Former Lady'Back Steiner to appear on Fear Factor

FAYETTEVILLE – Former University of Arkansas Lady Razorback pole vaulter April Steiner is scheduled to appear on the Nov. 22, 2004 episode of Fear Factor to be shown on NBC at 7:00 p.m.

The 2003 graduate of the University was in training for the United States Olympic Trials when she received the call to appear on the show, but asked that she not participate until after she took her chance at the Olympic dream. Following her fifth-place finish at the trials, Steiner made her debut with the cast and crew of the show in Los Angeles.

“It was awesome,” Steiner said of her experience. “I would do it again. I was there for a week and everyone was really nice. I even made friends with some of the other contestants and we still keep in touch.”

One of Steiner’s favorite people on the show was host Joe Rogan who had the entire lineup of contestants laughing nonstop.

“Joe is so funny,” Steiner said. “He’s a stand-up comedian and is hilarious. I was laughing so hard at times that I couldn’t even stand up.”

While Steiner is unable to reveal the outcome of the show until after it airs, she was able to give some insight as to what she was asked to do as a contestant for the $50,000 grand prize.

“Everything was a surprise until they began filming,” Steiner said. “They gave us the option of what colors we would wear, but that was all the prep work. They also told us to bring a swimsuit, but they tell everyone that whether they are going to be in the water or not.”

According to Steiner she spent the first day of filming on a boat that resembled the Mayflower to go along with the Thanksgiving Day special theme.

“The first morning was really frustrating because we sat in a trailer,” Steiner said. “I didn’t know that they were going to be bringing us out into the ocean and it was freezing. On top of that I was getting seasick below deck, so they had to bring me up to the deck and asked that I keep my head down so that I couldn’t see where we were going. We were sailing for almost an hour and a half before we got to where we needed to be.”

In preparation for the week of action, Steiner was in peak condition for the Olympics, but worked with her personal trainer for four weeks to prepare for the rigors of the show.

“I jumped at one meet after the trials, but began swimming every morning to prepare for the show,” said Steiner. “I know that they do a lot with water and I hate the water. My trainer and I did a lot of work holding my breath so that I wouldn’t be afraid or skittish with the water.”

For more information about Lady Razorback track and field or about University of Arkansas Women’s Athletics log on to www.ladybacks.com.