Here's a great video of Phoenix (aka Jennifer Widerstrom) leg-crushing some poor competitor on "Hang Tough" on "American Gladiators".

Phoenix Flexes: Wow!TV.com has a bunch of photos of Phoenix from "American Gladiators" - who is played by Jennifer Widerstrom - mislabeled as being Valerie Waugaman, who plays Siren. In the photo at right, Widerstrom flexes one those amazing arms - look at that bulging biceps! Wow!

Phoenix has probably got the most amazing body on a show full of people with amazing bodies. She's obviously solid as a rock but still manages to be shaped like a pin-up. If there was a co-ed version of the show, I'd train and try out for "American Gladiators" just in the hope of getting banged around by Phoenix (but since there's not I'll just stay comfortable here on my couch).

I've noticed that Phoenix has rapidly become the most popular gladiator on this site and on the web, so hopefully that popularity will translate into success for Jennifer Widerstrom.

Here are the two TV.com galleries - one and two - they completely confused Widerstrom and Waugaman.

Jennifer WiderstromCrave Online has an interview with the gorgeous Jennifer Widerstrom, aka "Phoenix":

Crave Online: How did you come up with this look?
Phoenix: We went for a really big look. I've got bright pink hair, the bubblegum lips to match it and the pink rouge. I think it's kind of taking the responsibility of bringing a little extra sex appeal to the show as you will see in my uniform. It's pretty functional and it keeps all the good parts in, but it shows enough. So I have a feminine look, but I'm definitely very strong. I don't know if that's the description you want. I'm wearing silver spandex just like the rest of the girls are.

Well, that explains the pink hair.

Jennifer WiderstromI was a bit slow picking up why Jennifer Widerstrom, aka "Phoenix", is wearing wings in her publicity photos. But finally I realized that they're phoenix wings.

Still, you have to be careful trying to extract meaningful symbolism from "American Gladiators". The sirens of myth are usually depicted with wings, and yet there aren't any photos of Valerie Waugaman with them strapped on. Also, Widerstrom's hair is purple, and I'm not aware of any mythological tie-in to that.