“These things happen sometimes,” Yarbrough tells EW.
“Didn’t plan on it happening that way.
It was tough.”
Laura Barisonzi/Paramount+
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How are you feeling about how your game ended this season?
SYRUS YARBROUGH:I think I did pretty good, but I could have done better.
I’ll live to fight again.
Laura Barisonzi/Paramount+
I go on theseChallengesand I didn’t want to get injured.
I really disappointed myself.
I feel like I beat myself.
I still feel like that was my elimination to win.
And it just didn’t go my way.
Well, there’s that thing they call age, and you have to look at it.
That’s the reason I’m out doing 20 miles a day, still to this day.
From the day I left, I never stopped my workouts.
I’m just hoping and waiting for the next one.
I need to prove that to myself.
This is the closest thing to that, and I honestly live for it.
It really is that fifth American sport.
So it’s rough, I’m not happy about [getting eliminated].
I’m angry because I lost.
I’m never happy with losing.
I’ve never been a loser.
I’ve always been a champion since the first day I started to compete.
I don’t lose.
That’s in all aspects of life.
Did you know how hard MJ was campaigning to go against you?
I knew what it was.The Challengeis no secret.
When this is taking place, people are avoiding you.
They’re looking the opposite direction.
It’s a really weird phenomenon when it’s about to go down.
And I started feeling that on the bus on the way home from the competition.
I started feeling like I’m definitely going to be put up.
If I don’t get chosen to go in, I’ll still be put up for sure.
So I knew that was happening.
He thought I was low-hanging fruit, the easy way out, and he came at me.
When I get a chance to come back at him, I’m coming.
Just like Alton: every chance I get to come at him, I’m coming.
It’s not a problem, it’s just man-to-man.
You wanted me, you called me out, so let’s go.
First chance I get to call you out, I will return the favor.
Personally, I don’t think there’s anyone I can’t beat.
It just depends on the competition at hand.
I’m not mad at him or anything.
It just is what it is.
How were you feeling going into this elimination once you learned what it was?
I was extremely focused, like I was going to win it.
I didn’t think I was going to lose it at all.
I was more focused on what the rules are and not getting panicked.
That’s one of my detriments, I think.
I try and focus on exactly what not to do.
And I just lost the game.
I know I had a chance to win it, and that’s what bothers me the most.
But I don’t think I deserved to be in there.
I did well in the [challenge].
I believe I was top four or five, and they still went with the wrong man.
They gave him what he wanted.
And it didn’t set in until I was halfway home.
You’ve got incredible basketball skills, so what happened with throwing those sandbags?
I couldn’t catch it at the right time, and I started going too fast.
It felt a little like basketball, but not really.
But there’s no excuse.
Moving forward, I cannot wait for the nextChallenge.
Then it’s time to compete.
Hopefully there’s[All Stars] 4.
I hope I’m considered for that.
That was my goal.
[Laughs] I’m another 25 lbs.
lighter than I was on thatChallenge.
I have dropped a total of about 60 lbs.
My cardio is incredible.
I’ve got the heart of a lion, and I’ve got the will to push anyone.
So I’m ready to go.
My woman has got this six-pack, and I remember being like, “What in the hell?”
I look at me and I had a pony keg.
I was like, “I’ve got to fix this.
I’m going to do that.”
She was like, “Let’s do it.”
We started together during COVID, and I went from five miles in a 40-lb.
Plus I lift as well.
I’m down to my literal high school basketball playing weight.
I’m actually stronger than I’ve been in a long time.
And I’m here to compete.
I think I played a decent political game.
My whole theory was never to come in first, always to come in mid-range.
I know everyone in the house.
I think some people naturally gravitate a little more toward me.
I thought that I was right where I wanted to be.
That would have been a tough road!
Yeah, but I’m sure they would have came for me.
Unfortunately, one thing that cannot be beaten is Father Time.
But it’s still fun.
I love that, and seeing faces that I haven’t seen in forever.
Do you have any regrets from this season?
I sucked at mud ball.
[Laughs] Mud ball was crazy.
Watching Brad and Derrick and Jordan float through the mud was crazy.
I was like, “How the hell are they doing that?”
I remember thinking, “I could never float like that.”
They were so fast.
I still don’t know how they did it.
I touched the mud, and boom, sank right to the bottom.
I was climbing out of that stuff.
It was fun though.
It was like having a mud bath at the spa.
A very aggressive spa day.
So I got the exfoliant, and I got the mud bath.
I’m telling you,The Challengeis nothing but a spa for me.
I’ve got to take care of these crow’s feet.
I’ve got to keep everything smooth.
How do you think the kids would handle me on the main show?
I think you could do some damage, for sure.
Literally, I could the dad to like half of them.
And that’s the problem.
Will they give me respect like they give a parent?
Or are they just going to dis the hell out of me the whole time?
Just let him be.
My girl would probably never do it, but she’d do it for me.
We’d be great.
The Challenge: All Stars 3debuts new episodes Wednesdays on Paramount+.
