On April 7, 2025, athletes from the Irkutsk region participated in the latest episode of the show "Titans" on TNT, showcasing their skills in a unique relay challenge designed by artificial intelligence. This marked the ninth stage of the second season, featuring notable participants including pop-MMA fighter Anatoly (Sibirsky Konor) Nadratovsky and Olympic bobsleigh champion Alexei Negodailo.
The challenge involved a series of bizarre and demanding tasks, with athletes divided into nine teams of five. The stage included a pool filled with icy water, a concrete cube, trampolines, large balloons, and two crossbars suspended approximately five meters high. Each team member was required to complete one of five tasks, with the total time taken determining the winning team.
Alexei Negodailo, competing in Anna Kikina's team, was assigned the task of throwing a core to burst balloons. His teammates initially took 12 minutes and 26 seconds to complete the first two tests, but Negodailo impressively completed his task in just 26 seconds. The total time for his team was 26 minutes, allowing them to advance to the next round.
Meanwhile, Anatoly Nadratovsky faced a more daunting challenge. As part of Dzhamala Ataeva's team, he was tasked with diving into the icy water to retrieve weights. Despite being a native of Siberia, Nadratovsky admitted, "I don't like cold water at all," expressing his apprehension before the dive. As he prepared, he struggled to see where the weights were located, prompting him to take the plunge into the freezing pool.
"I dive in and realize my body is starting to turn into an ice cube, my legs are getting weak, it’s really a crazy situation," Nadratovsky commented on the experience. However, he quickly adapted, shouting to motivate himself while retrieving the weights. After successfully pulling out all seven weights, he completed the task in 17 minutes and 5 seconds, avoiding any penalties for his team.
In this episode, the teams displayed remarkable performances, with the results showcasing a range of completion times. The team of Daria Navarrskaya recorded the slowest time at 19:42, resulting in their elimination from the competition. The other teams performed well, with the fastest time recorded by Anna Sidorova's team at 12:23.
As the competition intensified, the show also highlighted interpersonal dynamics among the athletes. In a dramatic turn of events, Alexander Stoun, a popular blogger and martial arts champion, became the episode's anti-hero after his performance led to his team’s downfall. Stoun, who volunteered to tackle the trampoline stage despite a broken finger, struggled significantly. He attempted numerous jumps but failed to grasp the rope necessary for completing the challenge.
Despite his determination, Stoun ultimately pressed the red button, signaling the end of his attempt. "I understand I was almost at the rope, but my finger hurt too much. I just couldn't do it," he explained later. His decision to continue despite his injury was met with mixed reactions from his teammates, some of whom urged him to accept defeat to save time.
One of his fellow competitors, Dmitry Yashankin, criticized Stoun's stubbornness, stating, "Sometimes it’s stupid to keep fighting when you should just move on." Stoun expressed deep regret after the incident, saying, "I let the team down. It feels terrible. I can’t even look my teammates in the eye."
The relay race also tested many athletes with the icy water challenge, where competitors faced severe cold that left some shivering uncontrollably. World champion in calisthenics, Aaron Wirabyan, was forced to abandon his attempt due to the unbearable conditions.
Amidst the competition, Daniel Aleev stirred controversy with his comments and actions. Previously criticized for his sexist remarks about female competitors, Aleev, as a team captain, forbade his teammates from offering assistance to others, which he deemed sabotage. His stance was challenged by some athletes who felt that maintaining sportsmanship was crucial.
Following the conclusion of the relay, Daria Navarrskaya's team was eliminated, leaving 40 athletes still vying for the grand prize of 10 million rubles. The show continues to captivate audiences with its blend of physical challenges and dramatic interpersonal dynamics, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as the competition unfolds.
