Who is Athena? Gladiators 2025 star and powerlifter
Athena hopes to become a role model for the next generation.
Gladiators, are you ready?! Athena certainly is.
As part of the line-up of Gladiators, don't let Athena's small stature trick you into thinking she's anything other than a force to be reckoned with.
Going head-to-head against brave members of the public for a series of challenges, Athena is ready to give it her all to be the best of the best – and as a member of this elite squad of athletes, she's in good company.
"Coming from a diverse minority background, I've always dreamt of having a platform to inspire the next generation," Athena said after being announced as part of the squad.
So, what else is there to know about the powerlifter? Read on for everything you need to know about Gladiators 2025 star Athena.
Athena - Real name, Instagram and stats
Real Name: Karenjeet Bains
Age: 28
From: Warwickshire
Height: 5ft 4in
Bicep: 36cm
Instagram: @karenjeet_bains
Who is Athena?
Karenjeet Kaur Bains's Gladiator name is Athena, which is a nod to the Greek goddess of war and wisdom.
Bains has both brains and brawn, with achievements as both a powerlifter and chartered accountant.
She broke barriers to become the first Sikh woman to represent Britain in the World and European Championships. She has also won three gold and two silver Commonwealth medals.
To impress you even more, Karenjeet is a five-time All England powerlifting champion and five-time British powerlifting champion. She also holds the Guinness World Record for most bodyweight squats in a minute.
When asked what audiences can expect from Athena, Karenjeet said: "She's very classy yet composed, quite stoic and carries herself in a regal manner.
"I like to outsmart the contenders and try to be one step ahead of them, but I'll give them props if they beat me to something, that’s only fair!
"Nostalgic is definitely a good word. Our outfits are in line with the original Gladiators, but with a modern twist – I felt like Wonder Woman in mine. I would say dramatic, especially the Eliminator – you will not be disappointed.
"You will be on the edge of your seats, it’s definitely an adrenaline rush. It's as enjoyable as ever and has dramatic moments. Even I had a few of those myself, which will make good TV."
Gladiators returns on Saturday 18th January at 5:50pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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Authors
Katelyn Mensah is the Entertainment and Factual Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.
Tilly Pearce is a freelance TV journalist whose coverage ranges from reality shows like Love Is Blind to sci-fi shows like Fallout. She is an NCTJ Gold Standard accredited journalist, who has previously worked as Deputy TV Editor (maternity cover) at Digital Spy, and Deputy TV & Showbiz Editor at Daily Express US.
