An interview with Amanda Wah

Chester born Amanda Wah won the admiration of many when she triumphantly emerged as the winner of this year’s TV’s Gladiators. With a strong background in sport, Amanda won her crown in emphatic style. Now living in Warrington, Amanda with her partner Natalie runs the Momentum Collective gym in Warrington and is passionate about making fitness fun. Ahead of undertaking a gruelling tour of Gladiators Live in arenas all over the UK, Visit Chester caught up with Amanda when she popped into Chester’s Grosvenor Museum to visit the British Museum’s touring exhibition, Gladiators of Britain.

Amanda, you're a Gladiators champion! How does that feel to say out loud?

One word - UNREAL.  As a child, I grew up watching the original series in the 90s and recreating all of the events at home, so to get to do the show as an adult has been a dream come true.  Lifting the trophy as the winner was the icing on the cake!

What made you decide to apply for Gladiators? Was it something you'd always wanted to do?

When the BBC relaunched the series, I was the ultimate armchair hero as I watched from my living room on a Saturday night - I definitely thought I could give it a good go.  I own my own gym and have done sport all my life, which gave me the confidence to apply and chance my luck.  It was also important to me to bring some added representation to Saturday night TV, and show families that some mums have short hair, big muscles, and tattoos!

Which event surprised you the most - either easier or harder than expected?

Harder than expected was Collision!  It looks fairly simple on the tv, you just have to run across a bridge and put a ball in the basket.  But that bridge was VERY wobbly, and having Gladiators swing at you trying to knock you off really messes with your balance! I scored some points but I'd love to have a bit more practice at that one!

When you won, hundreds of people gathered at your gym to watch the final - what was it like knowing your whole Warrington community was behind you?

I caused the production team a bit of a headache, I think. I turned up with 160-strong gang made up of my family, friends, and gym members.. I believe it was a contender record for the biggest support crew!  Every time I competed in an event, I looked over and saw all of their faces, signs, and foam fingers - it definitely helped me take that victory and make them proud of me.

You're now representing Warrington on a national stage - does that add extra meaning to the achievement?

Absolutely! I hope what it can do is show local kids that it doesn't matter where they live or what background they come from, they can achieve their goals if they just take the chance and put themselves out there - it can even take them onto primetime TV!  It's also led to me becoming much more involved with my hometown, including pitch appearances at the Wolves rugby ground, and speaking at TEDx Warrington later this year!

From playing football for Everton and hockey for the North of England as a young athlete, to opening a gym, to Gladiators champion - when you look back, does it feel like a natural progression or are you surprised by where life has taken you?

This was a huge curveball.  Never in a million years would I have thought I'd be on Gladiators - it feels like it was a one-in-a-million chance that it all happened.  But at the same time, I also feel like I've been training for it all my life - I train every single day at my gym, and have done sport since primary school.  All of it prepared me well for stepping out onto that arena floor and putting my strength and fitness to good use.

Having seen Gladiators of Britain at the Grosvenor Museum do you see any parallels between the TV gladiators and those who would have fought in Chester’s amphitheatre?

Well, thankfully, I can safely say that the Gladiators and contenders on the TV show are MUCH better cared for than those original gladiators would have been.  We had an army of doctors, physios, caterers, and lots of protective equipment to prevent injury.  But what I feel would have been similar is the indescribable feeling of being in front of tens of thousands of cheering people in an arena audience, and getting that rush of adrenaline when the event begins.  I like to think I've had a taste of what those ancient gladiators may have felt in the amphitheatres back then.

What do you want people - especially women or people who don't see themselves as "athletes" - to take from your story?

That fitness is for everyone. So many people - adults and children - think they're not cut out for fitness or movement because they didn't enjoy PE lessons at school. I’d love to teach more people that you don't have to be good at competitive sport to move your body.  It's about finding an activity that brings you joy, because movement is one of the best ways to improve physical, mental and emotional health for all people, of all ages and abilities.

What's next for Amanda Wah? Any big plans or goals?

I'm currently taking part in the Gladiators Live Tour, which is visiting six of the UK's biggest arenas to bring the show to nearly a quarter of a million people. I'm getting to live my dream every weekend!  But in between that, I'm also really busy visiting schools to deliver my message that fitness is for everyone and get the kids (and teachers!) moving with some fun workouts that will help schools make their PE sessions more fun - and more inclusive.

And finally if you were a Roman gladiator what would your name be?

My name would be Valor - it's Latin in origin and simply means "to be strong", but for me, it means grit, heart, and the bravery to keep showing up.”

Amanda was interviewed for Visit Chester by Jen McAndrew

Amanda is appearing in the Gladiators Live Arena tour until the end of December. For further information please visit: Gladiators Live Tour | GladiatorsTV.com

Gladiators of Britain supported by Avanti West Coast and Visit Chester continues at the Grosvenor Museum in Chester until 25 January 2026