Chattanooga’s Tabatha Chandler was one of eight women competing in “American Grit,” a new reality show on Fox.
Tabatha Chandler, far left, a nurse in Chattanooga, arrives in the snowy climes of Washington State along with the other 13 contestants on “American Grit,” a new reality show that debuts Thursday on Fox.A tough-as-nails Chattanooga nurse has made it to the finals of “American Grit,” a reality show that sends contestants through a series of military-style challenges that tests their mental and physical stamina.
Tabatha Chandler is a member of the Chattanooga Roller Girls roller derby league, where she’s known as “Goldie Knocks.” She’s one of eight remaining finalists – there are two teams of four each – and has endured such grueling tasks as carrying telephone-pole-sized logs while running, climbing rope nets, kneeling in tanks of ice-filled water and rappelling off high bridges.
As a finalist, the 39-year-old single mother of two is now competing for the $1 million top prize, which will be divided among the four members of her team. The two-hour finale, during which the winning team will be named, airs Thursday at 9 p.m. on Fox.
“I have always been the underdog,” Chandler, who last year went through a divorce and lost her sister to sickle cell anemia, said in a news release. “I like showing that never underestimate yourself and you can do anything you put your mind to.”
The show began with 16 contestants, including a bikini bodybuilder, a would-be Olympian, a triathlete, a “No Excuses” fitness instructor, a former NFL star, a police SWAT commander and a guy who calls himself “The Machine.” Oh yeah, and a bearded lumberjack, which makes sense because the show was filmed in Washington state.
Chandler spent about two months in Washington during the “Grit” competition, which divided the original 16 contestants – eight men, eight women – into “cadres” of four each. The cadres were matched with a former member of the Marines, Navy SEALS, Army or Army Rangers. Chandler’s team was officially the Blue Team, but they called themselves “Team Rourke” because they were led by Rourke Denver, U.S. Navy SEALS special forces member.
“It was military-inspired training stuff,” Chandler told the Times Free Press in April. “Roller derby prepared me strengthwise. Physically, I’m strong and I was able to pull myself up, but several times I did walk away with some bruises. For me, that’s normal. I like a nice bruise, but it was uncomfortable.”
On the show, hosted by executive producer and former WWE star John Cena, the teams faced daily challenges that tested their strength, endurance, logic and strategic abilities. Every day, the losing team was sent “off to the Circus,” an obstacle course that team members had to negotiate with the last-place person sent packing.
“It was all outside, so we were running through mud, over logs and through stickers and bugs,” Chandler told the Times Free Press. “In one day, we had three seasons. It was snowing, then rain and then the sun came out. I was way out of my comfort zone. I wouldn’t even play in the rain before this, and here I was in the rain, snow and mud.”