swedish starkaste competition.
In 1999, Medusa joined the Gladiatorerna team as the 'nasty' character, and excelled in all of the power events, especially Duellen (Duel), an event where she was unbeaten. Unfortunately, Medusa only stayed on the show for one season as her commitments to bodybuilding interfered with the filming schedule.
Since leaving Gladiatorerna, Medusa and her husband Göran have welcomed their daughter Greta into the world, competed in 'The World's Strongest Woman' competitions in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Medusa is now a consultant for the Red Cross project in Sweden.
NOVA
ANNA UGANDER
Nova began her Gladiator career in the first series of Gladiatorerna, and was with the show for three years.
Nova, the best of the team at Ringarna (Hang-Tough) enjoyed all the events especially her favourite Ringarna.
Nova is now the owner of a business called Inlevia, a business specialises in teaching people in fitness and well-being.
PUMA
CAJSA NILSSON
Former police officer Puma joined the Gladiator team for it's final series in 2004 after auditioning initially to become a Contender. The gymnastics enthusiast applied to become a Contender but producers were so impressed with her that they asked her to be on the Gladiators team instead.
Puma's entrance to the arena for her solo events were truly remarkable and once she even danced in front of the shows referee Dag Olsson.
In the arena, Puma excelled in all the events she competed in, but her strengths were shown in Rekylen (Snapback) - her favourite event.
After the demise of Gladiatorerna, Puma joined forces with the official coaches of the Gladiator team Ali Ghelem and Björn Bergman to become a sports coach for up-and-coming sports stars.
TROJA
PERNILLA STJERNFELDT
Troja joined the Gladiatorerna team for the third series after being approached by her friend Linda Ekwall (Indra who joined the year before) and stayed with the show until it's demise three years later. Her strengths were in the power games such as Duellen (Duel) and Sumobollen (Sumo Ball) but was fast enough to be a great competitor in Rekylen (Snapback).
In her second series, Troja was injured during the filming of the Snapback event and had to have her right arm in a sling, leaving her sidelined for the remainder of the series. Luckily she recovered and made a welcome return for the finale series of 2004.
VALKYRIA
MONICA RISCOLL
Valkyria started her sporting career in 1980 when she started training to become a bodybuilder. In 1983, she competed in her first competition, the Military Pentathlon and won. In 1985 she entered a second competition and lost and decided that if she failed in one more competition she would retire, luckily enough she won the Wasa Trofén competition and continued bodybuilding.
From then she entered many competitions, including, European Championships, World Championships, Swedish Championships and Scandinavian Championships. She also teamed up with a male bodybuilder called Fredrik Age and entered the Swedish Championships in Middle Weight as a pair, and won. On the same day at the same event, Valkyria also won Best Female Poser title, Best Bodybuilder title, and the title of Kerstins Minne (Prize of Honour).
In 1999 Valkyria joined the cast of Gladiatorerna and was the 'baddie' of the female group. She stayed for two series and then she left the team behind her to concentrate on becoming a personal trainer.
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