Midlife Crisis Drives Cardiff Contestant to Join Gladiators

A contestant on the show Gladiators has jokingly attributed his participation to his midlife crisis. Matt Jones, a civil engineer from Cardiff, is taking part in the BBC One remake of the popular 90s show. Despite not being particularly athletic or sporty, Jones decided to challenge himself in recent years to inspire his young sons. He enjoyed the experience so much that he even got a Gladiators tattoo on his leg. Jones saw an announcement on social media that the show was looking for contestants and immediately decided to audition. He described himself as going through a midlife crisis, or what he prefers to call midlife challenges. Jones expressed regret at not being involved in sports during his childhood and most of his adult life. He wanted to prove to his kids that taking risks and trying difficult things is necessary to get the most out of life. Participating in Gladiators with his wife and children watching was an emotional experience for him, evoking memories of his 12-year-old self who struggled with physical fitness. Despite his lack of a sporting background, Jones has made an effort in recent years to make up for it by taking up boxing and participating in ironman triathlons. Participating in Gladiators was the ultimate challenge for him and a way to prove his younger self wrong. The experience was so significant to him that he decided to get a tattoo to commemorate it. Jones mentioned that the auditions for the show were physically demanding, but he managed to surpass younger competitors. He noted that the gladiators on the show were even larger and tougher than he expected, but behind the scenes, they were friendly and supportive. Jones pushed himself to the limit and considered his participation a success in showing that an average person could compete against superhuman gladiators. Gladiators airs on BBC One on Saturday evenings.