Will ‘The Biggest Loser’ be the same without Jillian Michaels? From the very beginning of ‘Loser’, Jillian has helped hundreds of contestants lose the weight and gain their lives back. She’s drawn a huge following and devoted fan base, but can she be replaced?
The two new trainers from last season aren’t back this time around. And now it’s Anna Kournikova and Dolvett Quince’s shot. Here’s what the two new trainers had to say about feeling the pressure to replace Jillian Michaels on a recent call:
Dolvett Quince: I don’t feel any added pressure because I’ve been doing this thing for so long, this thing I call which is personal training. And I’m very confident with being able to assist people in changing their lives. So I didn’t come there with a mindset of trying to be anything different than other than what I am and that’s a trainer.
The heart of me, I love what I do and I wanted to translate that to these people especially these obese people that could use my experience. So I walk into it with that confidence.
And I also have a confidence of an amazing support team in Todd Lubin and even Gaha with Beverly and all these other people around me not to mention Dr. Huizenga and Cheryl as well.
So it – you know, with that support system you definitely have a great confidence walking – coming in to this situation.
Anna Kournikova: I didn’t feel any pressure. I mean I was the one that went after this opportunity to be on the Biggest Loser to be able to have the opportunity to train with these people and help them become healthier.
You know, like I said earlier I’ve worked with the best nutritionists, the best psychologist, the best coaches, trainers — all those things. And for mean, I’ve stored all of that information. I’ve used my body as a tool my whole life on a tennis court being a professional athlete.
So for me it was just literally instead of now listening to all the information that was thrown at me I was just repeating it and voicing it to the contestants and sharing it with them.
And just like Dolvett said, I can’t speak obviously for him, but I didn’t feel like I was replacing anyone or trying to fill in anybody’s shoes – not at all. We all have our own styles.
For me the biggest draw was that I had all this knowledge, that I live and breathe sports, fitness, nutrition, well-being and helping people.
So for me that was a perfect combination. I’ve been working with kids involving kids into sports since 2003 working with Boys and Girls Club full-time and just promoting sports and healthy, active lifestyles.
So it was a completely natural role for me. And yes maybe I’ve never trained like Dolvett’s clients and people in a gym every day but my profession is being an athlete. And literally I just had to repeat everything to the people I was training now.
Tune in to NBC tonight at 8pm ET to see Anna and Dolvett take their shot on ‘The Biggest Loser’ Season 12 premiere!
photo credit: NBC
