Thomas Joseph Lavin is a legend of extreme sports. His exploits on a BMX embody taking X Games gold three times, and in 1995, he was topped the “King of Dust” for his success in filth leaping. His expertise with adrenaline-fueled adventures made him the proper alternative in 2008 to start fronting Season 11 of The Problem.
However following a critical crash within the Dew Tour occasion in Las Vegas in 2010, Lavin suffered life-threatening accidents: fracturing his wrist, ribs, and an orbital bone. The prognosis was so bleak that docs positioned him in a medically induced coma. Fortunately, Lavin is manufactured from robust stuff and has been on the road to recovery ever since.
He’s now into his fifteenth 12 months with The Problem, and through this time, has seen all of it. Lavin has develop into a mentor to the contestants, and continues to be very a lot a fan of the present. “The challenges that contain talent. Something that wants super agility, that’s what I like,” says Lavin.
Off digicam, Lavin could be very hands-on, and is eager to check out most of the duties earlier than filming begins, however even the filth bike legend has limits. “Something that has something to do with consuming, I don’t need any a part of it,” Lavin says, laughing. “I believe it’s ridiculous … that’s one thing I don’t need to do.”
On The Problem, contestants compete by taking over bodily and mentally taxing video games together with climbing a rope that’s dangling from a helicopter, dragging weights via mud, and complicated puzzles that require nimble reminiscence recall. With massive prize cash at stake, TJ is eager for each man and lady to place of their finest effort. “I understand how it’s to compete, and I understand how unhappy and sick you’d be about not performing to one of the best of your skills,” says Lavin. “9 instances out of 10 when somebody is eradicated, it’s actually exhausting for them as a result of it’s their first time doing regardless of the problem is.”
Winners By no means Give up
“I’m talking from expertise. I’m not just a few TV host that by no means did a factor in his life,” says Lavin. “I undoubtedly find out about hazard… however I additionally know concerning the thrill of victory and the way completely happy I’m, once I do one thing that’s fairly darn cool. What a sense, you understand?”
Some contestants have drawn consideration for all of the improper causes nevertheless. Fessy Shafaat was named the “Worst Competitor Ever” by followers when he refused to eat these well-known gastronomical delights: a cup filled with blood and rams’ testicles! Shafaat’s accomplice, Kaycee Clark, dove straight into the goodies, however she was already injured from a previous job, and so Shafaat determined that throwing down the animal innards can be a waste of time, since he’d figured his probabilities of successful have been slim, regardless of making it to the finals. “I used to be bummed about that,” says Lavin. “It was sickening. He was blaming it on his accomplice, and he or she was banged up, however he didn’t even attempt. I’d have tried and thrown up, however he didn’t even attempt.”
In The Problem: Double Brokers, Amber Borzotra turned a shock co-winner, together with collection common Chris ‘CT’ Tamburello, incomes a $450,000 greenback share of the prize cash.
“All season lengthy, she was simply, ‘OK,’” says Lavin. “She was a very good challenger, however she was a newbie, after which swiftly, ‘wow,’ she killed it. She didn’t hesitate on the consuming, didn’t care concerning the working, she simply saved going”.
Don’t Sleep on Aneesa
The Problem mainstay, Aneesa Ferreira is but to win a season outright, however that hasn’t stopped her from sending lots of people house alongside the way in which. “They sleep on Aneesa, and he or she is without doubt one of the finest elimination gamers that we now have,” says Lavin. “So, when the home sleeps on Aneesa, they usually ship in an Olympian, they’re gonna get smoked. And it’s so humorous, as a result of she has a lot expertise, and is so mentally good, however individuals simply underestimate her. I like watching her within the elimination rounds … towards anybody.”
The Humorous Aspect
Regardless of the eagerness and depth within the warmth of battle, Lavin typically cracks up behind the digicam as freak incidents supply to lighten the temper. From disgusting bites to falling flat in your face a number of instances like Katie Coolie, the present affords as a lot enjoyable because it does worry.
Case in Level: In The Problem: Double Brokers, CT walloped Wes Bergmann within the face with a flying shoe of their first competitors of the season. “That was fairly humorous,” says Lavin. “I didn’t imply to snicker, I used to be, like, ‘Oh man, I hope he’s OK,’ however it was humorous!”
Nonetheless, as somebody who has undertaken many harmful stunts, Lavin appreciates the significance of creating even the scariest of challenges as secure as might be. Not solely are professionally trained stunt people concerned with the preliminary testing, however challenges are additionally additional trialed by native residents and athletes of various skills to reveal that the duties are achievable. “If a standard individual can do it, then [the contestants] higher be capable of do it quicker”, says Lavin.
The Challenges Roll On
With The Problem: All Stars now streaming on the Paramount+ streaming service, and new challenges on the way in which, Lavin is in an incredible place to get pleasure from no matter comes subsequent. He’s even following in his spouse’s footsteps and embracing a extra plant-based food regimen. “She tells me the whole lot concerning the vegan world, and why it’s so good for you, and good for the planet”, says Lavin. And to point out which you can’t hold a very good man down, the King of Dust, now 44, can typically be discovered on his mountain bike leaving the UFC fighters that reside in his neighborhood for mud. “It’s one other stage of cardio for his or her fights,” he says.
When it comes to carrying on along with his internet hosting duties on The Problem, the longer term seems to be nice. “Fifteen years on The Problem up to now. What’s loopy is that I used to be an expert bike rider for 15 years, and that is my fifteenth 12 months as host.”
