SAS Australia has officially returned to our screens for 2023, with the latest season already proving to be one of the toughest yet.
Landing in the middle of Jordan’s Wadi Rum Desert, the 14 new recruits of SAS Australia were immediately put to the test, with Chief Instructor Ant Middleton guiding the contestants through some of SAS’ most challenging exercises to date.
While some recruits have been able to rise to the challenge and conquer the SAS Australia training course, not all of the contestants were able to overcome the various obstacles and decided to withdraw from the competition.
Scroll down to find out who has left SAS Australia 2023 so far.
Who has left SAS Australia 2023?
Mahalia Murphy
International rugby star Mahalia Murphy voluntarily withdrew from SAS Australia after an intense training course.
“I can push through mentally, but physically, it’s not how it works,” Mahalia said.
“Despite all the pain, the experiences have been unreal. Even the mindset. It’s given me a different perspective and made me think differently, which is going to help me a lot going forward.”
Craig McLachlan
Following an intense day on both land and sea, Craig McLachlan withdrew from SAS Australia after being examined for stomach pain.
“I came into the course with all sorts of personal issues, having gone through a number of years of trauma. I really lost sight of who I was, and I’m leaving with a real sense of who I am,” he told Ant Middleton.
Zima Anderson
Following an intense training exercise, the SAS Australia recruits were tasked with leaping off a nearby dock tower into the surrounding water however, Zima unfortunately landed short and suddenly crashed into the pavement below.
The Neighbours star was then taken to a nearby hospital, with the actor sustaining a fracture to her right elbow and wrist, and was subsequently medically withdrawn from the course.
Peter Bol
After rising to the challenge during an intense game of murderball, Olympic runner Peter Bol voluntarily withdrew from training camp over fears of sustaining an injury.
“The Olympics only come every four years. That fear of not being able to perform when it matters most, that worries me a bit,” Peter said, adding, “I don’t want to put myself at risk physically because I still have to go out there and compete for the country. If you’re going against the best in the world, you need every single one percent.”
Anthony Mundine
After fighting through five days of SAS Australia’s relentless training camp, Anthony Mundine voluntarily withdrew from the competition.
“Walking away, I feel great. I feel that I’ve changed, and something has pushed me out of my comfort zone… I didn’t say I was the best SAS fella; I just came to enjoy the experience. I made it halfway through and I’m grateful for that,” he said.
Stephanie Rice
Stephanie Rice’s time in the SAS Australia training camp was sadly cut short after the Olympic swimmer was forced to withdraw due to medical reasons.
Despite departing from camp earlier than anticipated, Stephanie was still incredibly proud of her efforts.
“I just felt like I could’ve kept going. Like, I don’t feel like I’ve learnt [enough] about myself. But being able to leave with my number feels special. I’m really proud of that. I think the lesson for me is knowing that there will be more opportunities and be okay with this moment right here, right now.”
Lindy Klim
Businesswoman and Indonesian princess Lindy Klim decided to call time on her SAS Australia journey following the second episode of the season, with the 43-year-old stating that she felt “like a fish out of water.”
“I did think I would really struggle being completely out of my comfort zone. I hate being dirty, and I hate sand and I hate camping. I feel quite chuffed that I managed to get through two days,” Lindy said.
Following her departure from the show, Lindy revealed on social media that she sustained a significant shoulder injury during her time on SAS Australia that subsequently required surgery.
Boyd Cordner
One of three recruits to depart SAS Australia during the second episode, former NRL star Boyd Cordner withdrew from the competition after suffering from a high-grade pectoral tear.
Prior to leaving the recruits, Boyd also shared that his early retirement from his football career was a preemptive measure to counteract the onset of chronic traumatic encephalopathy; a neurological disorder caused by repeated head injuries.
“I didn’t know what the next head knock would bring. It’s quite a scary thought when you think about the long-term effects that concussion or TBIs [traumatic brain injuries] could have.”
Cassie Sainsbury
After making her way through the opening challenges throughout the first two days of the SAS Australia training camp, Cassie voluntarily withdrew after being unable to complete her crawl through a 30-metre submerged pipeline network.
Jason Akermanis
Following an intense first day of training, AFL star Jason Akermanis voluntarily withdrew from SAS Australia after suffering with an ongoing pain in his foot.
“I’ve got out exactly what I would hope to get out of it. I didn’t leave injured, ah, that injured. I’m a bit sore but not that injured. And I don’t need to come on a course like this and prove anything else to anyone else.”
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