In the most recent episode of The Amazing Race Australia, the unthinkable happened: Chloe Logarzo and Emily Gielnik, the clear favourites to win this season of the series, were eliminated from the competition.
If you watched along at home, you’ll know just how emotional the scenes were when hearing that our leading gals would be finishing up their competition in Namibia.
In an exclusive interview with Chattr, Chloe and Emily shared exactly what went down during their final leg of The Amazing Race, and how more than just a bum bag contributed to their gutting elimination.
“I think there was no doubt in our mind that we were going to be top three,” Emily said.
“There was definitely a lot of belief there that we were good enough to win the whole thing. And as competitors, we felt pretty comfortable going into everything. But, for some reason, everything went wrong from the get-go, and it just wasn’t our day.”
And that’s no exaggeration. During the Namibia leg of the competition, a shattering turn of events saw Chloe and Emily – who were leading comfortably at this point – realise they had forgotten a bum bag back at the site of the kayaking with seals challenge. The pair had to turn back to retrieve the bag, losing time in the process.
“We were just caught up in just trying to get ahead, as far as possible. And we know that’s a mistake, but look, it’s devastating, and I know Em feels so guilty about it, but it’s a simple mistake,” Chloe said.
“Unfortunately, in this race, time is everything, and we just drove so far away that trying to get back to the bum bag set us back.”
It wasn’t only the bum bag that slowed Chloe and Emily down
There was, however, more to their departure from The Amazing Race than just the rogue bum bag, Chloe added. Apparently, the pair of footballers were left without a key after pumping up the tyres to their four-by-four.
“Throughout the day, there’s (sic) so many other things that weren’t shown on the show that were also going the wrong way,” she said.
“As we drove off [in the four-by-four], there was a signal on the car saying that the key wasn’t detected. Our driver had left the key in his pocket and gotten out of the car, so then we had to turn around and go get the key so that if the car turned off, we could turn it back on.”
Talk about an unlucky run. In the face of all this, though, the ladies really committed to turning things around and gave 100 per cent right up until the last minute.
Sadly, it just wasn’t quite enough.
“Even though we made up a lot of ground, it was just really, it was heartbreaking because we were just so close to scraping through. And there are a lot of ‘what ifs’, which is, you know, are eating us alive, especially as footballers. But no, we had no doubt that we were capable of winning the whole thing. And I think that’s why it hurts a little bit more than what it probably should,” Emily said.
“Chloe and I sobbed for, I mean, at least those two days after that.”
Why The Amazing Race’s Emily and Chloe worked so well together
Having been such strong contenders in the competition (many other ex-competitors were hoping to see the Matildas ladies win), Chattr asked Emily and Chloe what they thought it was about their partnership that allowed them to perform so well in The Amazing Race Australia.
Chloe put it down to the duo’s ability “to be positive with each other, and to have the mindset of winning”.
Emily added to that point, sharing that, “I think why people backed us [is] if you look at it from an outside perspective, we worked quite well together.
“I know we can hustle when we need a hustle. We back each other when we need to back each other, like we butt heads.
“Plenty of times, we butt heads. And, you know, production doesn’t have time to show all those things, but we just keep cracking on. We want the best for each other.”
And both Chloe and Emily agreed that they always carried the belief that The Amazing Race Australia was “a team game”.
Who do Chloe and Emily think will win The Amazing Race 2024?
When it comes to the remainder of the series, and which of the cast have it in them to win The Amazing Race, Emily shared that it could really be anyone’s game.
“I love the country singers [Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley]; they’re just going through carefree. Bam and Logan [Tuivasa] are smashing it. Billy and Oscar [Brownless] are a bit of a dark horse, and Pete and Bridget [Helliar] are just funny as hell… and you’ve got Thorpey [Ian Thorpe] and Christian [Miranda] as well.”
“You’ve got quite a diverse group. And honestly, they’ve all got totally different strengths. So I don’t think it’s about, and you’ve seen with us, sometimes it’s not always the strongest that goes the furthest.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing who ends up on top. But I think everyone is a force to be reckoned with, that’s for sure.”
Chloe and Emily will be sorely missed!
The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition airs on Monday and Tuesdays at 7:30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.
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