Jana Pittman has always embraced a challenge. Despite having a baby just six months prior to filming SAS Australia, the dual Olympian wanted to take on the gruelling course.
“I know it sounds weird, because you think an athlete is always driven, but I’m someone who needs a goal to keep fit,” Jana, 38, tells TV WEEK.
The mum-of-four cites going head-to-head with her fellow SAS recruits – especially sprinter Jessica Peris – as especially difficult.
“I love Jess, and Nova Peris [the Olympic gold medallist and Jessica’s mum] is one of my closest friends,” she says.
“The same thing happened in 2007 [when going over the final hurdle on her way to winning gold at the Athletics World Championships],” she admits.
Jana is a doting mother to baby Charlie, Jemima, four, Emily, six and 14-year-old Cornelis.
(Image: Instagram)But before they face each other, DS Billy orders Jess to throw a handful of dirt in Jana’s face. While she admits she was shocked, Jana understands why Jess did it.
“She did exactly what she was told to do,” she explains. “She didn’t have a choice.”
In addition, during an intense fitness “beasting”, Jana lost control of her bladder. But instead of trying to hide it, she wanted to speak up.
Despite having a baby just six months prior to filming SAS Australia, the dual Olympian wanted to take on the gruelling course.
(Image: Getty)“Doing the victory lap, I remember thinking, ‘Oh, my God – I hope nobody notices.”
The athlete kept the moment to herself until a speaking engagement years later. When some women told her that her story made them feel better about their own bodies after childbirth, Jana – now a doctor and an aspiring gynaecologist – realised how important it was to share.
“On the show, I thought I could either hide it again, like I did years ago, or be honest and normalise something,” she says.
“The response on social media has been beautiful.”
