Gold Medals for Apprentice 6?

by Betsy Wasser -- 02/14/2006
They’re considered some of the most talented young people in their fields, and they want to prove that they’re the best of the best. So they live together, compete against each other, until at the end, one stands alone. Is it the Olympics… or The Apprentice? For Season 6, it’ll be both.

The fifth season of The Apprentice hasn’t started yet, but already, excitement is growing for the candidates in the sixth. Why? That’s because, for the first time, viewers will have a hand in casting one of the candidates. And it won’t be just anyone, but an Olympic athlete.

Viewers can choose from 12 Olympic hopefuls and have the opportunity to vote on them all during the Winter Games- from the opening ceremonies held last week until the closing ceremonies on February 26. The winning Olympian candidate will join the other candidates in Los Angeles for the sixth season.

Both Donald Trump and Mark Burnett, the star and producer of the show, are enthusiastic about the change. “We are thrilled to have an Olympian in our midst,” said Trump. “And while we’ve let the viewers do the hiring… I’m still doing the firing.” Burnett added that this marks the first time he’s let viewers take part in casting one of his shows. “Our Olympic Apprentice, coupled with filmmaking in Los Angeles, will make for a fantastic sixth season.”

Will an Olympic athlete be qualified to work for Donald Trump? Of course, that question ultimately lies in the hands of Trump himself. But Gary Zenkel, President of NBC Olympics, thinks these candidates have what it takes. “One does not reach the Olympic Games,” he stated, “without enormous drive, perseverance, ambition, and willingness to take a risk; traits required of business leaders.” These athletes do have ambitions beyond gold medals. Allison Baver, for example, is a candidate for a master’s degree in business.

The athletes competing for a spot among Trump’s staff are:

  • Allison Baver, Reading, Pennsylvania, Short Track
  • Travis Cabral, South Lake Tahoe, California, Freestyle
  • Casey FitzRandolph, Verona, Wisconsin, Speed Skating
  • Todd Hays, Del Rio, Texas, Bobsleigh
  • Chad Hedrick, Spring, Texas, Speed Skating
  • Danny Kass, Pompton Plains, New Jersey, Snowboarding
  • Joe Pack, Park City, Utah, Freestyle
  • Speedy Peterson, Boise, Idaho, Freestyle
  • Angela Ruggiero, Panorama City, California, Ice Hockey
  • Katie Uhlaender, Breckenridge, Colorado, Skeleton
  • Seth Wescott , Farmington, Maine, Snowboarding
  • Chris Witty, West Allis, Wisconsin, Speed Skating

Reality News Online will keep readers posted on who joins the cast, plus any other Apprentice news.

Betsy Wasser is the Associate Editor of Reality News Online and is a sucker for Olympic figure skating. She can be reached with any comments at Betsywasser@Gmail.com.

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