She evolved in the blue team before switching to the yellow tribe of Koh-Lanta, The Cursed Totem. Olga saw his closest allies – Alexandra, Colin then Anne-Sophie – being eliminated one by one. But she held on! The 35-year-old dancer knew how to lead her boat before being finally eliminated at the gates of the orienteering race. In interview for Purepeople.com, the beautiful Olga looks back on this crazy adventure. Her ankle injury, the real reason for her elimination, her husband Joseph… She gives herself up.
How did you experience your elimination?
I obviously experienced it very badly because no one wanted to leave at that stage of the adventure. We are at the gates of the final… Orienteering is an event that I dreamed of doing. I’m sad but at the same time I didn’t expect to get this far either. I’m quite surprised with my journey!
Do you understand the votes of your comrades against you?
I didn’t expect anything else from them. Ambre and François have been allies since the beginning of the game. They eliminated all my friends, my allies. The only person who was a little on the hot seat was me.
François and Ambre indicate that they are less close to you than to the others. Is there another reason you think?
It might be a little pretentious to say it, but I think there’s another reason (laughs). The real reason is that on the posts, I wouldn’t have moved an inch! François knew it because we had done a balance test together, he understood that I could stay on a pole for hours and hours… So, of course, that played a role too.
Why vote in isolation rather than perhaps considering a strategy with Jean-Charles and Géraldine?
If the three of us had joined forces, we might have been able to vote against Bastien. But I had an affection for him, I couldn’t see myself voting against him. And then he was immune. If I had proposed to Jean-Charles and Géraldine to vote with me against Ambre or François, they would never have followed me. I voted against Amber not to vote against them. It was a tough choice. Either I betrayed someone, which is not in my values at all, or I did what I did. I didn’t have a lot of alternatives on this one.
During this episode, you injured your ankle. What happened ?
The immunity test was extremely difficult. Already, that day, I found that I lacked concentration, focus on myself, on what I had to do. I was very stressed because it was time to earn this immunity totem. Last week I had managed to save myself, there I may have put too much pressure on myself… I was so stressed and concentrated that when I finished the event without being the last, I think my nerves and my heart gave out. I was so happy, I jumped in the air with happiness. And my happiness is beyond me: I twist my ankle with great force! When I’m on the ground, the game goes through my head and I tell myself that I didn’t make it this far to end up twisting my ankle…
What was the doctor’s diagnosis?
They did all the analysis possible. In fact, I just had a sprain. I felt completely capable of returning to the adventure. I had nothing broken. The doctor accepted my return. In my head, I was a bit like Rambo! I was very very happy to come back to the camp, unfortunately I came back a bit late, maybe.
How has your ankle been since?
It’s going very well today. Getting back into shape didn’t take a lot of time. I did a few physiotherapy sessions, that’s all. It was not something extremely long and painful. I even forgot that I had hurt!
You couldn’t weigh yourself or see yourself in the mirror. How did you react when you discovered yourself?
I didn’t mind my new body (laughs)! I found myself rather fine. Afterwards, I was still very thin at the level of the ribs. Usually, I’m pretty fleshy. I had lost quite a bit of weight. It wasn’t my everyday body. I didn’t recognize myself. When I took my first shower I was touching myself and found my whole body was hard, there was no fat. It’s nice but it was not pretty pretty.
Last week, you were the only one reading your mail. Have your comrades discovered it?
They never found out during the game. They found out on TV when the episode aired.
What was the hardest thing for you in camp?
I think the hardest part is survival. Sleeping in the rain, always being tired, not eating… It’s very very difficult. And we don’t realize it until we’ve experienced it. Obviously, we miss the family but we are still focused on the present moment. I also had a hard time with the departure of my allies. To sum up, the adventure as a whole is really difficult.
What was your first gesture on the way back?
Of course I ate! Very fat! I remember very well, I absolutely wanted a couscous. It was a Sunday, market day, and I went to buy a huge one. It was so good… The fact of not eating for so long makes the taste receptors very developed. It was ecstasy! The doctor tells us to be careful but it’s hard to hold back. Me, I only ate, my desire for food exceeded everything. I regained the weight I had lost in less than a week. To those who want to Koh Lanta to lose weight, it’s not a good idea (laughs)!
You say you hope your husband Joseph is proud of you. What about?
I’m lucky to have him. He was very happy for me, he always was. He was very admiring. My journey did not surprise him!
How did you meet him?
We met at his brewery, he works in the restaurant business.
What are your projects ?
With my husband we have lots of projects, but for the moment nothing concrete.
Who do you see as the big winner?
I think at this point all adventurers are big winners. They all deserve victory. I let the magic of Koh Lanta operate is a game full of twists and turns.
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