Faced with an eliminatory test, Fouzi left the adventure in episode 13 of Koh Lanta, the cursed totem. He looks back on his career on the show for an interview.
End of the story for Fouzi who was eliminated from Koh Lanta, the cursed totem during episode 13 of this 2022 season. Financial director of a comedy group, Fouzi appeared on the show with the desire to perform but also to be appreciated by the other candidates. Done because he does not go out during a council on vote of his teammates but during an eliminatory test which opposed him to Jean-Charles and Olga. The young Franco-Algerian was also keen to show that dual nationality is a strength in France. He told us about his adventure during an interview.
Why did you choose to participate in the show?
I’ve been following the show for several years, it’s really a childhood dream to participate. I watched it every Friday with my mother. It was our pizza-Koh Lanta night. I remember training to do tests at the same time as the show in the summers during my vacation in Algeria. I was also keen to break certain clichés and prejudices to show that dual culture could be a source of wealth in France and that one could be a simple, upright and benevolent person. I wanted to show these images. I am someone who loves adventure and surpassing oneself. For me, this is the ideal adventure for that.
In what state of mind did you arrive on Koh Lanta when you saw your game partners and opponents?
I was super motivated and determined. Super good vibes too. I said to myself “Be positive, smile, talk to everyone. Make yourself liked because that’s the most important thing in Koh Lanta. Be effective on the camp and the events.” I had done a little pre-analysis of the thing and I had arrived saying to myself “live the moment to the fullest. Never have a moment of doubt. Never be alone and take full advantage.”
What was the hardest for you?
It’s not going to be original but since I lost 15 kilos, I can tell you that it’s hunger. It was extremely complicated. In the evening, when your stomach is rumbling, when you have only one idea: to eat… You imagine dishes and you dream of them! I even dreamed that two pigs were walking on the beach and being skewered when I didn’t eat pork! (laughs) I can tell you that there are times when you go off the rails. (laughs)
What is your fondest memory of your career?
I would say the appeal to families or the first victory of the Blues as a team. This first victory because it is strong and striking. I’m super comfortable on the event, I say to myself “Wow, we are bulldozers and we have the right team to go far.” And the appeal to the family because it is such a moving moment. When I hear my father, my brother, my sister… They know that I have gone far in the adventure and I feel that they are proud at that moment. It gave me a little boost that I needed.
Last week, you were saved by François and Ambre who chose to eliminate Maxime and Louana. Coming back from consulting, were you confident about the rest of your adventure?
Completely. At the end of the counseling, it was a big relief because I was afraid to leave. Afterwards, I tell myself that the road is marked out towards the final because François and Ambre adore me and protect me. We are still very tight-knit. I tell myself that there is no reason for me to leave in the next three eliminations. And then after, the direct elimination arrived…
Were you surprised to discover this secret alliance of former Greens in the Red alliance?
Yes, completely. I thought the Red alliance was stronger but ultimately there was an alliance within the alliance. We said to ourselves that even if we came back from the elimination round, there was still every chance that we would leave. If ever they protect Nicolas and Bastien or Olga wins immunity, it could be us. Clearly, we feel in danger at this time and it’s scary for the future. Afterwards, I still have confidence in my affinities with Ambre and François. Geraldine is with us too. We say to ourselves that with four out of the last eight there is still a good chance that we will reach the end.
Bastien chooses to test you in this immunity. Did you understand his choice?
At first, I did not fully understand but in any case I accept it and I assume it. I tell myself that it’s my challenge, that it’s time to get out of the car a bit. When you know the outcome of the test, it’s cruel because on the comfort test I’m not even in the last. They send me a bit of a headache on something random.
Especially since this test did not necessarily suit you well, unlike Olga. How did you react when you discovered this game?
