27 January 2024 , 17:55
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There are 16 new Gladiators starring in the BBC One reboot of the programme, all incredibly talented strong men and women with impressive athletic pedigrees. The programme isn't for the fainthearted however, with contenders taking on the super humans across 16 brutal events, a mix of old and new.
Sadly, two new Gladiators were forced to withdraw from filming due to injury including Ella-Mae Rayner, or Comet. The former gymnast ruptured three ligaments and broke her ankle and foot during the games which are filmed in Sheffield. The scenes showing her accident won't be shown to viewers.
A former gymnast and cheerleader, Ella-Mae faced surgery and metal-work when she shattered her heel and is still undergoing physiotherapy but she remains positive. "This is one of the toughest shows on TV," she said. "The injury was really, really tough but I had the team around me and everyone was amazing."
Ella-Mae shattered her heel on the show (@ellamaerayner/Instagarm)
She broke her ankle and foot and ruptured three ligaments (@ellamaerayner/Instagarm)Sporty Ella-Mae excelled in gymnastics as a child, representing Great Britain on one occasion with her incredible flexibility including the ability to walk on her hands. Aged 13 and standing at 5ft 8ins, tall for a female gymnast, she made a switch and became a competitive high board diver.
“I am tall and flexible and it just became a little bit too demanding on my body at that age. I was going into my teenage years so I gave up when I was 13," she said. "Then I transitioned to high-board diving.”
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After suffering the injury when competing as her alter-ego Comet, the athlete turned to working as an online coach, with more than 300,000 followers on Instagram. No gymnastics, no diving, no cheerleading," she said of the advice she was given after her horror injury. "Even running had a question mark.
Comet gets a much needed hug from her teammates (@ellamaerayner/Instagarm)
Despite her horror injury, the Gladiator says she is here to stay"At that point I was told everything I loved to do was being taken away from me. It gave me the drive and motivation as I was so sick of lying around. The gym saved me at that point and I loved it so much I put my all into it and then became an online coach."
"It is not going to stop me doing what I want to do," added the plucky Gladiator. "You are going face to face and it is contact, so injuries are part and parcel of it. Comet is here to stay.”
Watch Gladiators on Saturdays at 5.50pm, BBC One and BBC iPlayer