Gladiators Zone - Interview: Atlas, Sam Bond

Atlas: "It was a Wednesday morning in early March 08 and I was sound asleep. My peace was disturbed by a phone call from my Aunty. She was very excited and told me there was going to be a new series of Gladiators. I was as excited as she was and we both had the same idea: I HAD to be there, and I HAD to be a Gladiator. I have made myself for this kind of thing! Over the next few days I received dozens of texts and calls from friends, some of whom I hadn't spoken to or heard from in years. They were all saying the same thing. I kept hearing that you had to be invited to audition as a Gladiator though and sadly I had not been invited. I realised the best bet was to enter as a contender and take it from there. So I did my research on what the previous fitness tests had been in the 90's!! Eeeeeeeek! Those trials were difficult to say the least. The first test alone, an 800m run in 2mins 30secs, was without a doubt going to be too tough for me (at the time). Expecting that I wouldn't actually be able to successfully complete the trials I decided to apply anyway, turn up on the day, and try my luck. I actually sent in a video recording with my application saying how I wanted to be a Gladiator but would still relish the opportunity to be on the show even as a contender. I was invited to the first round of fitness trials and before I could even spot anyone to approach about the Gladiator auditioning it was time for the physical stuff to kick off. I was so, so pleased when I saw the trials. They weren’t anything like I had expected or like they had been in previous years. I aced the trials and went through to the next, immediate stage where we had a camera test. This was fairly straight forward and I just answered some simple questions about myself and my dreams of being on the show. I mentioned then that I wanted to be a Gladiator but was advised for the time being just to continue down the contender route as nothing was set in stone and it was possible I would be considered for the role as a Gladiator. I was soon invited for the next contender trials and again performed well winning nearly every event. I again spoke to the producers about being considered as a Gladiator. I then received a phone call inviting me for a private audition in London where I was to audition as a Gladiator. I guess they liked me. But I was the last to know my Gladiator name. Everyone else had been told their names and had begun referring to one another as such when we got to the training camp but I was left waiting until finally they told me I was to be named Atlas. I love the name too!!!!!!"

Atlas: "The fitness trials weren't ever an issue for me. I was fit and strong enough to perform well in them all, achieving maximum points on the majority of tests. It was the role play and camera work that was the most challenging. It’s very hard to act out a scene in your head but to say the words as you’re doing it. Its as though you are fantasising or day dreaming but talking through it with someone as you go along. You have to think very quickly whilst on the spot and there is nothing to bounce off or work with. Its definitely a heart of the table moment; you just give it your best go and risk getting it wrong. Acting out those scenarios is not easy."

Atlas: "Everyone gets on very well backstage. I have a lot of respect for all of them but particularly The Big O. He is a very sharp, switched on young man with a lot of potential. Spartan is a top guy too. A great Gladiator and sickeningly handsome. Panther is without a shadow of a doubt my favourite Gladiator. She is just incredible. Battleaxe has amazing charisma. I could be around her all day and never once get tired of her company. She is such fun. Ultimately it’s very hard to spend time with everyone and so I’ve not even begun to get to know them really well yet. I look forward to that in series 2."

Atlas: "Thank you, that’s very kind of you to say so. I guess I was picked because of my charisma and charm so it seemed reasonable that the producers wanted these traits to be shown on TV. It’s great that people like me of course but sometimes it's hard to be the nice guy. I am very competitive by nature and I train to win. If I haven’t performed well in an event, the last thing I want to do is exchange pleasantries with the contender. It’s not that I have anything personal against any of them but for me it’s a competition. I would say most of the Gladiators are this way too. So with that said, yeah I'm a nice guy, but I'm a Gladiator for a reason and when I'm focused on an event, you can consider me just as mean and nasty and the others."

Atlas: "Oh you didn't see the half of it - I was pretty mad on that occasion and it took some serious restraint not to lose my rag. You wouldn’t like to see that either - so I had to walk away. I was pretty sore about the event at the time for reasons I won’t go into but it’s common in the work place to fall out or have disagreements with colleagues. However John and I share a professional relationship that we both enjoy and within 5 minutes of our ‘disagreement’ we were mates once more. On the whole, the Gladiators have respect for John even if we don’t always agree on the decisions he makes."

