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Babikov trades snow for spills

Canada’s Ivan Babikov made his Wipeout television debut last week, finishing fourth in a special competition that pitted Olympic athletes against one another – and a challenging obstacle course.

Canada’s Ivan Babikov made his Wipeout television debut last week, finishing fourth in a special competition that pitted Olympic athletes against one another – and a challenging obstacle course.

“I’m a fan of the show and was watching it quite a bit,” Babikov said. “So I applied online and hooked up with friends on the ski team.”

Dressed in nordic ski team gear and full of enthusiasm, Babikov was selected by Wipeout for an episode. Babikov made sure his friends on the Canadian National Ski Team all applied as well, but in the end, the show’s producers selected the former Russia national team member.

The now-Canmorite said his Russian heritage likely played a role in the selection, and the show played up his past.

Babikov listed his favourite quote from Rocky IV’s Ivan Drago: ‘I will crush you’.

Despite the fighting words, he enjoyed meeting many new athletes and competed against several Canadian summer athletes.

“It was crazy. There were so many athletes from summer sports that we don’t get a chance to meet.”

Babikov, renowned for his beast-like training prowess and endurance, finished fourth in the competition, which was filmed in Buenos Aires last October. He’s kept the results secret, although he did leak word of his fourth-place finish to his family. Babikov said the sweeper arm was the most difficult part of the competition.

“It was way harder than it looks on TV. It was actually a little scary, but this is so different than other sports, so you just got to go,” he said.

While his coaches may have been nervous to hear Babikov would be beaten, knocked down and pounded by rubber balls, he said he’d gladly do it again.

“I’d love to go again,” Babikov said. “I got back and I wasn’t injured. I’m glad I went.”

Babikov said the Canadian course was easier than the American version he has seen, and he’d love a chance to try that version.

Babikov has posted a link to the show on his website at www.ivanbabikov.com.


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