SHE was forced out of TV’s Gladiators last year after falling 30ft from The Wall in a horrifying accident that almost took away her ability to walk.
But this year Comet has come back with a bang — and she wants to show fans you can be strong and beautiful.
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Speaking ahead of tonight’s final on BBC One, she said: “Previously, women have been told that being muscular just makes you look like a man, but that’s absolutely not the case.
“I have muscles but I’m a proper girly girl.
“I love shopping, I love beauty, I love fashion and getting all dressed up.
“But I also love being powerful, being strong, muscular.
“That doesn’t stop a girl from being a princess.
“I’ve been told that I’ve got one of the strongest hits on Duel [one of the show’s main events], and you might think that’s a game for someone who is more bulky, who looks physically stronger — but you can’t judge a book by its cover.
“There’s a range of different bodies on this show, and different fitness types, and that’s amazing.
“Everybody is individual, we’re all built differently, and it’s important to showcase that there are different body shapes, different sizes, different muscle masses, while always being the best version of yourself.”
The 29-year-old former gymnast and cheerleader — real name Ella-Mae Rayner — will take on the contenders one last time this evening ahead of the final four — Mus Dumbuya, Amanda Wah, Aneila Afsar and Joe Fishburn — tackling the dreaded Eliminator round.
‘Hard pill to swallow’
Showcasing her body on national television every weekend has come with its pros and cons.
Comet joked: “Funnily enough I’m recognised in the gym all the time, and that’s probably because I’m in less clothes, so people look at me like, ‘Oh, I know who she is! She’s on Gladiators’. It’s flattering.
“After the first series, people didn’t really know me because I was out of the show injured — I went to a meet-and-greet event and someone handed me the phone to take the photo of them with another Gladiator!
“That was a bit of a hard pill to swallow at first. I didn’t get to show off the skills that I have.
“Now I really love speaking to the fans and giving back where I can — taking five minutes out of my day to talk to them, especially the kids, because you know it’s making their day.”
I’m just ecstatic to be a part of it all. I just love seeing how impactful this series is, and how much it means to people.
Comet
Earlier this year, the Gladiators stars proved just how popular they are when a live event organised at Kent’s Bluewater Shopping Centre welcomed more than 7,000 eager visitors, who queued up for hours to have their photo taken with the TV heroes.
And their popularity with young viewers has only soared with the launch of CBBC spin-off Gladiators: Epic Pranks, which sees the group playing practical jokes behind the scenes of the main series.
In turn, this has seen the Gladiators overwhelmed with invitations to visit schools, in partnership with charitable efforts including Children In Need and The Sun’s brilliant Cooking For All campaign.
And Comet is up for anything that spreads joy to the viewers.
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She added: “I’m just ecstatic to be a part of it all. I just love seeing how impactful this series is, and how much it means to people.”
It’s been a long journey of recovery for Comet, who at one point feared she would never be able to return to the series given her multiple fractures and rupture ligaments.
And while she worked hard to return to peak fitness as quickly as possible, she credits her mum — who helped her cope with the loss of her father when she was a child — and making it through.
Comet said: “Being a Gladiator isn’t just about physical challenges.
“There are so many mental challenges too, and with my injury I had to pick myself back up again and go for it.
“Most of that resilience comes from the discipline of gymnastics, which was instilled in me at a very young age, but the rest comes from my mum and my brother.
“Mum has given me so much support and inspiration — she’s sacrificed so much to give me the best life — she helped my brother and me through that family trauma.
“When you go through something that traumatic, you either break or it makes you.”
“I think about that every day, and it is deep down without doubt the reason I am where I am today.”
My secret? An old pair of lucky PE shorts from school
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HUNKY new recruit Hammer only joined the series this year – but just because it is his first grand final, it does not mean he is nervous.
That’s because the 6ft 6in, 19st, gold medal-winning rower has a secret lucky charm — the same style of shorts he used for luck in his primary school days.
The 33-year-old Gladiator — real name Tom Wilson — revealed: “I actually have this style of black Nike shorts that I always have with me, and they’re always in my bag no matter where I go.
“They have to be a black pair with a white tick logo. It’s been a superstition for a long time, and I have to have a pair around me when I’m training or competing.
I’ve been dubbed Pete Wicks, Rylan, Jason Momoa’s Aquaman — it’s all fun and makes me laugh.
Hammer
“I can remember at school when I first started playing sports, I always had those shorts as part of my training, and it’s just carried on from there. I take them everywhere, even on holiday.
“Of course it’s not always been the same pair — they rotate, I’ve grown and many have worn out.”
Hammer, who got engaged to fiancée Chelsea Atkin two years ago, will not be without them on his wedding day either.
“I will take them along,” he explained. “I might not be wearing them — I don’t think Chelsea would like that if I walked down the aisle in them — but they have never done me wrong.”
Since making his debut, Hammer, who wields a heavy Thor-style weapon on set — has been enjoying his fame.
He said: “I feel like I’m taking it in my stride. There are moments of imposter syndrome, but I don’t think I struggle with it as such — it’s more just getting used to seeing myself on TV, and the incredible reaction from fans.”
Viewers have not held back with their opinions on Hammer since his first episode — comparing the long-haired star to original Gladiator Wolf, aka Michael Van Wijk, among other famous people.
Hammer added: “I’ve been dubbed Pete Wicks, Rylan, Jason Momoa’s Aquaman — it’s all fun and makes me laugh.”
His fame does, however, mean he sometimes heads out in disguise — to get through a trip to the supermarket or gym without too many stops for selfies.
He said: “I’m always spotted in my local shop, it’s just the zone for it. Everyone in my village knows who I am, too.
“Whenever I’ve got my hair down, I get recognised, so sometimes I’ll put my hair up and wear something long-sleeved to cover the tattoos.”
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Like Comet, Hammer carries around the memory of a loved one to keep him spurred on.
The star watched the original series, which ran on ITV in the 1990s, alongside his late grand- father, a rugby player who encouraged him to take up sport.
He recalled: “I went down to some original Gladiators shows with my grandad. When I saw the show was coming back, I remember thinking, ‘It’s go time’.
“For the whole way I’ve been telling my grandad everything. He’s not with us any more, but I always give him a shout.
“We had such a close relationship, so I know he’d be so proud because he always believed in me.
“He’d probably be laughing his head off that I’m now a Gladiator.”
- The Gladiators final is on BBC One tonight at 5.50pm.