Gladiators contestant Nikki Billingham suffered a nasty injury during the show (Picture: Nikki Billingham/Instagram)
A nasty injury forced one Gladiators contestant to be sent home early—and she’s now revealed the terrifying extent of what actually happened.
Nikki Billingham, a wedding celebrant from West Yorkshire in her 40s, took on gym owner Keeva from Belfast during the second episode of series 2 of the BBC show, which sees amateurs take on the Gladiators during physically challenging events.
She got off to a strong start but was injured during the third event, The Edge, a crisscross grid in the air that contenders run across while gladiators try to push them.
Dynamite, a weightlifter called Emily Steel, pushed Nikki off the ledge, and she fell on the safety net below, wincing in pain.
At that point, host Bradley Walsh halted the show and urged her to get checked out by a medic.
Now, Nikki has explained that she actually lost feeling in her arms after the fall, and it took a while for her to get back to feeling like herself.
She was pushed off the ledge by Gladiator Dynamite (Picture: BBC)
Nikki got off to a promising start before sustaining her injuries (Picture: Graeme Hunter/BBC/PA Wire)
Taking to Instagram after her elimination, she began by describing Gladiators as ‘the best experience in the world,’ despite it not ending how she hoped it would.
‘You know what you are letting yourself in for and potential risks involved and unfortunately I did sustain an injury,’ she shared.
‘When @dynamite_thegladiator did exactly what she was supposed to do and tackled me off the edge unfortunately when we landed, we landed together and my neck and arm took the brunt of it.
‘I lost feeling in my arms, compression of my spine and it took a few weeks to come back and a few months to get fully back to where I was.’
Nikki added that now, thankfully, she’s ‘back to full strength with hard work and determination in the gym.’
However, the photos she attached aren’t for the faint-hearted, as she shared a selfie wearing a neck brace, pulling her lip down to show blood inside.
Her arm was also covered in bruises down to her elbow—ouch!
The wedding celebrant took to Instagram to share photos not for the faint-hearted (Picture: Nikki Billingham/Instagram)
Her arm took the brunt of the fall – ouch! (Picture: Nikki Billingham/Instagram)
‘Obviously I am gutted I didn’t get to do the eliminator, the most iconic part of the show!! I loved Gladiators as a kid growing up and to get on the show literally is a dream come true!’, Nikki continued.
She hailed the Gladiators she competed against as ‘super inspirational humans’ and ‘amazing role models’.
‘Thank you to everyone for your support and all the messages I have received. What a show!! 💪’, she signed off.
Proving there’s nothing but love between them, Gladiator Dynamite, aka Emily, commented on the post: ‘You did amazing❤️’
This is the second time Dynamite has sung Nikki’s praises as, during the show, she said that ‘no matter what happened up there and how she’s feeling right now, she (has) done so well to come this far, and she should be really proud of herself.’
Just before the final contest, obstacle course The Eliminator, Keeva and Nikki were level in terms of points.
Co-presenter Barney, who is the son of broadcasting legend Bradley, then announced Nikki had to leave the competition.
She’s keeping her spirits up, though, and said Gladiators was the ‘best’ experience (Picture: Nikki Billingham/Instagram)
Nikki is now back to herself after hard work in the gym (Picture: Nikki Billingham/Instagram)
Host Bradley Walsh had to intervene as she went to get checked out by medics (Picture: BBC)
He said that Nikki’s ‘been checked over by our brilliant medical team, and unfortunately, she will not be able to compete in The Eliminator’ before saying that Keeva had made it through to the quarter-final.
‘I’m absolutely devastated for Nikki as much as I’m happy I’m in the quarter-finals; yes, it’s tough,’ Keeva said at the time.
‘I’m sure she’s in good hands.’
Gladiators was revived by the BBC last year.
The original UK version started in 1992 and was presented by Ulrika Jonsson and footballer John Fashanu. It lasted on ITV for eight years until 2000.
It then returned for a short run on Sky between 2008 and 2009.
Gladiators airs Saturdays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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