Rachel LaMont Win Praised By Host Of Survivor

Survivor 47 crowned their winner last week. Sam Phalen, Sue Smey and Rachel ended up as the final 3 castaways to make it to the last Tribal Council. Jeff Probst sang the winners’ praises in post season interviews.

Rachel LaMont

After winning the final Immunity Challenge LaMont made the decision to take Sue to the final. This left Sam and Teeny Chiricillo to make fire. Whoever won the Fire Making Challenge would become the 3rd member of the final 3.

Fans, along with the jury and host Jeff watched one of the closest nail biting fire challenges ever seen on Survivor. Sam was clearly the underdog going into this challenge. Teeny got her fire started early but due to a gust of wind Sam came out the winner.

Jeff stated the following about Rachel’s win “I think she will go down as one of the best overall players ever to compete on Survivor. Whenever she was in trouble she found a way out. Her impressive immunity challenge wins speak for themself.”

Lamont is 1 of 5 women to win 4 immunity challenges in 1 season.

“Her final argument to the jury about why she should win was impressive. She spoke with enough confidence and humility to sway the jury in her favor.” Probst added. Sue received zero votes; Sam one vote; while she received seven votes.

Host Felt Rachel LaMont Was A Shoe-In

Most fans as well as Jeff himself felt Rachel was a shoe-in to win if she made Final 3. That was until Sam Phalen started stating his case on why he should be the winner. His arguments and statements about his game had some fans and jury members thinking about his game.

Sam gave Rachel a run for her money. He countered some of her points with points of his own. Stating he played most of the game as an underdog; fighting for his position to remain in the game. This gave the jury things to ponder when they decided the winner.

Jeff Probst feels that the new-era Survivor game is designed to be different from the old-era Survivor game. He said “You can’t play the new-era Survivor as you could the old-era Survivor. Those ways no longer apply to the game.”

“You have to constantly adapt and take risks. And the reward is: if you make it to the end you have a chance of winning due to jury recognition and respect for your game.” Jeff added. Some fans agree with this analysis.

The new-era jury is no longer persuaded by group thinking; which did happen in the old-era game of Survivor. The new-era jury will take into account how the final three castaways played their game.

Jeff stated “I think Sue Smey is an inspiration to women over 50 to sign up to play Survivor.” Sue played the game against players where some were four decades younger than her. This jury found her argument weak compared to Sam and LaMont.

Proving finding an idol, winning an immunity challenge and staying loyal to those you gave your word to isn’t enough in this new-era game of Survivor. The jury felt Sue took no risks in the game to deserve the win.

Photo Credits: YouTube
Quote Excerpts” Entertainment Weekly