Gladiators Zone - Interview: Panther, Kara Nwidobie Sharpe

Panther: "Firstly, I would like to say I was a big fan of the original Gladiators and as soon as I heard it was possibly coming back on the Chris Moyles show at the beginning of the year I think it was I just knew straight away I wanted to be part of it somehow - I needed no persuading! I retired from competing in high level National and International athletics in July 2007 and so I had no ties with any sport so it was perfect timing for me that the show came when it did, as I was beginning to miss the competitive environment that I had being an athlete and being part of a team - it was as if I was meant to be on Glads - spooky!

At first I was only going to apply as a Contender and really that's all I wanted to do, until my family suggested of trying out to be a Gladiator. I'd heard that these auditions were not open auditions and that certain people were being approached for the role of Gladiators, so I asked one of my athletics friends who knows John Anderson to see if he could put a word in for me or let me do a trial - anything! Well, I recieved an e-mail late one night explaining that John was going to see the producers of the show the next day and if I quickly took some pictures of myself in sports clothing, then e-mail them to John ASAP and he would kindly take them to the producers and see what they thought, but insisted no promises, which for me was fine, I was just pleased to be even considered, but to my joy the producers liked my pictures and I was invited to the first testings, which included fitness tests and on camera tests."

Panther: "Yes, they were very tough. I did enjoy doing them actually and pitting my strengths against the other auditionees and although it would be easy to get over whelmed I always tried to remain calm and use my experience in athletics to remain focussed. They were good tests actually, some of which I have done as part of my testing and monitoring my own training when I was competing - they tested speed, agility, power, co-ordination and strength against others girls. The groups of girls then got whittled down after that to go further and do some 'combat' tests. These were basically wrestling type games where a circle was drawn on the gym floor and we would begin with our hands on each other's shoulders at arm length facing each other and the idea was to push each other at arms length out of the circle. The second wrestling game was the start again in the position then as soon as the whistle was blown to then try and pick each other up and get the other girl out of the circle. I could see other girls playing this game hesitate when the whistle blew sparring and not sure when to make a move, when I played it I just grabbed them as soon as the whislte went and lifted anyone straight out of the circle. At the end of the day John asked me what I thought of them and I told him I thought they were very fair for everyone, I thanked him for the oppertunity and he thanked me for trying out.

The camera screening tests were different. They asked us to give fighting talk, what we'd say if we won, what we'd say if we lost, they also asked us to give ourselves a name and give some camera talk in relation to it - mine was 'Karma' as karma always comes back round to get ya! It was very hard to think spur of the moment with no prior warning to think of things to say, but I think I did ok."

Panther: "Yes I am the only one and for that reason I love it, it's great to be associated with that and I actually liked the extra pressure it brought to try and meet everyone's expectations. I also like the name as people remember it, I get recognised alot now when I go shopping and I think it's an easy name to remember, it also suits my look as a person with the now short hair and my green eyes and dare I say my fierce duel stare! Other names were suggested but I'm not sure if I can say, but due to copyright they couldn't be used. Helen was great when we met, I didn't get much chance to talk to her as I would of liked really as I was half way through the Legends show at the time, I have a picture of us together and it's one of my faves. When I look at it, it's then it feels abit surreal to be an actual Gladiator!"

Panther: "We get along very well, I think because we all know and feel privaledged to be a Gladiator and I sincerely mean that, we want to get along and make it the best for everyone involved. I speak to Spartan and Atlas alot, they are really good friends and we take the mickey out of each other with texts and stuff all the time. Tornado is wicked fun, he's always hyper! Destroyer is very sweet actually I don't know why he doesn't smile, he's always smiling normally! Oblivion is again very funny and clever with it and Predator is as chilled as he is on Gladiators - he's like the wise old man of the team!

I get on really well with Tempest actually, she's like my little sister and although she's very pretty her looks are very decieving! She was probably the fiercest in training against me - I nicknamed her 'Firecracker!' because of it. Battleaxe, I have known before Gladiators since being an International athlete. Enigma and I spent alot of time shopping during the filmings! Ice was the person I spoke to most at the auditions and we kept in contact through them, I didn't know though till we all met up that she had got in, as we were told to keep everything secret but I was very pleased to see her familar face. Me and Inferno always had a laugh and just mucked about."

