Trainer Games
| Trainer Games | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Reality competition |
| Created by | iFIT |
| Presented by | Amanda Kloots |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Nick Rigg Fred Pichel Michael Hamblin Eli Holzman Aaron Saidman |
| Producers | iFIT Sony Pictures Television – Nonfiction Brass Monkeys Media |
| Production location | Mauritius |
| Original release | |
| Network | Prime Video |
| Release | January 8, 2026 |
Trainer Games
[edit]Trainer Games is an American reality competition series produced by iFIT and Sony Pictures Television's nonfiction division. Ten fitness trainers compete over six episodes for a place on iFIT's roster of trainers. The series premiered on Prime Video in the United States on January 8, 2026.
Premise
[edit]Ten fitness professionals from different athletic backgrounds compete in physical and mental challenges over two weeks in Mauritius. Three iFIT trainers, John Peel, Hannah Eden, and Ashley Paulson, mentor the contestants throughout the season. Judging accounts for leadership and coaching ability alongside physical performance. The winner receives a $250,000 contract with iFIT.[1] Kori Sampson won the competition and joined iFIT's roster of trainers.[2]
Background
[edit]Trainer Games is iFIT's first television production; the company's primary business had previously been connected fitness equipment and coaching software. According to Forbes, the series launched alongside iFIT Personal Trainer, an app that provides AI-based coaching guidance.[3] The contestant field included a yoga instructor, an Olympic athlete, a Broadway performer, and an endurance athlete.[4]
Cast
[edit]Contestants
[edit]- Darryl Williams, fitness influencer specializing in functional strength training
- Chari Hawkins, Olympic heptathlete who competed for the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics
- Chris Griffiths, boxer and boxing coach from Scotland
- Dan Holguin, ranch owner and endurance coach
- Divinity Gains, instructor specializing in yoga, Pilates, and sculpt training
- Heather Gollnick, five-time Ironman triathlon champion
- Kori Sampson, fitness coach and former cast member of Too Hot to Handle; winner of the competition
- Nick Davis, Broadway performer and fitness instructor
- Shelby Brewster, fitness coach specializing in yoga, swimming, and HIIT
- Yanessa Navarro, fitness coach specializing in balance and sprint training
Hosts and mentors
[edit]- Amanda Kloots, host
- John Peel, iFIT trainer and mentor
- Hannah Eden, iFIT trainer and mentor
- Ashley Paulson, iFIT trainer and mentor[4]
Production
[edit]The series was produced by iFIT, Sony Pictures Television – Nonfiction, and Brass Monkeys Media, and was announced in December 2025.[5] Nick Rigg and Fred Pichel served as executive producers alongside iFIT's Michael Hamblin and Sony Pictures Television's Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman. Filming took place on Mauritius, using ocean, mountain, and urban locations for the competition's challenges.[5]
Release
[edit]Trainer Games premiered on Prime Video in the United States on January 8, 2026, with new episodes released weekly through the finale on February 5, 2026. The series appeared in early-2026 streaming premiere calendars published by TV Insider[6] and The Hollywood Reporter.[7] iFIT and Sony Pictures Television promoted the series with a dedicated YouTube channel featuring behind-the-scenes footage.[8]
Reception
[edit]In a review for Common Sense Media, Stephanie Morgan called the series an "OK extreme fitness competition" and wrote that its sponsorship elements, including the central iFIT prize and on-screen supplement placements, come across as heavy-handed. Morgan ranked it below The Amazing Race and Survivor for emotional depth, while noting it offers a viable option for viewers interested in fitness and extreme sports programming.[9]
Following the premiere, cast member Nick Davis discussed the visibility of gay athletes in fitness media in interviews with Gayety[10] and Socialite Life.[11]
Contestant Darryl Williams exited the competition early due to injury. He was later interviewed by EURweb about his military background and his experience on the show,[12] and in March 2026 iFIT signed him as the first athlete for iFIT Next, a talent program transitioning social media fitness creators into iFIT trainers.[13]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Trainer Games". Amazon Prime Video. January 12, 2026.
- ↑ "iFIT | Running and Bodyweight Workouts with iFIT Trainer Kori Sampson | UK Training Series". www.ifit.com. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- ↑ Danziger, Pamela (Dcember 30, 2025). "IFIT Ramps Up Fitness Offerings To Help People Keep Their New Year's Resolutions". Forbes. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - 1 2 Bloom, Mike (January 14, 2026). "Meet the Full Cast of Prime Video's New Fitness Reality Show 'Trainer Games'".
- 1 2 Sokic, Nicholas. "iFit teams with Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction for Prime Video's "Trainer Games"". Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- ↑ Bell, Amanda (2026-01-01). "January 2026 Streaming Guide: What's New on Netflix, Paramount+ and More". TV Insider. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- ↑ Porter, Rick (2025-12-01). "TV Premiere Dates 2025: The Complete Guide". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- ↑ "Trainer Games". YouTube. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- ↑ "Trainer Games - Parents' Guide & TV Review | Common Sense Media". www.commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- ↑ "Nick Davis Says Gay Athletes Are Still Missing From the Spotlight and He's Trying to Change That on Amazon's 'Trainer Games' (Exclusive)". Gayety. 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- ↑ "From Broadway to Beast Mode: Nick Davis on Confidence, Community, and Competing on Trainer Games – Socialite Life". 2026-01-12. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- ↑ MaGee, Ny (January 12, 2026). "Darryl "BullyJuice" Williams Brings Military Discipline to Prime Video's 'Trainer Games' | EUR EXCLUSIVE".
- ↑ "iFIT Launches "iFIT Next" Talent Accelerator to Diversify Global Fitness; Names Viral Creator Darryl "Bullyjuice" Williams as Inaugural Athlete". Archived from the original on 2026-03-19. Retrieved 2026-09-24.