Gladiators Zone - Interview: Dave Walter, UK Gladiators Contender

Dave Walter: "Hunter without a doubt was one of the toughest. He was a perfectionist at everything he did. In training if he didn't perform well he would practice until he was better, that was in everything! He did not get too involved with the Contenders like some of the others. All the Glads were excellent though. Some were not as good at some events but excelled at other events. I would have to say Wolf was one of the easiest Glads I faced. I only ever faced him on The Wall and Powerball that I can remember. I had seen him struggle in training on the right hand side of The Wall and I had the choice for that event and knew I was on the right so chose him, hoping he would still have trouble…and he did. In Powerball I was slightly heavier than him and just used my weight and agility to my advantage. Because I am a big guy people don't expect me to be very agile but because of my karate and trampolining training I have learnt to be so.

I have many memorable battles... Rhino in Whiplash in my first show. Facing Saracen in Hang Tough every time. Rhino on Duel in the Final. Ace on Pendulum in the final. Saracen's Duel in the final ever event."

Dave Walter: "Winning the domestic series was something that didn't really sink in for a long time. The only reason I entered the show was to play the games. I never envisaged getting past the first round so I just went along to enjoy the experience. Don't get me wrong, I trained as hard as ever to make sure I was the fittest I could be, but at no time did I ever think about winning the series. Even during the last show I cant recall ever thinking "I can win this". Getting to the final was cool because at that point I knew that I had had an absolutely great time, I was there until the very end and I would at least be going on a great holiday.

In the Champion series I was only in as a reserve and was happy to be able to go through it all again, knowing that it was the last ever series. Mark Everitt was a better contender in the long run. He was a lot fitter and was great at the games. He was a really tough opponent and this was the only show I ever started the Eliminator from behind. Mark had never had a problem with the travelator in all his shows but the one time he needed a clear run he didn't get it. I felt sorry for him as he had it in the bag but I was happy to win! My trophies have pride of place at my parent's house on the mantle piece with some photos I got from LWT shot during the games."

Dave Walter: "Backstage was great. I can still remember the feeling of my first show. I was stood out the back with Karl Mullins. We had decided that we were going to wear fake noses and ears when we ran on and had been practicing our centre greeting. I had never been to a show before so did not know the format. As soon as the music started the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. It was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever felt. I had been watching the show for years and just never pictured myself running out to that music. It was great.

There was not really any tension between any of the Contenders and Gladiators. Everyone had their own ways of mentally preparing for the events and shows. There was a little bit of tension between Karl and Hunter but this was because others had been stirring the pot. I can't remember what it was all to do with but Karl chose Hunter for Duel and some of the other Glads were winding Hunter up saying Karl said he would knock him off! There was never anything that made me feel uncomfortable but then I was just glad to be there. All the Contenders got on really well. We all used to go out in groups for dinner most of the time."

Dave Walter: "I would have loved to have been a Gladiator and would have done so without a second thought. Just to be able to re live that experience year after year. If I could have chosen my name it would have been something that would have had an impact and people would remember."

Dave Walter: "The Springbok 2000 was a great experience! Where as during the domestic shows the Glads never really wanted to get too friendly with the Contenders, this was different. The Glads and Contenders all shared the same dressing rooms and canteen etc. We all went out for drinks and clubbing together and had some great times. We trained together and gave each other tips on games to help us win. I think we all benefited from it.

My memorable memory from this series was that I lost my first show. It had never happened before and I was glad it did as it helped me to re-focus on the next shows. During the first show I broke two of their records for Atlaspheres and Hang Tough. Atlaspheres was in a different format to ours. You had to knock over 4 or 5 skittles in a minute but I did it the quickest. The SA contenders were all supremely fit and really good at the games. During the first round our Glads didn't seem able to contain them and we just couldn't score the points we needed. The Glads were really apologetic about this and were gutted for those of us who didn't win our shows. However when the second round arrived we had acclimatized to the altitude and this was a different competition. We were the dominant force both Glads and Contenders and did what we went out to do."

Dave Walter: "I think I started to try out after the 2nd or 3rd series. I was only 18 at the time, still at college and just wanted to get on the show to play the games. I used to watch the show every week without fail and would analyse the games and tactics used by different Contenders. I didn't alter my training as I was training hard for my karate black belt. I just incorporated running on the treadmill into my routine. I would row until I was knackered and then do the 800 meters as fast as I could then go on to the 10 pull-ups. My first trail I got through to the interview but can remember after the pull-ups and rope climb my arms were pumped right out and I could hardly hold them up. Then we had to Duel for about 2 minutes in total and it just came down to strength. I just clammed up in front of the camera during the interview. I think I fell off the pull-ups in my second trial so didn't get any further. The next trial I did in 1996 I got to the final 50. I went to LWT in London for an interview with Ken Warwick. I didn't get on but that year I had the Karate World Championships in the USA at the time it was filmed. I was gutted at the time but was able to go to the Worlds. The last year I tried was in London. I was so terrified about the interview that I had written a poem called 'Gladiator Dreams' to say instead. When I got to the interview it had changed and they only wanted an informal chat...still it was my lucky year!"

Dave Walter: "The toughest event had to be Powerball really. You really had to go flat out for the whole minutes as you just can't allow the others to score and you to blank. Getting thrown down and getting back up, time after time just saps the strength out of you. The one time I can remember putting in 110% was the Whiplash in my first show against Rhino. I really did just want the points and pulled really hard for the whole 30 seconds. In the interview after you can see that my lips are blue. Also if you watch the replay carefully you can see that I got part of his foot out of the ring. In the rules it stated any part outside was a win to the Contender!! Guess I won that one really but it was great just to show that I was as strong and able as the Glads.

I would say that Pole-Axe was the easiest just because it was no contact and it was just you going as fast as you could to win. It didn't matter what the Glad did, if you were not as quick you would lose. I would have loved to play Pyramid but am glad we didn't. I would say that would have been the hardest game as it would just kill your legs off with other games and the Eliminator as well it may have been the downfall of me, who knows. I would like to have done it though."

Dave Walter: "Cheers."