Swatragh contender ‘has more to prove’ in quarter final

As contenders and ‘gladiators’ gear up to go head to head in the quarter-final of the second series of the rebooted Gladiators television programme, there will be a Northern Ireland element to it all.

Keeva Neely, from Swatragh in County Londonderry, made it through in the second episode by default due to an injury to her opponent Nikki.

But she said she “definitely has more to prove” in the quarter-final.

The TV series sees people compete against ‘gladiators’ in fun sporty challenges to win a prize. It originally aired on ITV in the 1990s. A reboot then began on Sky One in 2008. BBC One has been running a second reboot since 2024.

Ms Neely, who owns her own gym, told BBC News NI that she has been “into fitness from a very young age”.

“I started working as a receptionist in a gym and then from there I just loved people coming in and seeing them. They just have the weight of the world on their shoulders and then leaving with such a happy face,” she said.

“I just wanted to be that person for someone.”

When the opportunity came around to be a part of Gladiators, it was something that Ms Neely jumped at.

“I always wanted to try and put myself out there. I am the type of person that would sometimes say no to things and kick myself for after.

“So when this opportunity came about, I just said yes go for it, what’s the worst that could happen?” she said.

“Thankfully, it was one of the best things I’ve done.”

Ms Neely said that the experience was one of the most “amazing, overwhelming, mental” things she has done in her life. She said every time she thinks about she just smiles.

Ms Neely made it through to the quarter-final after her competitor Nikki got injured earlier in the episode.

“I definitely feel that I have more to prove now because I didn’t get to do the eliminator,” she said.

She said she feels she has “more to prove now” because she didn’t get to do the ‘eliminator’ challenge.

“Me and Nikki were both buzzing to do the eliminator but for me, not trying it and now going into the quarter-final and trying it for the first time will definitely put a lot of nerves on me, but I’ll give it my best shot.

“You can expect a very nervous Keeva, but a very excited Keeva,” she laughed.

In her heat she got the chance to face one of the new gladiators, Cyclone, from County Wexford,, and that made it an all-island affair.

“That was crazy, safe to say I was there, scared out of my mind.”

Powerlifter Lystus Ebosele, 23, better known as Cyclone, is someone Ms Neely has looked up to in the fitness world.

“It was intimidating and scary but the best experience ever,” she said.