Corporal Sy Wray, 24, a training instructor at RAF Boulmer, won the first prize of £50,000 in Sky One’s Gladiators, beating 20,000 people who applied to be in the contest.
After competing against the gladiators in four events in the Grand Final on Sunday, Sy began the final round – The Eliminator – three seconds behind his opponent Joel Jones.
But Sy, originally from Leeds, clawed back the time, going neck and neck with Joel, beating him in the final seconds of the race.
Cpl Wray said: “It is amazing. When I won I just couldn’t believe it – it was the best feeling in the world.
“I always knew if I stayed close to the guy, with about three to five seconds start, I would catch him up.
“It got to a point when I thought I wasn’t going to overtake him, but I gritted my teeth and managed to pip him to the post.”
And Sy has a few plans for his prize money. He said: “I bought a house in November so I might put some into that, maybe buy a car, go on a holiday, things like that.”
Friends and family were proud of Sy’s achievements. He said: “They were loving the crowd. I think they are pleased, I hope they are! We had a bit of a party on Sunday night to celebrate.”
He also thanked the RAF for its support and the training facilities it provides at the base.
But we might not have seen the last of Sy on our television screens. He said if they do an international competition or champion of champions he might just enter.