In the season premiere of American Gladiators, did you see anyone you recognized? If you are a member of a Tampa area Lifestyle Family Fitness, you may have. Lifestyle’s own Melissa Trinidad (a personal trainer) was a competitor on the new and improved version of the hit 1990s show.

American Gladiators, which ran from 1989 to 1996, featured everyday amateur athletes competing against action stars and stunt professionals in a variety of physical contests. After 12 years, the show is back! Classic events such as The Joust, The Wall, The Pyramid, Hang Tough, and The Eliminator return, but with more special effects and bigger challenges.

When Melissa heard from a personal training client that the show was returning to television, she knew she had to try out. “I loved that show when I was younger,” she said. “I went online and saw they were auditioning in Orlando, and knew it was my chance!”

Melissa went to the open call where they did interviews and some physical tests. Melissa was able to do 22 pull ups in 30 seconds, putting her ahead of her competition. Out of over 1,000 people there, she easily moved into the next round. Several call backs ensued, and finally, Melissa was one of the 40 (20 male and 20 female) contestants chosen to be on the show.

NBC flew Melissa out to Los Angeles to film at the L.A. Sports Arena. She admits to being a little intimidated by what she saw. “Seeing it on TV doesn’t do it justice. Everything is so much bigger in person!” she said. She was a little overwhelmed, but that didn’t stop her enthusiasm for this exciting experience. She knew this was the chance of a lifetime and she was really excited to be part of it.

Each week, everyday athletes compete against a Gladiator in several events. Whoever has the most points after 4 events gets a head start on the Eliminator event. The competitor with the best time from the Eliminator moves into the next round, where they compete against the winner from another episode. So, was Melissa ready for the challenge?

Though active in kickboxing and martial arts, she says there was no way she could really be ready for her experience on American Gladiators. “No amount of training could prepare you for that!” she said. “Where can you practice jousting 12 feet in