This article contains spoilers for Canada’s Ultimate Challenge.
Just when you thought they were out of Canada’s Ultimate Challenge, three members from rival teams are formed into an unstoppable powerhouse that comes back to win it all.
On Sunday, CBC Gem aired its finale of its reality competition series Canada’s Ultimate Challenge, hosted by media mogul Brandon Gonez. The show follows 20 players, separated into five teams, as they take on extreme challenges across the country that tests one’s mental and physical capabilities. With each new region comes an even grueling set of obstacles.
In a stunning turn of events, newly formed team wild card, composed of personal trainer Whitney Beers, fitness trainer Shasily Matowe and motocross rider Brandon Rodwell, swoops in to win the entire competition following an epically grand obstacle course as the final challenge.
“Huge congratulations to the winners of Canada’s Ultimate Challenge! I’m still in shock to see the three players who made the ultimate sacrifice went on to become Canada’s ultimate champions. Wow! This is why I love this show so much because you never know what is going to happen,” Gonez said in a statement to Now Toronto.
Beers, Matowe, and Rodwell did not expect to be voted off their respective teams during episode five’s player cut, but this change of course ended up being a blessing in disguise.
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REACTIONS FOLLOWING THE PLAYER CUT
In an interview with Now Toronto, the unlikely trio turned top dogs shared how it felt when they thought they were kicked out of the competition.
“The player cut was absolutely just the most random, shocking, why factor because for me, it made absolutely no sense that they were going to do a player cut at this point in the competition…but production did a good job having us believe that I thought I was going to be back in Edmonton on my couch eating Miss Vickie’s the next day, like I thought it was done,” Matowe said.
On the other hand, Beers was more surprised at how the player cut went down.
“Another really shocking part of the season for me was yes, the players shuffle, for sure, but how they went about it, how the lowest team got to choose first. I did look at all scenarios while we were choosing who we would pick, but it was a little bit shocking that team green got to have the first choice and that really changed everything,” she said.
Meanwhile, Rodwell revealed he was skeptical about the cut because it seemed unfair to eliminate people for no reason.
“I think that when Brandon came in and said we’re not leaving the competition, I wasn’t so much shocked because that makes sense. You don’t kick people out like that…I don’t see how the audience would necessarily resonate with that. So, for me, I was completely convinced that we were going home, but I was just like, OK well, that makes logical sense,” he said.
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WORKING AS A TEAM
Despite being on different teams prior to team wild card, the trio says being paired on team wild card was a unique experience because there was instant chemistry and effortless coordination. As a result, a dream team was born that became a force to be reckoned with.
“…The fun that we had as a team, like on our dinners, we were dancing on the tables, like we were having so much fun together and then I think that really just helped our communication and helped us portray that back into the challenges,” Beers said.
“Team wild card was just, oh my goodness, it was the greatest gift and when I say that I could not be more proud to have ended my journey and had all of those beautiful moments with Brandon and Whitney. I genuinely mean that with everything in me because I had already experienced so many different team dynamics,” Matowe said.
WHO THE PLAYERS WOULD CHOOSE TO WIN
To spice things up, we asked team wild card who they would have rooted for to win if not for themselves.
“The team I’d vote to win would definitely be yellow. I love them, their little rays of sunshine. I connected with them so much in the beginning and even now, I’m still super close with them,” Beers said.
“I would pick team blue just because my boy Adam is there. Plus, I think that for Harvin…I just think that it’s amazing that he can step out of his shell and do some of these things like the rock climb which he’s never even thought about,” Rodwell said.
For Matowe, it was a very difficult question to answer, however in the end, she also chose team yellow for the same reasons as Beers.
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LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE COMPETITION
Canada’s Ultimate Challenge was an unbelievable ride for team wild card from experiencing a player switch to facing possible elimination, on top of ungodly physical challenges, the players have truly learned some important life lessons throughout the journey.
“This was the most incredible, fascinating, phenomenal journey that I have been on to date in my life. I love to travel, I love to be adventurous and explore and Canada’s Ultimate Challenge truly provided that opportunity on so many different levels,” Matowe said.
“…We had opportunities that I would never have got to do, like all these crazy things and just be able to push myself, even when we get hurt, even when we want to give up, even when we want to quit, and just really making the ultimate sacrifice…It just really shows that when good people do good things, the world rewards you,” Beers said.
For Rodwell, he learned not to underestimate himself, to not be afraid of failure and to put yourself out there when it comes to trying new things.
“When we first started the show, and we’re all sitting in the room, we’re doing the meeting, and the producers said the winners of Canada’s Ultimate Challenge are in this room, I didn’t think that would be me. I looked around and I was like yeah, they probably are,” Rodwell shared.
“I’m not like ‘Yeah, I’m gonna win’ so, you never know where you’re going to end up. Just try to tell yourself that you can do it. I’m starting to do that, like there’s a lot of people telling me, ‘Oh you know you can’t,’ but I’m doing it and this is just the beginning,” he continued.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR TEAM WILD CARD?
Matowe, Beers, and Rodwell have won a grand prize trip to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, but beyond that, they have other plans for the nearby future.
Matowe says she’s open to all possibilities that come her way, meanwhile Beers and Rodwell hope to continue their winning streak on The Amazing Race.
Canada’s Ultimate Challenge has been renewed for a third season on CBC Gem, so fans, get ready for another season of tension, twists and of course, tormenting challenges.
Now Toronto is a subsidiary of GMI Publications.
