Gauntlet

**Gauntlet** is an event played in several incarnations of the television series *Gladiators*. In this event, a contender must run through a narrow alleyway defended by five Gladiators.

## Rules

One contender faces five Gladiators one by one, and on the whistle has 30 seconds to make their way through the Gauntlet. Each Gladiator is carrying a weapon, most commonly a ramrod or power pads, and must use this to block the contenders path. Contenders receive 10 points for making it through the Gauntlet within 20 seconds and 5 points for completing within 30 seconds. Each Gladiator has their own clearly marked zone within the Gauntlet and must not go outside of it. Gladiators may not double team a contender or use their body weight to pin the contenders down. Whilst pushing contenders with the weapons is allowed, hitting is not. The standard order for Gladiators weaponry is Ramrod, Power Pads, Ramrod, Powers pads, Ramrod. Gladiators may change formation between matches but the weapons order must not change. Contenders must only run into Gladiators, using their body to force themselves past the Gladiator. Pushing is not allowed, nor is deliberately holding onto the Gladiators weapons. Completion of the Gauntlet is different for each territory. In some, the contender must get their entire body out of the Gauntlet, whilst in others, the contender only needs to get any part of their body out for the game to end. If the Gladiator pushes the contender out of the Gauntlet, then the contender restarts moving onto the next Gladiator. If the contender causes themselves to exit the Gauntlet, then they have to restart once again facing the last Gladiator they faced or, in some cases, they forfeit the game.

## International differences

In Australia, the power pads are much larger than in other territories and the contenders may not run directly at the Gladiators. Doing so will result in disqualification. In the United Kingdom and America, contenders receive 2 points for each Gladiator they get past. After passing the last Gladiator, they must run through a wall at the end within 30 seconds to claim 10 points. Both the British and American Gauntlets have wire walls to prevent contenders from being removed from the Gauntlet. In Britain, body armour is used by both contenders and Gladiators. In America and Australia, only the contenders wear body armour. In Sweden, the event was known as Gatloppet and lasted for 25 seconds.

## Event history

### America

* Years active: 1993-1996, 2008–2009

Gauntlet was introduced in the fourth series, in which the event only lasted 25 seconds. The contender scored 10 points should he pass through the entire Gauntlet in less than 20 seconds; 5 should he do so within the allotted 25. In the seventh season, the number of Gladiators was reduced to four and contenders had to get out in 15 seconds to claim 10 points, and 20 to get 5 points. In the 2008 revival, the scoring format was changed to 2 points per completed Gladiator, four Gladiators in total, and 10 for getting through the end wall, which was located on the pool side of the bridge dividing the arena. Weapons used being Ramrod, Power Pads, Ramrod, Power Pads. Audience members lined the cage of the Gauntlet. In the second season of the 2008 revival, with the bridge removed, all of the Gladiators were moved up a zone to keep the "Free Zone" intact at the end of the Gauntlet. This part was under the bridge in Season 1. While there is an extra marked zone at the end of the Gauntlet, the fourth Gladiator is not allowed to block the contender in that zone, and must release them when they enter the fourth safe zone. Audience members no longer line the cage. Also, in the semifinals, the scoring format changed to contenders earning 10 points if they complete the Gauntlet in less than 20 seconds or 5 points if they complete it in less than 30 seconds. The record in both domestic and international competition for the Gauntlet is held by American contender Wesley "2-Scoops" Berry at 9 seconds during both season 5 of the original series and the first installment of International Gladiators.

### United Kingdom

* Years active: 1993-1999, 2008–2009

Gauntlet was introduced in the second series, but was changed to only have three Gladiatorsand a much wider Gauntlet. For the heats, contenders would receive 3 points for each Gladiator they got past, with the quickest contender getting a bonus point. From the quarter finals onwards, the quickest contender received 10 points with the slowest 5 points. There was no time limit to the event. In the third series, Gauntlet was dramatically changed back to its original American concept in which contenders faced five Gladiators down a much narrower Gauntlet. The standard 30 second time limit was applied along with the standard points format. Body armour for both contenders and Gladiators was introduced, with the Gladiators having individually designed body armour. From 1996, new Gladiator additions to the team were given either a plain red or plain black body armour set. The body armour would also be used for Danger Zone. In 1998, the points format was changed so that contenders received 1 point for each Gladiator they passed and 10 for completing the Gauntlet within 30 seconds. For the 2008 revival, the Gauntlet was encaged with audience members on each side. For the heats, the number of Gladiators was reduced to four, with the weapon order of Ramrod, Power Pad, Power Pads, Ramrod, before being increased to five Gladiators for the quarter finals in which a third, currently unnamed weapon was introduced between the two Gladiators with Power Pads. 2 points are awarded for each Gladiator passed. The The domestic record is held in the revival by **Norris Thompson**, who completed the Gauntlet in 8 seconds in Heat 4 of Series 2.

### Australia

* Years active: 1995-1996, 2008

In the first Australian series, only 25 seconds were given for contenders to complete the Gauntlet. Gladiators wore body armour in addition to contenders. Australia is the only revival territory to commence with five Gladiators in the Gauntlet, but has dropped the body armour for Gladiators. Since its revival, the rules are 10 points if the challenger passes through all five gladiators in under 20 seconds and 5 points if done within 30 seconds. When the female Gladiators enter the Gauntlet, the theme song played is "Get The Party Started" by Pink. When the male Gladiators enter the Gauntlet, the theme song played is "Right Here, Right Now" by Fatboy Slim. Angel is the only female Gladiator not to take part in the Gauntlet. The fastest run to complete the gauntlet was by Natasha Haines, made in the first 2008 quarter final, completing the gauntlet in 9.88 seconds.