Jana Pittman has broken her silence on her heartbreaking SAS Australia defeat, saying she’s disappointed not to have made it to the course’s final challenge.
During Tuesday night’s explosive finale, the remaining four recruits were tasked with a terrifying helicopter insertion into enemy territory to locate a cache containing important information.
Jana, who was paired up with tennis legend Mark Philippoussis, was reaching her breaking point physically. But with just seconds to spare, the two athletes completed the challenge in time.
Despite passing the mission, Jana was eliminated by the DS, sparking outrage among diehard SAS Australia fans.
Despite passing the penultimate challenge, Jana was eliminated by the DS who said she had reached her limit.
(Image: Seven)
Jana took to Instagram to thank her hordes of fans for their support, saying she wished she was able to continue on in the course.
“Of course disappointed not to finish the last task. In hindsight wish I had tried to bargain with @antmiddleton to let me continue and not take my number,” she said.
“Not sure what he would have said but I was definitely blowing a gasket! Would have loved to have tried the rope hang.”
But Jana isn’t bitter over her loss and praised directing staff (DS) Ant Middleton, Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham, Ollie Ollerton and Jason ‘Foxy’ Fox as her “heroes”.
“You are amazing, you taught me so much and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity,” she said.
After getting eliminated in the nail-biting finale, Ant told the mother-of-four that she made an “outstanding effort.”
“We are all super proud of you. We would have loved to have brought you forward but your reserve is empty,” he told Jana.
Her elimination was met with fury from fans who said the Olympian and ‘super mum’ shouldn’t have been booted off considering she passed the challenge.
“Not happy with that! Needed to show why Jana failed. She looked as though she passed the challenge – and didn’t pass out or leave her partner for dead,” one viewer wrote.
Jana’s elimination was met with fury from fans who said the Olympian and ‘super mum’ shouldn’t have been booted off.
(Image: Seven)“Jana was incredible! I think she was a bit ripped off,” said another.
During the final challenge, the three remaining recruits were suspended 300m over a deep ravine, forced to hang from a rope for 90 seconds before letting go and dropping below.
Ultimarely, despite Mark and John Steffensen also successfully finishing the course, only NRL star Sam Burgess passed selection, making him the sole winner of SAS Australia season two.
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