Panther: "It was always my intention to be undefeated throughout the shows on any of the games and I'm sure every Glad would tell you the same. I think from my background I'm just competitive and I think it showed in my games, even now I'm still quite dissapointed I conceded 2 points in a few games of Powerball, even though I'm led to believe that only conceding 2 points is quite good. I never set out to make Duel an event I'd feature heavily in. We got put on games based on our practise sessions and how well we did. Duel was an event I never went all out on either as I was afraid to hurt the other girls, especially after Tempest had an accident with me doing it, which upset me alot actually but when I was given the chance to do it in the shows I loved it! It's possibly THE event people remember when they think of Gladiators of old, I was nervous to begin with but by the end I like to think I justified my selection for it with my results. I don't intend on being beaten on it anytime soon anyway."

Panther: "Not wanting to sound rude, but me obviously!"

Panther: "I remember the the nerves and pressure I felt in the very first show! I've competed in the Commonwealth Games with more than 70,000 people there, but I felt more nervous on my first Duel with Fiona! Memorable good bits was everything really, I can't say what single thing stands out as the best bit, maybe the Final and the Legends show as I knew we were coming to an end and the pressure was easing! It also felt like by the last 4 or so shows we were getting used to the games and cameras more."

Panther: "It is very different than the old show that's for sure and I hope we haven't disappointed anyone with what we have now. The old show with the huge arena was very much like a sports TV show when I watched it and I guess that was perfect for the early to mid '90's. The show I am in is very character based and kind of reminds me of a sci-fi film and we are to be seen as super-human beings! I don't think anything can be said to be better or worse as they really are total opposites, but both very entertaining and that really is what we are all about."

Panther: "New events would be interesting, I'm always up for a challenge of trying new things and testing myself, most of the games past and present suit my strengths anyway, so anything physical is good. Games like Tilt, Suspension Bridge, Whiplash, Sumo Ball that kind of thing would be good as I can use my size and strength. Even a game like Pursuit would be good as I can use my speed and agility. Games like Atlaspheres or say even Swingshot would be good as my leg strength and power is probably my biggest asset really and would help in those games.

Games I wouldn't like to do? I'm not particulary keen on heights if I'm honest, so something like Vertigo, Skytrak or Poleaxe wouldn't be great, but I'd always give them ago and try them and you never know but they might be games I come to enjoy and excel at."

Panther: "Just like Ice said during the show really, it's unbelievable to think as kids we all watched the Legends on the original Glads and now we are hitting them with pugil sticks or trying to catch them up a Wall etc - very, very surreal, but an experience I won't ever forget I don't think.

There was always going to be a bit of rivalry, that's the nature of competition, you know you are trying to beat someone at something they did first and it's only natural for it to be there - I'd be exactly the same in their shoes. There was a little bit of gamesmanship before the show itself but again there was always going to be."

Panther: "Being honest I wouldn't want any to join as this is now our time, as we are a new breed of Gladiators, but Lightning and Rebel were both in fantastic shape - amazing actually! I must make a note in my diary to look at good as Rebel when i'm 43!"

Panther: "My favourite events? Duel is obviously a strong game for me. Pyramid is the event all my friends, family and people I meet talk about and I do enjoy literally throwing contenders off it! Powerball and Gauntlet are both great games too. Gauntlet as it's a classic Gladiator scenario - you will not pass! Powerball because people think because I'm alot heavier than the contenders I will be slower and not very agile, but this is obviously not the case - I would like actually to one day maybe do the contender role and try and score, as from when I played women's rugby for a short time no-one could stop me!

I actually liked The Wall, but never practised the studio version, but then again not many of us did. Tempest is just a natural and really goes for it, but this event I think requires a bit of thought about the possible route and also a little bit of skill with the rock climbing, so maybe if I can get some more practise I'm sure I'd get to like this event more. Hang Tough I couldn't really do as my shoulder for some reason seizes up and spasms when I hang from an old injury."

Panther: "The thought of a possible International Gladiators would be amazing! I would definitely be well up for that. I've only seen clips of both the American Gladiators and the Australian Gladiators, so I can't really say much really, but I'd really love them to film in Australia. I've been there once before and it's just an amazing place, a shame it's so far away!"

Panther: "Series 2 is really, really exciting and we haven't been told much as of yet, but I think they are trying their best to improve things and it promises to take off right from where the last couple of shows of first series left off. I actually didn't train prior to series 1, as I stopped training after I retired from athletics and only did the usual cross trainer and running machine exercises just to stay fit looking really and then Glads came up. Since the end of filming the first series I did some physical testing to see what level my strength, speed and power was at and by my own admission it was quite poor to when I was competing in athletics last summer. I began training again and I'm actually faster and stronger than I ever have been. So yeah, you could say I've been training ;-)

Is someone going to knock me off Duel? Do you fancy a go Paul?... You still there? Where have you gone?"

Panther: "Of course. I read the Forum and it's amazing to see the support I get and the great things people say, I hope I continue to meet your expectations and prove to be a legend myself one day! Love Panther xx"