Australian Survivor contestant Wai on her challenge wins and struggles

It’s been a controversial season for challenges on Australian Survivor, and that’s largely down to two contestants.

It’s been an interesting season for challenges on Australian Survivor, and that’s largely down to two contestants: George and Wai.

George has courted controversy in recent episodes by giving up in two different challenges, sitting down on the spot when he decided he didn’t have a chance of winning. Wai opted not to start one recent water-based challenge, concerned for her safety due to her lack of swimming skills.

And in Sunday night’s episode, another highly unusual sight in the game of Survivor: George breaking away from his game as he raced to try and win immunity, to carry Wai through the portion of the challenge where she was stuck dead last.

George helps Wai across.

It was a simple act of kindness that helped Wai in the challenge but didn’t help her game – she was voted out at last night’s tribal council (by George, no less). And as with most things George has done this season, it was met with controversy, with some fans asking if he had ulterior motives and others questioning if it was even allowed in the game’s rules:

WAI YOU DON'T OWE GEORGE ANYTHING 👏👏👏#SurvivorAU

— Katie. (@kejr_) September 5, 2021

I want George to win it all, but there should be a rule where you can't help anyone else in individual challenges. Is this another Australian #SurvivorAU thing? Like allowing idols to be given to others after being voted out 🙄

— Dino Bernardo (@dinob7) September 5, 2021

George literally carried you Wai. 😳#SurvivorAU

— Te Rina Taite (@TeTaite) September 5, 2021

Losing it at the footage of George carrying Wai across the upside-down pole crawl that she couldn't finish. I thought it was against the rules to interfere with another player's progress in a non-contact challenge like this?

Good telly though 😂 #SurvivorAU

— Triana Butler (@trianabutler) September 5, 2021

“I was super-grateful that George helped me out during that challenge – I probably would’ve still been hanging on that bar if not. I think I would have kept trying, which would have meant just staying there for the entire challenge, so it was good to be able to move on. I was exceptionally grateful,” Wai told news.com.au today.

Wai’s recent immunity challenge win was a great example of why it pays never to give up in Survivor: She was trailing her tribemates through the first few intense physical obstacles of the challenge, arriving at the final puzzle at a distant last place. But suddenly, she blitzed the puzzle, taking out the win.

A well-deserved immunity win.

“I definitely struggled with the physical element. It wasn’t an easy puzzle, but it showed you have to try your best at every single moment of a challenge. I was really fortunate I could pull off that win, but the day before, I couldn’t jump in the water because it was a water challenge with a long swim, and I was probably going to drown out there all by myself.”

Some fans have wondered why children’s author Wai even applied for Survivor – with its frequent gruelling water-based challenges – given her lack of confidence swimming.

I’m sorry, but how did Wai get on this show if she can’t swim? I know it tells you when you apply that you need to know how to swim #SurvivorAU

— Oliver-Todd Hunter (@OliveWahh) August 30, 2021

Wai, seriously, what are you doing on Survivor if you can't swim? Surely that's a prerequisite. #SurvivorAu

— Leigh (@CosmoKramer1992) August 22, 2021

As she tells news.com.au, she wanted to face her fears on the show – even if it didn’t always work out that way.

“I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle it. I knew there’d be some swimming involved – and I can do a little doggy paddle – but it was nerve-racking. You try, it’s not graceful …

“Fear is not a linear process either – you have a big win where you face your fear, but that doesn’t mean the fear goes away. It comes back, and every day you work through it and get a little bit more resilient.”

Australian Survivor continues 7.30pm Monday on Ten