Double trouble on Survivor: Samoa

EXCLUSIVE: The two oldest contestants on Survivor: Samoa have been eliminated, and both say their age played a part during their time on the show.

Foa Foa tribe members Mike Borassi, a 62-year-old chef from California, was taken out of the game after falling ill during a vigorous immunity challenge, while 48-year-old policewoman Betsy Bolan was eliminated at that night's tribal council.

Three people have now left the Foa Foa tribe after just two episodes, leaving opposing tribe Galu with a major advantage. Marisa Calihan was eliminated last week.

In a joint interview with Stuff.co.nz, Borassi and Bolan both admitted their age was a major disadvantage on Survivor.

"It's definitely a disadvantage," said Borassi. "They automatically assume you're going to be weak because you're older. You have to prove yourself right away."

Bolan: "See how cute those girls were? There's just no way I could have competed with them. It was hard for me to relate to them and to earn their respect. I was so out of that clique."

Borassi said his elimination - following a rugged immunity challenge resembling a rugby free-for-all - was a "bitter pill to swallow".

"I just got dehydrated and my blood pressure dropped and it just took a little bit for me to come back. I'm fine ... I was fine an hour after the game. I kept asking the doctor (not to) pull me, but the blood pressure wasn't coming back and that was it.

"I gave it 1000 percent and I made an impression ... what are you going to do?"

Bolan put her elimination down to the devious Russell Hantz, a 36-year-old oil tycoon who has deliberately caused trouble for Foa Foa. Hantz has burnt socks, emptied water canisters, lied about his involvement in Hurricane Katrina and made multiple secret alliances.

"I can't stand him, but I have to admit it, he's playing a good game," she said. "He outwitted me. He knew I was on to him, and he didn't want me to get to the (other girls on their tribe).

"I just needed one more day, maybe two. I almost had him but (I wasn't) good enough."

She denied accusations that, for a policewoman, she hadn't performed as well as she could have.

"I wasn't a weak link. I really am a strong person, I'm not fast, but I'm very strong.'

Borassi claimed Hantz' performance was an act.

"He's acting it but I don't think he is (a psychopath). It's an act. He said to me he wanted to be famous from this game ... I thought he was a weasel but I didn't think he was that cunning."

Bolan claimed she didn't trust Hantz from the moment she met him.

"Just look at him. It's his eyes, and his smile, his speech, it was absolutely everything. I trusted him for maybe two minutes after I met him. After three minutes I'm like, urgh, I can't stand this guy."

Survivor: Samoa screens on TV3 on Thursday nights at 7.30pm. Stuff.co.nz will interview every contestant as they are eliminated.

You can donate money to the victims and clean-up following the Samoan tsunami tragedy here.

* Did Betsy deserve go? Was Mike up to the challenge? Post your comments below.

- © Fairfax NZ News