Atlas: "This is not something the viewers would have been privy to but I hope you can appreciate it... It’s the feeling inside your body when you're about to do an event.  Heightened by the fact that you’re on TV, you get such a great feeling through your very core when you are waiting for the event to begin. It can be debilitating at times, and on other occasions it can be the very force that makes you perform better than you've ever done so before. They can reshoot interviews, they can do another take from different angles as the Gladiator poses and pulls a mean face, but you only get one shot at the event. That feeling you experience when John is about to countdown is like nothing else I've experienced and I can remember it vividly. Other specific memories would be giving the contenders some stick in Gauntlet where unfortunately Kevin was injured and slipping off the shoulder of Koing in Hang Tough. Splash!"

Atlas: "In some ways it’s the same show. In some ways, it’s an entirely new show for a new audience. Though it is nice to draw parallels of course. For example, you will soon see some massive characters evolve like last time. But you will also see a new breed of Gladiator and contender. It’s a faster competition now, more fierce, tougher and more brutal. The athletic merit of the show has increased significantly in my opinion and you will see reach higher levels yet, with the new series as people step up their game when trying to face the Gladiators and make it all the way."

Atlas: "I would love them to bring back Pendulum - what a fabulous creation that was! I really wouldn’t be fussed about Whiplash or Tilt though as I just don’t think it makes great viewing. I would love to see a new game. One that uses every aspect of physical fitness from strength to agility where the contender is chased by the Gladiators, things are thrown; objects are lifted and then finally end in a brutal tussle. That would be fun."

Atlas: "I'm afraid you will get no gossip from me. What went on behind closed doors and on some occasions on screen is not for me to comment on. Not this time anyway! Ha. But all of the Gladiators were very friendly and full of good advice. Trojan in particular was a stand up chap and probably taught me the most."

Atlas: "It will be fun to work along side Wolf for sure. I can no doubt learn a lot from him but whether or not we get on when the camera is pointed at us will be something we shall all have to wait and see. Backstage however, I have only great things to say about the man and it was an honor meeting him."

Atlas: "Yeah my mum was a big support throughout the series but I expect no less. She is one of my biggest fans and always will be. She’s also convinced that whenever Predator smiles to the camera it's all for her benefit! I’ve had words with him though don’t worry!
Being a Gladiator has been an incredible experience and I hope it's not over yet. Nothing could have prepared me for the life change I experienced. I wont say it didn’t change me either as that would be false. But I'd like to say it’s only changed me for the better. Perhaps that should be someone else’s position to say that though."

Atlas: "I really did want to do all of the events in the series but sadly didn’t get the opportunity. There wasn’t one that I didn’t like. Ultimately though, my favourite event is Hang Tough. Gauntlet can be good fun as well though and in series 2 I really would like to be the first Gladiator in the line up. I just really want to be the one to deliver the crushing blow off the line so watch out for it."

Atlas: "Oh wow - can you imagine that? How awesome would that be? I would love to face America's Titan. That would make incredible viewing. Give him to me on any event too. I wouldn’t mind where we do it either, I will step up to the challenge no matter what. Oh man that would mean I get to meet Crush too!"

Atlas: "I have really trained hard for this next series of Gladiators. I don’t intend to make any mistakes in the events, or at the very least not make ones I’ve made before. You can look forward to some brutal Gauntlet, some head banging Duel and some fast action Powerball from Atlas. Since I’m more comfortable in the events now and I know what is expected of me, I can get focused in less time so there will be more opportunity for me to entertain the crowds and the cameras. You will be seeing a whole lot more of the titan giant in series 2!"

Atlas: "Thank you for your continued support for the show and the Gladiators. I hope series 1 wetted your appetite for an even bigger and better series 2. Enjoy the show and be inspired!"