The Challenge 40 Battle of the Eras Player Preview: Aviv Melmed Bruno
The most shocking and out-of-nowhere casting for Season 40 goes to Aviv Melmed. 18 years after winning her only season, Fresh Meat 1, Aviv is back on The Challenge to compete!
The casting feels slightly out of left field, but Aviv deserves to be here as she’s someone who made history. On Fresh Meat 1, Aviv became the first woman to win a true partners-based season of The Challenge (sorry, Battle of the Seasons 1). If anyone deserves a second chance, it’s her.
There is something funny about Aviv coming back after all these years. She walks into this game with the title of Champion yet also feels like a rookie.
Aviv’s Cheat Sheet (TLDR Version)
Introducing Aviv:
A dual-citizen of the US and Israel, Aviv made her foray into the reality TV world after serving in the Israeli Air Force. Aviv was part of the big crop of Fresh Meaters who had not done a Real World or Road Rules prior. She was definitely one of/if not the most low-key cast member on the season. Aviv didn’t make any waves; all she did was be Darrell’s good, strong partner.
As a pair, they didn’t even really exist in the game until the final five on Fresh Meat 1, where they got nominated by Derrick & Diem for the second-to-last elimination. Avvi & Darrell were supposed to face Theo & Chanda, but they won their first daily of the season (and the lifesaver) to keep themselves out of elimination. At final four, they got thrown into the last exile, where they took on Derrick & Diem. Aviv’s puzzle skills and Darrell’s strength allowed them to blow Derrick & Diem out with ease.
In the Final itself, Aviv was clutch. She was the only player able to solve the puzzles, and by doing so, she and Darrell were able to run with significantly less weight during the Final. All respect to Darrell as the player that he is, but whoever was Aviv’s partner in that Final was going to win. Aviv crushed that Final and together they probably won by over an hour.
And then 18 years went by, and here we are now. Aviv is now a married mom with kids and is finally ready to take on her second season.
Skills and Physical Strength:
Aviv was in fantastic shape 18 years ago, and she’s in even better shape today as she works as a professional fitness coach and has a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology & Behavior. Based on everything I’ve seen, her cardio and core strength are both stellar.
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Aviv’s size is a potential double-edged sword. She’s very small but super fit. In any elimination or daily challenge that requires raw power or is weight-based, she’s getting trounced by most of the players on this cast. In any challenge that requires core strength or endurance, she’s a real threat.
Where Aviv truly is at a disadvantage is that she only competed in one season 18 years ago. So, I assume it will take her a minute to adapt to the wackier carnival game and heights-based challenges.
SSMP (Social, Strategic, Mental, and Political) Game:
Aviv’s biggest strength entering this season is the mental game and her puzzle ability. On Fresh Meat 1, Aviv dominated every major puzzle put in her way and guided her team to victory. It was only one season, but her skills earned her a Challenge Championship. If she’s still excellent at puzzles, then there’s a lane for her to go far in this game.
The obvious red flag when trying to project Aviv on Season 40 is her lack of social connections. She only did Fresh Meat 1 and was completely off the Challenge grid until a couple of years ago. Most assume Darrell will have her back as a former partner, except Darrell doesn’t play an active political game for himself, let alone to protect someone else. Aviv has appeared at multiple Challenge Mania events in the last two years, so she may have some friends and distant connections from those.
The glass-half-empty look at Aviv is that she will get thrown into the first element, action, and even if she survives, she will be the easy vote every week as she’s basically a rookie with no connections to everyone on this cast.
The glass-half-full look at Aviv is that there is potential for her to go under the radar because she has zero enemies, is not an obvious threat, and is likable to where she can be a number to a bunch of different alliances. Having no baggage might be one of the best things you can have on a very messy and stacked Season 40. Maybe she can slip through the cracks?
Eliminations & Winning Potential:
Aviv’s only ever seen one elimination, and it was an exile, which is more like a mini-Final. She’s never been in a traditional arena, so we aren’t really sure what she’s capable of. Essentially, copy-paste my thoughts on her size from above to here. Additionally, if it’s a cardio or puzzle-based elimination, I would like Aviv’s chances.
Can Aviv win? I wrote this back in March when the cast first dropped, but I can actually picture Aviv playing an Amber B-like Double Agents game where she becomes a number in multiple alliances and somehow gets to the Final. Once there, Aviv’s puzzle prowess can earn her the win. It’s far more likely that Aviv is the first boot than she does win the season; the path for her does exist, though.
