Gladiators Zone - Interview: Hellga, Robin Coleman

Hellga: "I played basketball (badly) in college. One might have called it cheerleading, as I think I only clocked 2 minutes on court the entire season…. But they asked me to walk on so I gave it a shot! It was my first time as an athlete and I enjoyed it tremendously! Before that, in High School, I'd been in orchestra, academic decathlon (competitive test taking in all major subjects), and an agricultural program called 'Future Farmers of America'.

After several years of playing with weights, I started serious weightlifting on a power-lifting platform in 1995. I started bodybuilding competitions in 1997 right after moving to California and meeting with some influential people. I then began training as an actor, and due to several different project I was led to training in professional wrestling, mixed martial arts and even boxing!

In 2001, great friend and Olympian Gea Johnson introduced me to the right people, and I had the right numbers with regard to my major lifts… so I was one of 8 women chosen to compete in the very first World's Strongest Woman competition in Zambia, Africa! Only 25 years after the men started… it definitely felt like a big move toward gender equality in sports.

Additionally, I began rowing in 2005, and became a US Rowing Coach in 2006. I also did my first figure competition in 06, and I hope to compete more in both of these sports. Rowing is a gorgeous and timeless sport – you can find an 80 year-old class at the prestigious Head of the Charles, so that's going to be a focus of mine for the rest of my life."

Hellga: "Well I think it's the first time that a pro strong woman has ever done the Gladiators –- and the pain from pushing yourself to extremes you learn not only to block out, but eventually love - is a big part of wanting to do this! Rowing is all about inner peace, balance and synchronicity with your teammates, so that helps in the Gladiator environment where we are not only a team, but a family. Bodybuilding and figure prep assist for the discipline and patience they teach and the pride I've derived from succeeding in them... And truly, for everything that I've ever done, it's all about the psychology of it and being able to wrap your mind around something and diving in, finding how deep you can dig – a necessary Gladiator characteristic!"

Hellga: "I love the Gauntlet. I am made for the Gauntlet! I am the stopper - they put me at the back… and after watching myself on tape, let's say I wouldn't want to fight me.

I love Assault too… It is just amazing and I would say that it's fighting for my #1 spot because of the spectacular twist they've added!"

Hellga: "I'm actually quite fast on a sprinting basis; I clocked a 4.7- 40 yard dash in 01, and while I haven't done a lot of that for rowing – where a sprint is 2000 meters and backward – I had a good run in Powerball and I know that as I train specifically as a Gladiator I'll only get better! Look out now!"

Hellga: "The Wall… I've taken some lessons at Training Camp, mostly in humility … it's not easy holding my big self up there with these little hands! My first few times up there I thought to myself, "I never thought I'd know what it was to be a cat stuck to a screen door." With perseverance though, I made it to the top a few times. In time you might find me nipping at your heels, contenders!"

Hellga: "I'm doing Hit and Run, Assault, Powerball and The Gauntlet. Maybe more? Only time will tell!"

Hellga: "I would love to do The Joust. I'm not sure why I'm not being put on Joust, but in the first night of training I was put up against the Ultimate Fighting Champion Gladiator, Crush, and she just clocked me. It was a new thing for me and I was still getting used to actually hitting somebody. I was like, "… if I'm going to get knocked off, then it'll only be by an Ultimate Fighting Champion!" In fact, I've had a lot of fun telling the story of seeing the cartoon stars and swooning 3 times before tipping like a giant redwood. But don't let that story fool ya – no one else will be able to stay up there against me. Bring a lifejacket!"

Hellga: "It was kind of an accident. I was an overweight child. I was about 265lbs when I was sixteen. I started studying Nutrition & Kinesiology in college, and started getting into working out and finally coming to terms with the fact that I wasn't built like a runway model (mom had hoped for the next Ms. Texas from me, not the next Ms. Olympia). I started working out to change my body, and to cut a long story short, I got into Power Lifting and moved to San Diego and the pro body builders there told me, 'you have to compete, you're naturally muscular and symmetrical'. I was offered professional help with training, and my partner at the time in the nutrition biz did my diet, and I just took off and did it – and never looked back. The first time I was backstage I was in tears, because I then realized that I was actually one hundred pounds less than when I was at High School. It was amazing. It didn't even occur to me until I got on the scales – which I'd found to be mildly entertaining, having to question me being a heavy weight. Mmmm – Okay !"

