After nearly three months of intense competition, the winners of Gladiators 2026 have been officially crowned champions in a grand final that saw record-breaking achievements. Emily Bell and Josh McDonald emerged victorious, taking home the coveted giant 'G' trophies in a night filled with drama and historic milestones.
Historic Female Finalists Break Age Barriers
The female finalists made television history with Emily Bell, aged 23, and Naomi Church, aged 40, becoming the youngest and oldest contenders ever to reach the Gladiators final. Their remarkable age difference proved insignificant against their exceptional fitness levels, creating a neck-and-neck battle that captivated viewers throughout the competition.
Emily Bell's Triumphant Victory
Emily Bell secured her win by gaining a crucial advantage on the balance beam before storming up the travelator in a single attempt - a feat she had never accomplished during the entire series. Elated by her victory after eleven grueling weeks of challenges like the Powerball and The Edge, Emily told host Bradley Walsh: "I just won Gladiators season three on my 23rd birthday! I could not imagine being here with a better person. We've made history as the oldest and youngest female contenders."
She added about her fellow finalist Naomi Church: "What a woman, she is such an inspiration and shows that at any age, just go out and do it."
Josh McDonald's Dramatic Win
In the male competition, Josh McDonald and Tyler Spence battled through one of the most dramatic travelator contests in the show's history. Josh emerged victorious, flying up the travelator first to claim his championship title. After his win, he told Bradley Walsh: "We knew it was going to be a close battle and it could have gone either way. I was thinking about my mum the entire time, this win is for my family."
Post-Victory Reflections and Personal Achievements
Emily Bell expressed mixed emotions about her Gladiators experience, stating she never wants to face the travelator again. "I don't think I will fully comprehend for a long time what I've accomplished and what I've overcome both physically and mentally," she said. "I'm also feeling very grateful that I won't have to do that travelator again."
When asked about her season highlights, Emily mentioned surviving Cyclone on duel and knocking off Sabre as particularly memorable moments. "There is simply no feeling like it," she said. "Also, having a whole arena sing me happy birthday, how many people has that happened to?"
Cambridge Degree Versus Gladiators Trophy
Emily faces a difficult choice about which achievement she's more proud of - winning Gladiators or earning her degree from Cambridge University. "That beautiful G trophy is going right next to my framed Cambridge degree," she revealed. "It's tough to say which one I poured more blood, sweat and tears into - one was definitely more sweat heavy and the other more tears heavy - but both represent accomplishments beyond my imagination."
Josh McDonald's Unforgettable Experience
Josh McDonald was equally overwhelmed by his success, stating: "I still can't believe I have won the show, I feel very privileged to have even been part of the experience." His highlight from the competition was participating in the Eliminator event. "It felt strange having watched the show for so long to then be standing at the start line of the Eliminator, looking up and seeing the course in front of me is a memory I will never forget," he said.
Josh described the experience as transformative for his competitive nature. "I have always been a very competitive person and would often become very disheartened if I lost," he explained. "During my time on Gladiators there were times when the events did not go my way. I learned that I was able to deal with these situations, pick myself back up and focus on the next challenge ahead."
The Gladiators 2026 competition has concluded with these remarkable champions setting new standards for athletic achievement and breaking age barriers in television competition history.
