Survivor season 35 cast: Cole Medders thrives in adversity

Cole Medders will be on the Healers tribe on Survivor season 35 and says that he’s at his best when he’s pushing himself against the elements.

In past seasons, we’ve seen Survivor morph from a game about the physical survival in the elements to one that requires a well-rounded player. Some might even say that it’s more social than physical at this point. Even still, there is still something to be said for a cast member who’s able to survive in the purest sense. That’s exactly what Cole Medders, a member of the Healers tribe, will bring to Survivor season 35.

Cole works as a wilderness therapy guide when he’s not out trying to last 39 days in Fiji. As he describes it, he works with “disadvantaged” youths in taking them to push themselves in the outdoors to find something special within themselves. If nothing else, you have to respect the ambition of Medders in what he does for a living.

However, Cole as an individual really seems to fit the mold of the physical threat and provider that we’ve seen time and again in Survivor. Obviously there is the outdoorsman element in play as it pertains to him, but he also believes that he’ll thrive in situations such as this:

Granted, living with 17 strangers on an island in Fiji and having to weather the elements is different than living in a Toyota Prius. With that being said, he truly does seem just stoked — there’s no better word here — to be able to push himself in a game like Survivor.

Medders talks about being at his best when he’s pushing himself. Whether that’s rock climbing or other ventures, he says that where he thrives. And looking at his interview with CBS for his cast profile, that seems to hold true. Cole has climbed the two tallest peaks in the Western Hemisphere and has other areas where he appears to enjoy pushing himself. However, perhaps the most telling answer is why he’s competing on season 35 would mean to him:

More from Surviving Tribal

"Of course the money would be incredible but I honestly think having the title of Sole Survivor is the ultimate accomplishment for an outdoorsman like me."

Again, it’s hard not to see Cole and hear him talk about where he succeeds and life and think that he won’t be great at Survivor on a basic level. However, there are other vibes that are concerning about his prospects of winning.

The core of those vibes is that he somewhat comes across as an Ozzy Lusth type player. While he compares himself to Spencer Bledsoe when asked, there are definitely more Ozzy feels than that. Without seeing him interact, he seems like a player in danger of relying too much on his physical prowess and ability to provide than the social aspects of the game. These are the same pitfalls that have killed Ozzy in virtually all four times that he’s played.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that Medders is that — it’s just the impression that you get hearing him and seeing what he has to say. Because of that, though, he enters Survivor season 35 presenting an intriguing paradox. He could be both a Final 3 candidate and a pre-merge exit. It really all depends on if he avoids the Ozzy pitfalls, it seems.

Next: Survivor: Ranking every season

Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers premieres on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS.