OXFORDSHIRE athlete Lucy Boggis has been chosen to become one of 12 new Gladiators in the remake of the popular Nineties combat show.

The talented heptathlete has been transformed into 'Tempest' and her name will be soon be on the lips of viewers across the country when the show is screened on Sky One in May.

The 19-year-old, from Lew, near Witney, will be donning the Gladiators' silver and grey uniform when filming begins at Shepperton Studios in London later this month.

The former Cokethorpe School pupil, who is the youngest Gladiator in the new series, has been training for eight hours a day on the show's iconic events including Hang Tough, Duel and The Wall, after successfully winning an audition at the beginning of March.

Miss Boggis, who is the national pentathlon indoor record holder, said: "It's a dream come true, but it's only just starting to sink in.

"In the auditions they asked me what I wanted to be called and I said Ocean, because I love surfing but they thought Tempest was quite fitting because my hair is quite wild and like a storm."

The teenager, who trains at Radley Athletics Club in Abingdon and has four gold medals in English schools competitions, added: "I have taken to The Wall quite well and I like Power Ball.

"It's physical and I can't wait to knock some contenders down.

"Some of the contenders might be surprised to find out that I'm a bit stronger than than they're expecting.

"As a heptathlete I'm used to changing between different events so I've found it quite easy to adapt to all of them so far.

"It's so cool being a Gladiator. I've been practising my signature pose which is a flick of my hair, a wave and then I blow a kiss.

"I absolutely loved Gladiators as a child and now I'm actually in it."

However, the promising athlete said being in the show wouldn't distract her from her main aim of competing in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

She said: "Gladiators will help strengthen different parts of my body, but I am still totally dedicated to athletics."

Her father Peter, 60, added: "It's a great opportunity to get her name out into the public and means she's able to pay for her training this year."