Interview with Recruit 21 - Phoebe
Category: Press Pack ArticlePhoebe
Recruit: 21
Age: 30
Profession: Telecoms account executive
Hometown/Region: Farnham, Surrey
Background
Phoebe had a troubled upbringing and suffered from bulimia. Discovering body building helped her drag herself out of her dark place – it gave her stability and a way of staying healthy.
Being meticulous about diet plans and fitness schedules have helped her maintain a heathy lifestyle and she now no longer lets her eating disorder control her and she feels like she is now in control of her body. She has competed in many female body building competitions and has dabbled with alternative modelling, appearing on the cover of Total Tattoo magazine.
Tell me about your experience on SAS: Who Dares Wins?
One of the hardest things I have ever done in my life, but also one of the best and most rewarding! It is very difficult to put into the words the whole experience for me but I have memories that I will cherish forever, which includes the lows as well as the highs!
Did you find it difficult? Was it more difficult than you expected?
I found it difficult, yes! It’s very easy to sit and watch it on TV and say you would smash it but once you’re in amongst it all and doing it, it’s a very different story!
You experienced a chemical warfare attack as part of the series. This is the first time this has happened on SAS: Who Dares Wins. How did you find that?
I didn’t expect the chemical warfare challenge at all! I’ve not experienced anything like that before so the burning and trying to catch your breath was a bit of a shock initially! Also, luckily I had a great partner so we worked well together.
Have you ever done anything like this before?
I’ve never done anything even remotely like SAS: Who Dares Wins!
What made you sign up?
I’ve always wanted to be a part of SAS: Who Dares Wins but I’ve never had the courage to apply before. I’m heavily into the gym, so I push myself physically a lot of the time but I wanted to test my mind. I’ve been through various things over the years which have made me stronger mentally in some aspects but I still have a lot of things I’m working on. I struggle massively with confidence/self-belief/self-acceptance, so I wanted to strip everything away and really see if I had the determination and capability.
What training did you do in preparation for this course?
When I applied for the show I was doing a powerlifting programme, so I had to quickly drop the heavy weights, start running and putting myself through lots of circuit training to get my fitness up!
Now that you have this experience, would you like to join the real Special Forces?
I’d be no good in the real special forces but it was such a privilege to have a small insight into what the real SAS put themselves through.
What was the best part of the series for you?
I can’t pin point one particular “best” part as there is far too many, but abseiling down the oil rig has to be up there with one of the best!
What is your biggest fear and has this experience helped you get over that fear?
Water was my biggest fear! I hated it! The unknown of what’s in there is the worst part, plus the fact I’m not a strong swimmer. I’m not totally over my fear of water but it really has helped me a great deal. Once I was in the water, I had actually no time to think about hating it, so in a way it’s made me realise as big a deal as I was making it in my head!
Do you think you found it harder than the male recruits?
No I don’t think gender comes into it. Everyone excelled at things more than others sometimes and vice versa
You had to share all your space with men for the whole time you were there, including sleeping and toilets. How did you find that?
Again, gender was irrelevant. We were all there on the course together probably looking our worst, so I didn’t really think about it !
Would you ever do it again?
In a heartbeat.
What do you think you’ve learnt about yourself?
I’ve learnt that I shouldn’t give up on myself so easily and compare myself to others constantly. I’m a lot more capable and driven than I give myself credit for. Whenever I don’t feel motivated, I think of being on the course and how much I pushed myself which helps me a great deal every day. Being chosen to be on the course was a huge confidence boost in its self
Has being on the series changed your life in anyway?
Yes, I’m still in disbelief that I was on the course. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity that so many other people wanted and to think I was picked still blows my mind! Whenever I feel low or I’m having a down day, I think back to the course and all of the amazing memories I’ve taken away from it. If I could put myself through that, then I’m able to do more than i think.