Retired after working as a registered nurse for 41 years,
Gillian Larson has never satisfied her appetite for adventure and travel
despite her wide array of experiences throughout her 61 years. She has
traveled through 46 countries and all but a few U.S. states, much of it
backpacking. This adventurous "granny" can climb and rappel
4,000 foot mountains and swim with the Great Whites. Not only is she
versatile, but she is competitive by nature and feels as though she is an
perfect fit for the game of SURVIVOR, having applied 15 times, always
believing she would one day be selected.
Married 37 years to her husband, Ron, Gillian has three married daughters
and four grandchildren. Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, she
was awarded several academic and athletic honors. Gillian met her husband
in Germany and moved to the United States. The couple has relocated 18
times and currently resides in Temecula, Calif. since 2001. Her proudest
achievement is her awesome family.
When she isn't scuba diving or hiking through the mountains, Gillian
enjoys travel, writing, photography, gardening, spending time with her
family and her eclectic group of friends who range from 2 to 92.
For her 60th birthday, she got a purple butterfly tattoo on her left hip.
A very good swimmer, this SURVIVOR-addict feels that she has what is takes
to be the oldest winner yet.
After SURVIVOR, Larson's new goal is to be a motivational speaker,
focusing on "believe in yourself and you can achieve anything"
Gillian's birthday is February 24, 1947.
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Gillian: "I've told thousands and thousands of people
that I am going to play Survivor one day. I've applied 15 times, I have sent
in applications every time. I studied the show. I've kept myself fit trying
to get on Survivors. I've done everything possible. Obviously it was waiting
for Africa again. I am an American citizen with an African soul, and it was
waiting for me to come back so I can win this game in my home continent. I
will not let you down and so many of the older players have not come up to
scratch and so I will not let them down, I am so delighted to be here to
play. This is the most amazing game, everything. I am absolutely with being
the oldest and I am going to be the oldest winner yet. My life experiences
will take me somewhere to do something good in the game. I am not too keen
on being bashed on but I'll manage. It's been great watching Survivor
because you have this wonderful cost of boobs and butts, I will be playing
with a bunch of people with magnificent bodies. The whole world is looking,
something they have missed, is somebody that is like them. I am here playing
for all the baby boomers and beyond to show that there is somebody with
gumption and gut not just the boobs and the butts, that I am going to get
out there, and I am going to get out there and do it for all of them.
Believe it, dream it, and go for it."
Jeff Probst: ''Charm is her strength because she's likable in
doses, and that's her liability. Does she know when enough is enough? You
can only hear someone say 'I'm from South Africa' so many times before you
want to say, 'Why don't you go back to South Africa!'''
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