Usually, the deans are the first to leave the Koh Lanta adventure. This year, Géraldine reached the final of the show. Before participating in the post test, she told us about her adventure.
Viewers and adventurers of Koh Lanta, the cursed totem have learned to affectionately call it “Gégé”, Géraldine is the oldest of this 2022 season. At 47, this property dealer in Vannes has decided to embark on the Koh Lanta adventure to make his two sons proud. Beyond her own expectations, Géraldine qualified to the final of the show and took part in the mythical pole test after finishing second in the orienteering race. We could see it in Koh Lanta and we also feel it in this interview, Géraldine still does not believe her eyes. She comes back for us on her crazy adventure in the TF1 survival game.
Why did you choose to participate in the show?
For several things. Already because I had been watching the show for several years with my children on Friday evenings. It’s an adventure that has always spoken to me. I always asked myself the question of knowing if I would manage to do something in this adventure and who I would become in these conditions. Would I be able to hold them, to adapt to be able to move forward. I wanted to know how I would manage to adapt to the level of the group, hunger, fatigue… I had done several adventures before doing Koh Lanta but these conditions only exist in Koh Lanta. I wanted to know who I was going to be in this situation.
What was the hardest for you?
Clearly the hardest part was the wet nights. It rained a lot, we were at the end of the monsoon. There have been many drunken nights under the stars. Inevitably, we sleep wet and, even when it does not rain, there is so much dew due to the forest behind that all the things are wet. We sleep constantly wet. It is very difficult because we sleep little and we are cold. Gradually, like the leaves on the roof rot, when it rains the rot falls on us. We don’t see that on the screen, but we live it on the other hand and it’s difficult!
You do 39 days of adventure and arrive on the poles of Koh Lanta. What is the memory you will keep the most?
I get chills just hearing about it. If there were to be only one left, it’s clearly when I find this dagger of orientation. It’s a symbol and then it was unexpected that I could experience this emotion. I saw her through the screen when I was on my couch. I saw the emotion adventurers had when they found that dagger. To live it, it was an immense happiness for me. I felt completely transported. I dropped everything. It was something incredible. I found myself running on the beach towards Denis, I was flying. I had strides that became super light. It was amazing.
Often the deans of the show are the first eliminated. Did you expect to go this far?
No, I didn’t expect that. I arrived saying to myself “the only thing I would like is not to be eliminated first”. I wanted to have time to make my place socially and for people to get to know me a little. From there, once I had made my place it would be easier but I always need a little time, I’m a little diesel! (laughs) Afterwards, you had to be not too bad in the tests. Socially, in the group, I wanted to have time to take my place. Afterwards, I progressed little by little, I saw the reunification happen and, gradually, the councils where I was sometimes in danger but saved by my friends, sometimes where I was not in danger. All of this keeps us going. And then the orientation points the tip of his nose and I say to myself “it’s not possible, I’m coming to this!” It’s incredible feelings.
What was your state of mind before taking part in the pole test?
I said to myself, “Gege, you’ve won everything already. You’ve gone beyond what you wanted.” I did all that respecting myself because I also wanted to move forward while keeping my course. And that’s not nothing in Koh Lanta. The choices are so difficult that sometimes none are good. In any case, succeeding in fitting in with his choices was important to me. Going all this way while being in agreement with my choices allowed me to move forward serenely. The day before the posts, I say to myself “you’re coming to the final, you have nothing to lose”.
In Koh Lanta, we think a lot too. You had made calculations about your chances against the final jury following your opponents on the posts?
For the final jury, I did not calculate anything at all. Above all, I saw myself doing the test. To think about the final jury, that means you have to be there. It wasn’t in my head yet. I was really going step by step. After the orientation, I think of the posts but not the after.
Assuming you win the €100,000, what would you like to do with it?
I would like to take a trip with my family and then I would like to help an association in housing assistance for people who have trouble finding housing and for whom it is difficult.
You participated in Koh Lanta to make your sons proud of you. How did you experience your adventure through their eyes?
There was a whole first part where I was not seen much. I was quite frustrated because I wanted to share that with my relatives and my children and then we didn’t really see my adventure. I knew why but it was still difficult to live with it. And, gradually, I arrived in the game! (laughs) Gradually I saw my children’s eyes widen. We had made predictions, they thought I would be in 6th or 7th position, so just before orientation. They had already seen far anyway! For two or three episodes, their eyes widen more and more and the face opens and smiles enormously. Discreetly, they come to see me and they say “Mom, we are so proud of you”. That’s crazy. It’s great to be able to share this.
Did the adventure allow you to learn things about yourself?
I knew I had an ability to adapt. I had come to look for her, to find out what strength I had in me and I think I found it. When I find the dagger and say my dream has come true, that’s it. I touched what was strong inside me. That feeling was incredible. I also accepted that having doubts is not necessarily a brake. I had them throughout the adventure. I am like this. I have doubts about myself, about my abilities, about what I am capable of doing. It pushes me to get out of my comfort zone even more to try to overcome them. It helps me.
Looking back, how do you view your career in Koh Lanta?
I tell myself that I had an incredible chance to live this adventure. It’s something I wanted to experience fully. It’s unspeakable because this adventure intersects with so many elements. Humanly, psychologically, physically… it affects everything. We are in the drawing of energy and strength in all these areas. I am happy to have lived an adventure which made it possible to solicit all that.
During the episode of linked destinies, you and Fouzi were on waivers against Louana and Maxime. Ambre and François finally choose that you will stay. Looking back, this is a key moment in your adventure. How did you experience it?
Once again, Koh Lanta is not just about the physical, the events won or the performance. It is also the friendships, the social, the links. And our ties between François, Ambre and Fouzi and me were really sincere. We saw it then. I tell myself that they chose to protect themselves at the expense of a starting alliance but that they followed their hearts. I tell myself that it’s nice to move forward with the heart. I think it’s a great value.
Would you like to participate in Koh Lanta again if you were given the opportunity?
There, for now, I’m enjoying everything that’s going on. I can’t imagine the second Koh Lanta, I’m enjoying the first. I want to live it 200%. It’s a great adventure that ends and will continue to live in the head. I’m not thinking of another adventure or another big project. I live it fully and I take advantage of it because it’s enormous sensations.
What are your plans for the future?
For now, I will enjoy until the end of this adventure. Afterwards, I don’t know, I haven’t programmed anything yet. I want to take full advantage and the opportunities will come. Professionally, I will continue what I do and then we will see. I am never short of projects and desires. It takes time for an adventure to end and close the page well before dreaming of something else.