MTV’s long-running reality competition series “The Challenge” is back with season 41, titled “Vets and New Threats.” The format splits competitors evenly between seasoned legends and rookies eager to make a name for themselves. Among the returning veterans is Chris “CT” Tamburello, a fan favorite with a storied past and five victories under his belt. But this time around, the “Challenge” icon found himself in unfamiliar territory — and not just because of the grueling competition.
‘The Challenge’ GOAT Felt Overlooked by the Season 41 Rookies
Tamburello has become a fixture on “The Challenge” since making his debut in season 8, “The Inferno,” which aired back in 2004. Despite his legendary status in “The Challenge” universe, Tamburello says some of the newcomers this season didn’t even recognize him.
“When I’m starting to mingle and talk to people, honestly, it was almost as if they looked at me like I was just part of production, like I wasn’t even a Challenger!” he told Parade Magazine. “I don’t think some of them even knew who I was. I can’t be that old!”
The beginning of the new season featured a brutal first challenge: scaling a 5,500-foot mountain. Tamburello, 45, struggled more than expected. And that may have impacted how the rookies perceived him. He actually finished last in the opening event. But it wasn’t the defeat that got to him, it was how the younger players treated him afterward.
“The way they were so nice and polite to me for the most part, it almost kind of made me more upset,” he joked. “Some people look at me like I’m just this really old guy that’s like, ‘What is he still doing here?’”
The Struggle Was Real on Season 41—Even for a 5-Time Champion
The physical toll of season 41 was apparent from the very beginning. In the premiere episode, Tamburello was paired with rookie Tay Wilcoxson from “Big Brother Australia” and immediately faced an uphill battle.
During a muddy hill climb challenge, Tamburello could barely make it up the slope while Wilcoxson kept pace easily. When asked if he was ok, Tamburello confessed that he was “out of shape.”
“Getting up that hill is a lot harder than it looks,” the five-time champion said in the clip. “I’m completely gassed, and it’s not getting any easier. I look like a baby trying to crawl for the first time. And what’s worse is that Tay doesn’t even look like she’s winded at all.”
Tamburello’s performance trying to get up that hill didn’t go unnoticed. Fellow veteran Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio commented on his castmate’s early struggles, telling Entertainment Weekly that it was a “very tough first challenge.”
“A lot of people were struggling on that, but, I mean, we’re not getting younger. He and I have been doing the same for a long time, but we’re not used to going straight into a challenge, so I think we’re a little bit caught off guard by that,” Devenanzio explained.
“It’s never good to see one of the vets in the trenches struggling. But you never know what you’re going to get. You’ve got to be ready for anything.”
Why CT Tamburello Keeps Coming Back to ‘The Challenge’
Despite these new challenges, Tamburello’s love for the game hasn’t wavered. He admits he’s flirted with retirement multiple times, only to find himself drawn back into “The Challenge” world.
“I don’t know how many times I’ve retired, but I think it’s under three or four,” he said. “It’s my life. It’s basically all I know. I started when I was what, 22, 23.”
Even after decades in the game, Tamburello still feels he has something to prove. Not to other people, but to himself. Still, every time he returns to the show he’s convinced that it’s the last time.
“Part of me wants to be like, ‘I don’t know why I come back.’ Another part of me wants to be like, ‘It’s because it’s my home.’ Another part of me wants to be like, ‘Just because I can win.’ It’s funny, because I tell people I don’t have much to prove. But at the same time, I feel like I’ve got something to prove to myself,” Tamburello concluded.
“The Challenge: Vets and New Threats” airs Wednesdays on MTV.
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‘The Challenge’ Season 41: CT Tamburello Admits He Felt Like ‘Just Part of Production’