'I felt cheated!' The most shocking moments from Canada's Ultimate Challenge
Rivalry, redemption and a new game twist stand out on this competitive cross-country obstacle course
The action on Canada's Ultimate Challenge is straight fire as 20 players travel from coast to coast to compete in 16 exhilarating challenges.
Amid all the inspiring highs and devastating lows, here are five moments we'll all remember.
'Winning cures everything': 'Hot mess' team survives the first elimination challenge
Team Green placed dead last in the Atlantic region after having serious problems communicating which exploded into an angry confrontation between the team's coach Ninko and player Sandra.
They faced Team Yellow in a breathtaking elimination challenge in Quebec's Îles de la Madeleine. Both had to build and use a trebuchet to launch a ball and hit an offshore target.
"Watching that live was one of the most exciting things I've ever watched, said showrunner Erin Brock. "They were both so close and Green Team came back and survived."
"Winning cures everything. It's time to move forward, we're coming for that top spot," said Ninko after the surprising victory.
'It's not going to be that hard': Adam falls in the Rideau Canal
Adam, a member of Team Red, gravely underestimated his ability to swim against the punishing current in the Rideau Canal. "It's not going to be that hard," he said confidently when he volunteered to take the first leg of the relay race. But he was "totally gassed" by the time he got to the ladder which he had to climb to pass the baton onto his teammate.
"I just don't have the strength in me to pull myself up," said Adam, describing the challenge. "I'm exhausted, and I'm ready to give up." In a shocking moment, Adam lets go and falls off the ladder back into the water below.
Watch | The players take on the Rideau Canal
Precious time was lost and as a result, Team Red, now far behind the competition, placed last. Courtney, Team Red's captain, was visibly frustrated because this wasn't the first time Adam refused to heed advice from his teammates. Not so shockingly, nor would it be the last.
'Did I just hear my name?' Shasily gets a spot on the winning team
At the end of Episode 3, the four remaining teams participated in a player swap. The team at the bottom of the leaderboard could select any member from another team. The winning team, at the time Team Orange, had to pick last which meant they needed to choose a member from the last-place Team Green.
Sandra, the team coach at the time, was not eligible for the swap, leaving a choice between Ninko, Darko and Shasily. While the other teams selected strong male players, Team Orange picked Shasily who was surprised and delighted to get a spot on the winning team.
"We love Shas, she hasn't been involved in any of the drama and I think she'll fit great with our team," said Jac Le. Congrats to a genuinely shocked Shasily!
'Shut your mouth off': Rivalry between teams starts to boil over
In the first episode, an intense rivalry developed between Team Red and Team Blue when their boats collided during a challenge in Quidi Vidi Harbour. "Screw red, I don't even like that colour," said Team Blue's Harvin after the incident.
The trouble continued when Team Red's Adam was selected to join Team Blue on the player swap. "Team Blue is basically the enemy, and now I'm joining Team Blue. I don't want to be here."
Watch | Team rivalries on display
For the first half of the season, it seemed like Team Red was coming out on top, but Team Blue was not far behind. In Canmore, Alberta, Team Blue finally found their stride, winning back-to-back challenges. The tension was too much for Team Red, who speculated that the second win was unfair because Team Blue's Angel fell out of the boat when she grabbed the team's last flag over the river.
A shouting match quickly broke out as Team Red's Leka angrily accused Team Blue of eavesdropping.
'I felt cheated!': Devastating game twist sees players cut
The most shocking move happened at the end of Episode 5. The three remaining teams each had to cut one of their own players. Whitney (Team Blue) and Brandon (Team Red) volunteered to go, while Shasily, the newest member of Team Orange, was cut.
"I knew my team wouldn't be able to come to a decision right there in that moment," says Brandon. "My team all wanted to win so badly I knew if I volunteered it would help lead them to victory."
"You really think about other people first when you're a parent," remembers Erin about Whitney and Brandon's choice. "It was a very selfless and classy move."
To the dismay of their teammates, all three players headed off set and into one of the show's trademark black SUVs.
Still not caught up on Canada's Ultimate Challenge? Watch the thrilling two-part finale on CBC Gem to find out what happens next. There are plenty more shocking twists!