Hellga: "It's nice. I really like it. I can do both. Remember that I learned to row in an 8! (8 crew, 1 coxswain). I'm an only child and so I'm used to the lone stuff and I don't have a problem relying upon myself. But working with the team just builds the basis of trust and friendship that nothing else can compare to, and everyone is such a great athlete! Depending on each other and always having to count on one another is incredible. The best part is that I am doing both team and solo missions on the show!"

Hellga: "I'd only known Mike O'Hearn (who is very obviously a male Gladiator) in passing from the gym. I knew of a couple of the girls from their publicity and the shows...

I'm looking around the people that I'm sitting with and I'm pretty stunned that I'm sitting here. I am very proud."

Hellga: "Siren and Stealth. They don't know this, but I have used to put their photos on my fridge to help me to diet down. Next time I diet down, I might take a page out of Siren's book and use my own pics with words of wisdom and quotes on them! If it works for her, I'm sure it's a good idea!"

Hellga: "That's a difficult one to narrow down, but of course I have to say Arnold (Schwarzenegger) if only for the broad spectrum of things he's touched successfully in his life. He's just amazing. Lou Ferrigno right now, I think he's incredible, along with my friend Raye Hollitt (Zap). I admire a lot of the early figures from the 50s and 60s Venice / Santa Monica scene, like Pudgy Stockton, and also the early strongwomen that used to appear in carnivals in the days prior to television. After a close friend introduced me to articles on them, I realized that I'm a reincarnation of Kate Sandwina!"

Hellga: "I definitely didn't - I came up with Tempest myself. The first name that the studio gave me was Amazon, and I really liked that. I had already planned on nabbing the Swedish Amazon's signature move. But Helga came when we were in costume the first time, and one of the producers announced, "Robin, NBC is going to call you Helga". And I just smiled, blushed deeply, and thought, "Ahhh, that's not an adjective?" So, I was a little concerned. However, after Hulk recommended I get an extra L to make it more Gladiatorial, and after hearing my name being chanted by adults and kids alike, and hearing that I'd actually had a Helga in the family (great- great aunt on the Dutch side), I've grown into it and now love it more than any I could have designed."

Hellga: "It's a Nordic word for Giant Medieval Butt Kicker! Oh yeah!!! I love my costume too. I look so intimidating, but am I going to kick your butt or serve you a beer? Am I a Catholic schoolgirl or sheep-herder? It's nice that there's room for artistic license here."

Hellga: "I hope so! I've had a little tiny bit of it previously, and being known as the girl who squatted cars and then dated (for television show purposes) Screetch from sitcom 'Saved by the Bell' was NOT easy! This might be overwhelming now, I don't know. I do hope we can all be positive figures in the media in a time where role models who promote health and intelligence are desperately needed.

A funny story - I was actually running around the mall the other day with holiday shopping, looking crazy / no makeup / baseball hat casual, thinking that around January 7th I probably won't be able to do this so easily. I can't have a photo like that on People or OK! And the other night at a dinner with friends, one of them said to the maitre d', "…and we're here with one of the new American Gladiators!" and I think everyone who was staff (and a few people from the bar) came over to peek at me. That was pretty fun. It was my first night in LA, after living here 10 years, feeling like a celebrity. I'm excited."

Hellga: "Comedy! I would love to be on Saturday Night Live. I've trained in comedy with the Groundlings, and I still want to get up on stage and try stand-up! I'd love to play a goofy but successful super hero, a Feminine Inspector Clouseau type. She Hulk perhaps! I'd love to do some tv show hosting. Also, raising horses is a passion; I have two miniature horses (weanlings) right now - Outlaw and Sky. I want to have more land and some larger horses. I need to travel much more (I love Italy!) Eventually, I want to have a family too. I love kids!"

Hellga: "Thank you for being a fan and thank you for loving the big girl, 'cuz the big girl loves you too! Viking power, baby!!!!"