Yahoo News How original Gladiators star trained his daughter Fury for the reboot
Fury's dad was a contender on the original show in the 1990s
How original Gladiators star trained his daughter Fury for the reboot
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Rebooted Gladiators star Fury, whose real name is Jodie Ounsley, revealed she had special training from her dad - who starred on the original reality show.
Her dad Phil was a contender on the show when she was just seven years old and it sparked a love in her for competing. So much so, her dad built her own gladiator's set in the garage for her. All these years later, that training would pave the way for the star to become a gladiator on the rebooted series.
Now appearing on This Morning, 22-year-old Fury hailed her dad for being her biggest champion and she gave an insight into how he prepared her for the show. Plus, her experience of being a professional rugby player also helped too.
What, how and why?
Speaking to Josie Gibson and Dermot O'Leary, she fondly remembered watching her dad from the crowd. She told them: "My dad was a contender on the previous Gladiators I was seven years old. I remember it like it was yesterday I was the in the crowd watching him compete."
Her dad prepared her for the reboot all these years later by getting her training in their garage which he made into a Gladiators-style set. She further explained: "After that my dad made a gladiators' set in our garage with a climbing wall and the rings. I was just swinging around like a monkey."
She added: "Gladiators has been in my family, so to now be Fury and my dad is my biggest supporter, so thats really cool... I'm a professional rugby player, which really helps massively as some of the games are really physical. It's a dream for me really."
Previously, Fury revealed her dad was the main reason she had decided to appear on the show. She said at the time: "The biggest reason is because my dad was a contender in a previous series, so Gladiators has been a big part of our family since I was little. I loved watching how physical the Gladiators were but then I also loved watching my dad go through the process as well, so he’s clearly been a massive influence and it's pretty cool that I can do it too."
Elsewhere in the interview on This Morning, the rising star said being the first deaf Gladiator had been "surreal" and she was "honoured" to be taking part on the show. "I'm just trying to be a good role model," she said.
It is no secret that competition is tough on Gladiators but she had some kind words to share about her fellow contestants. Of competing, she added: "They're pretty fit. They're up for a fight. It's not just a game, so we've got to bring our end game."
What else happened on This Morning?
Fellow Gladiators star Legend also appeared on This Morning to discuss the rebooted BBC show. Of his experience, he said: "I think to be honest, me being a gladiator is more everyone else's dream. The original show was great but the dream is this. I was born a Gladiator, I'd go as far as saying gladiators was created for me. I'm an all round incredible guy."
Of the first episode, he added: "Being on it was amazing, it was just nice for it to be out there and get a chance to see that and also me as well." Unsurprisingly, Legend was a fan of the 90s original too and his favourite Gladiators star was Wolf. "A bit cliche," he admitted. "But he was interesting, different."
