# Gladiaattorit

Gladiaattorit is a Finnish competition television program part of the international Gladiators franchise.

## Original series

The show originally ran for three seasons from 1993 to 1994; it was directed by Hollywood director Renny Harlin, produced by Markus Selin, and filmed at Planet FunFun. It was hosted by Juha-Pekka Jalo alongside Katariina Ebeling in 1993 and Minna Aaltonen in 1994.
It was rerun on the original MTV3 channel in 2002.

### Participants

Persons becoming famous from the show included Tony Halme (Viikinki—Gladiator Viking) who would become a member of the parliament and Virpi Butt (Timantti—Gladiator Diamond) who committed a murder in 2003.
Competitors Pirjo Litilia, Riikka Hartikainen, Jarmo Jousisto, and Tommi Vuoristo would later compete on International Gladiators 1. Gladiators Flash (Salama—Marjo Krishi) and Terminator (Terminaattori — Mikko Tukonen) would also appear on IG1.

## Revivals

On 6 April 2017, it was announced that the show, owned by MGM Television, will return to the airwaves in Finland for a revival on Nelonen. The new series will be hosted by Heikki Paasonen and recorded at Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre.
It was announced that in 2019 a new series of Gladiaattorit would return to its original television channel MTV3. The relaunched series was hosted by Viivi Pumpanen and Antero Mertaranta. Filming of the series began on 11 February 2019 and is produced by MTV Warner Bros. International Television Production Finland. There were seven new Gladiators joining the team, with six staying from the previous series in 2017. Legendary original Gladiator Mohikaani (Mika Ounaskari) joined the show as the Gladiators coach and event expert.

## Events

| Event name(s) in Finnish | English translation(s) | Included in the original series | Included in 2017 series | Included in 2019 series | Description of event |
| Läpimurto | Breakthrough | Yes | No | Yes | Try to pass the gladiator with an American football, then wrestle |
| Kaksintaistelu | Duel | Yes | No | Yes | Contestant tries to push the gladiator off a pedestal with a pugil stick |
| Viidakon valtias / Teräsrenkaat / Ilmarenkaat | King of the Jungle / Steel rings / Sky rings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Contestant tries to swing themselves to gladiator's platform with rings |
| Ihmiskuulat / Taistelupallo | Human balls / Fight ball | Yes | Yes | Yes | Contestants and gladiators score points by moving inside metal spheres |
| Kaupunkisota / Vaaran vyöhyke | Street war / Danger zone | Yes | No | Yes | Gladiator shoots with ball gun, while contestant tries to hit a target or run safe |
| Taistelupallo | Ball fight | Yes | Yes | Yes | Contestants try to score balls on field, while gladiators tackle them |
| Luotikuja / Kouru | Bullet alley / Channel | Yes | Yes | No | Contestant tries to pass gladiators in a narrow alley |
| Cliffhanger / Seinä | Cliffhanger / Wall | Yes | No | Yes | Wall climbing contest with chasing gladiators |
| Pyramidi | Pyramid | No | Yes | No | Gladiators attempt to prevent contestants from reaching the top |
| Kaksintaistelu | Duel | No | Yes | No | Contestant tries to pass gladiator on a moving bridge |
| Sieppaus | Catch | No | Yes | No | Contestants try to catch balls by bungee jumping |
| Ilmapaini | Sky wrestling | No | Yes | Yes | Wrestling on a hanging sky platform |
| Hit and Run | Hit and Run | No | No | Yes | Contestants try to carry balls, while gladiators attempt to push them down with pendulums |
| Nopeusrata | Speed track | No | No | Yes | Sports track, where two fastest contestants advance to the finals |
| Stunt-rata / Takaa-ajo / Loppurata | Stunt track / Chase / Final track | Yes | Yes | Yes | The final stunt track, where winner will win the contest |

## Gladiators

| Season | Full name | Gladiator name | Signature move or costume |
| 1990s | Virpi Butt | Timantti (Diamond) | |
| 1990s | Tony Halme | Viikinki (Viking) | |
| 1990s | Tuija Elo (nee Hokkanen) | Laser | |
| 1990s | Pasi Paavisto | Retu | |
| 1990s | Mikko Tukonen | Terminaattori (Terminator) | |
| 1990s | Lisbet Hälikkä | Skorpioni (Scorpion) | |
| 1990s | Marjo Krishi | Salama (Flash) | |
| 1990s | Mika Ounaskari | Mohikaani (Mohican) | Mohican's face was painted with war stripes |
| 1990s | Agneta Honkala (nee Granfors) | Cobra | |
| 1990s | Timo Honkala | Turbo | Always happy and smiling |
| 1990s | Merja Ryytty | Barbi (Barbie) | |
| 1990s | Kari Pötrönen | Vääpeli (Feldwebel, a non-commissioned military officer rank) | Feldwebel yelled about the greatness of the Finnish army after he won a battle. |
| 1990s | Kirsti Tapiola | Pantteri (Panther) | |
| 1990s | Minna Ryynänen | Safiiri (Sapphire) | |
| 1990s | Ilkka Kinnunen | Barbaari (Barbarian) | |
| 1990s | Hanssi Fell | Lalli (Lalli, a Finnish historical figure) | |
| 1990s | Annette Söderling | Hurrikaani (Hurricane) | |
| 1990s | Matti Lindholm | Torpedo | |
| 1990s | Jussi Hokkanen | Teräs (Steel) | |
| 1990s | Timo Kangasluoma | Haukka (Hawk) | |
| 1990s | Marianne Kiukkonen | Amazoni (Amazon) | |
| 2017, 2019 | Minna Pajulahti | Barbi (Barbie) | Jump to the splits |
| 2017, 2019 | Oona Tolppanen | Safiiri (Sapphire) | Big smile |
| 2017, 2019 | Milena AbbasMamode | Skorpioni (Scorpion) | |
| 2017, 2019 | Juha Mentula | Viikinki (Viking) | |
| 2017, 2019 | Vertti Harjuniemi | Titaani (Titan) | |
| 2017, 2019 | Terhi Lumme | Cobra | |
| 2017 | Martina Aitolehti | Pantteri (Panther) | Has the manner of being bad girl |
| 2017 | Suski Mantila | Salama (Flash) | |
| 2017 | Laura Saarinen | Hurrikaani (Hurricane) | |
| 2017 | Rita Niemi-Manninen | Laser | |
| 2017 | Jere Tiihonen | Mohikaani (Mohican) | Dressed in Native American imitation costume |
| 2017 | Hannes Hyvönen | Hurja (Ferocious) | |
| 2017 | Amin Asikainen | Kivinyrkki (Stone Fist) | |
| 2017 | Rami Hietaniemi | Häjy (Mean Troublemaker) | Dressed in Pohjanmaa area's traditional vest |
| 2017 | Jucci Hellström | Terminaattori (Terminator) | Flirted in show, e.g. by handing out roses |
| 2017 | Aki Manninen | Turbo | Slapped contestants' bottoms |
| 2019 | Janica Timonen | Seireeni (Siren) | Calls with hand gesture |
| 2019 | Antti Halmo | Tankki (Tank) | |
| 2019 | Piia Pajunen | Tornado | Tumbling and cartwheels |
| 2019 | Ivo Angel Gonzales | Matador | Moves imaginary cloak like a matador |
| 2019 | Jouni Viitanen | Haukka (Hawk) | Moves hands as if they were flying like a Hawk |
| 2019 | Arja Halmo | Tiikeri (Tiger) | |
| 2019 | Luukas Lindeman | Soturi (Soldier) | Shoots with imaginary arrow; Warrior stripes painted on face. |