Exactly like you. At first, I said to myself “Olga and Jean-Charles, it will be fine if it’s an aquatic event because I’ll be better than her. And if it’s a strength or endurance event, I’ll be better than Jean-Charles. Normally it should be fine”. When I see this event, I say to myself “Oulalah. Already it is an event that is made for Olga and it will be played between Jean-Charles and me. We will have to be good.” I am not diligent or thorough at all. I am clumsy. I’m shaking. At one point, I get angry and I throw the pole. In my head, it’s a big cloud.
You tell Denis Brogniart that you could have given up. How did you experience this challenge internally?
It was very hard. It lasted over an hour. At one point, I was focused and I get out of the thing a little, telling myself that it falls each time. I get out of the game a bit. And physically too, the more you go back on the beam, the more difficult it becomes. At some point, it’s just not possible anymore. But you can’t give up after 33 days of adventure and after having surpassed myself so much. I tried, tried and then Jean-Charles finished before me.
Do you feel that this adventure has changed you personally?
Yes, in some aspects. To be honest, I always thought it was bullshit for people saying that. But really, it changes because you discover qualities or faults. I found myself surprisingly very calm and positive in certain situations where I could have gotten upset and that was not the case when, in everyday life, I would clearly have gotten upset. I’m not a very patient person. But in the adventure, I managed to keep this attitude and this good vibes side. I’m very happy with it. It helps me a lot now in my everyday life.
Louana and Maxime speak of “treason” on the part of François and Ambre. What do you think of it personally?
Honestly, I think it’s a human-driven choice and Louana and Maxime had a hard time digesting it. I can understand it because they find “good excuses” by saying that they are dangerous on the races. But at one point François and Ambre were closer to someone like me and Géraldine and thought that we deserved from a human point of view to stay in the adventure. I didn’t fully understand their reactions. But if it can reassure them, so much the better.
How do you explain that the green group remained united. Why not the old Blues?
At the start, it started very well for the Blues and then the composition of the two yellow and red teams completely broke the dynamic. We arrive in the minority among the Reds. Among the Yellows, it’s also a bit vague because Benjamin is very quickly sidelined. The Blues burst very quickly. And among the Blues there was also a very strong alliance between Alexandra, Colin and Olga. Us, it scared us because when you have people so close in Koh Lanta, we say to ourselves that there is not necessarily any interest in being in their alliance because we will be put aside at some point. . If we compare with Ambre, Nicolas and François, there it was much easier to fit into this trio for questions of affinity. Among the Blues, there was no longer any reason to form an alliance. I don’t regret not having made the switch even if we could have done it.
Do you have any regrets in this adventure?
I would have liked to win an individual event. On some events, I was a little disappointed in myself. There is one where it does not go far on the grapple test where I am at 5 seconds. I would have liked to at least have that for the prize list. And I would also have liked to have a little more juice and form on this part of the adventure where I think I could have done better. But that’s the game, there are other aspects where I’m very satisfied and I only get positive things out of it.
How do you view your career in Koh Lanta?
I am very satisfied to have done 33 days of adventure. I succeeded in gaining unanimity in the hearts of the adventurers. When I saw in episode 11 that even the Yellows didn’t want to vote against me when I had a vote against me and they could have eliminated me… They said “no, Fouzi we appreciate it so much that we are not going to do it”, it made me extremely happy to see that I was appreciated by adventurers. I think I accomplished great things in the collective events, I was a driving force in certain events. In survival too, I was able to fish. It’s an adventure that will remain in my head for life. I am extremely happy with my adventure.
You don’t go out on a tip. Does it remain bitter for you or is it a victory somewhere?
There is not really a positive exit but it is more noble to leave on an eliminatory test than on a council where we vote against you. It remains “my victory” to keep my torch intact and that it has not been extinguished.
Would you like to participate in Koh Lanta again if you were given the opportunity?
Yes, completely. It is an adventure that is so extraordinary. There is so much to prove that I would love to come back. Afterwards, I will gain a little more weight! (laughs) I will anticipate this loss by gaining 10 extra pounds. That way, if I lose 15, it’s fine. But yes, it would be with great pleasure. It is an extraordinary adventure.