The adventure Koh Lanta is over for Ugo. In fact, it was eliminated from The Cursed Tribe during the advice of the episode broadcast Tuesday November 19, 2024 on TF1. He will not win the survival game a second time but has good memories of it. Near PurepeopleUgo talks about his departure, the strategies put in place throughout the game but also the notoriety that comes with participation in Koh Lanta.
How did you feel when you were eliminated?
A bit of disappointment, obviously. Because when we participate in Koh Lantait's to go to the end. And there, I am not far from the end but there is still one step of stairs that I have not taken. I'm still happy to have gotten this far, it wasn't a foregone conclusion given that I arrived as a senior, even more so as a captain. I don't blame anyone. I feel like I played my cards to the limit.
Why do you think your comrades voted against you?
It's a clever mix, as usual there is not just one argument. I already think that the fact that I am an ex-red played a lot since the ex-yellows were in the majority. And then there was also the fact of having already won the game and also having already won the orientation and the posts. In their place, I would also have had doubts and perhaps eliminated those at the top of the basket.
Some have mentioned that you would be a formidable opponent in the future. What do you think?
It remains a game, even if it is difficult to imagine in the long term. When I play Checkers, I try to take the strongest pieces to advance and win. It's part of the logic of the game and that's why I don't blame anyone. Ilyesse offered to continue with me. I think the gesture is beautiful but it's strategy, a game and that's how it is.
Ilyesse was the only one who wanted to eliminate Cécile rather than you, in order to have the pleasure of facing you in this type of event. What do you think?
I found the gesture very beautiful. Even though I quickly understood that it would be complicated to convert others, I thank him for having taken the step, for having tried. But I can't blame others for following their strategy. They fought to reach the majority. That's what we did with the Reds, even if we had some hiccups along the way. It's very hard at this stage of the game to highlight things that would put you in danger. And there, I represented a danger. So it makes sense that they would take me out at that point. I only have myself to blame: I should have won immunity to stay. It's the game.
Charlotte indicated that she could not vote against Cécile because of their relationship… What do you think?
I believe it because the girls were quite close, I saw it clearly at the camp. Besides, for my part, I turned to Ilyesse to whom I was closer rather than to Charlotte and Sophia. The girls shared a lot of things together, they often talked. It is also a difficulty in Koh-Lanta to grasp affinities. We don't know who is really with whom, who is strategizing or not. But there, their friendship seemed frank.
How did you feel when you found your partner Lisa during the comfort game?
It was very emotional. I didn't expect it. There had not been this ordeal since Covid. Well yes, last season but we weren't able to see it so we didn't know. I was very surprised and I got nervous. Because the stakes are so high that we want to pass the test. I'm always afraid of disappointing, it's something that has always characterized me. So I was afraid of disappointing her by losing in front of her. At the time, she was very, very strong because she managed to reassure me just with her look. I understood quickly. She knew I was going to fight hard but she made it clear to me: “Don't put pressure on yourself. If you don't win today, it doesn't matter.“I would have loved to share comfort with her but even just seeing her for a few seconds and seeing her look in a world of survival like we are in Koh-Lanta, it was already a very beautiful gift.
Your choice to give up your 13 kilos to Ilyesse was not always understood, what do you think?
It's part of the rules of this game which we know is complicated because you have to disadvantage someone for the benefit of another. I had to make a pretty tough choice but it was ultimately quite quick. Ilyesse has gained more comforts than Thibault. And Thibault has worked hard to feed the entire tribe since reunification. I think it was time to thank him for that. It was not at all to punish Ilyesse, who was very strong in the tests and had been able to benefit from several comforts.
How was this season different from previous ones?
There are not two Koh Lanta the same. You can go there three times and have three different experiences, I'm proof of that. Each time, it’s something new for me. The first time I won and I'm very proud of it. Then in 2021, it was very complicated, I had a journey that was out of the ordinary. And this time, I put both feet into the strategy. I arrived as captain, I made a fire. All three adventures were great.
In your portrait, we see your son who has grown up well. Does he ever consider taking over in Koh Lanta ?
No, not particularly. It's not really his thing (laughs). He already struggles when I ask him to go on a four-hour hike so when it comes to survival, he's not too motivated. Also, I don't want him to put any pressure on himself by telling himself that he must live up to my victory in Koh Lanta. Everyone does what they want to do. He is stronger than me in many other ways. But on the other hand, he loves watching the show.
How did the return to reality go?
It's more in the long term, since my first experience in 2012, for my part. I'm afraid of missing out. I'm often wandering around outside on my bike, paragliding or whatever and I now always have something to eat with me. If something happens to me, I will at least have a bar of chocolate to nourish me. In Koh Lantawe realize the importance of food. It is simply a primary need, the body does not function without it. It puts the church back in the middle of the village and allows you to refocus on the essentials, putting aside trivialities.
How many pounds have you lost?
I don't know exactly. When I took my exit exam, I was elsewhere when he gave me the number so I didn't remember anything (laughs). Then when I got home, I was around -10 kilos on the scale. So I lost more than 10 kilos but I don't know exactly how much. During my previous adventures, I lost 13 and 16 kilos, so it comes together.
Have you taken them back since?
Yes, and that’s the other problem (laughs). I'm +3 or 4 kilos from when I left. You have to know how to manage this problem afterwards.
What was your first action upon returning?
With my son, my daughter-in-law and my partner Lisa who had prepared a tasty basket for me, I sat on the terrace facing the sun and the mountains and we had a little aperitif. The simple joys of life that we don't measure but which we realize when we no longer have them.
What has changed in your life since then? Koh Lanta ?
Not much. Afterwards, of course, the broadcast gives a little boost to the fact that people recognize us. Besides, we must salute all the people who follow the show. I'm very lucky because I often get good feedback. So there is still a notch more fervor and messages, it's always nice to experience. I get recognized a lot when I'm with family too. It's always ambiguous. Well, this had already been happening to me for 12 years. But here we go a step further. It's sometimes tricky to manage because it's not something you're used to. I always have trouble putting myself in the shoes of an emblematic candidate because for me it has always been the others. So when people come to see me, I remain very friendly and willing to share but it's always destabilizing, I find. I never really get used to it 100%. I am lucky to live in a very small village where I am peaceful, it is a life that I would not exchange for anything in the world.
Who do you want to see win?
I won't be able to choose, I'm sorry. When you've shared an adventure with people from start to finish, you find them all deserving. Thibault is exemplary on survival. Ilyesse is just incredible in the events, he was very, very strong. Jacques went above and beyond to get there. Cécile is an ex-red. And Charlotte has won a lot of events. So if I had a euro, I would put twenty cents on each person.
Would you be up for a fourth Koh Lanta ?
I don't know how to say no so it would be complicated. I just hope production doesn't call me tomorrow (laughs). Because I would like to get back to health. And then I have lots of great projects coming up. Koh Lanta remains an important adventure and I remain grateful for it.
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