Watch: 'Survivor' Hottie Jonathan Young Makes Waves in Dangerous Challenge

Was a star born on this week's "Survivor?"

On the seventh day of "Survivor 42," three tribes were pitted against each other in an immunity challenge that had the teams start on a platform out in the water," reports Entertainment Weekly. "They were then supposed to swim over and retrieve a ladder off the ocean floor, use it while still out in the water to reach a key that would unlock sandbags, which then needed to land on five targets back on the beach. But it didn't turn out that way."

Watch the challenge in this YouTube clip.

History, Entertainment Weekly adds, was made. "For the first time in�'Survivor'�history, (host Jeff) Probst and producers stepped in and called a temporary halt to the challenge."

While it looked dangerous, Probst told EW that never were any of the contestants were in danger. The show has safety swimmers on hand whose job is to watch the contestants and insure their safety. "So from a safety point of view, the players aren't ever in real danger," Probst told EW. "But ... and this is a big but ... when you are feeling overwhelmed in the ocean, it is an absolutely terrifying feeling and there is no part of your brain saying 'Oh, I'm fine. I'm sure a safety swimmer will be here any second.'�I've been in a similar situation, and I can still remember the feeling.�You are working as hard as you can to withstand the push and pull of the ocean, which leads to exhaustion which only amplifies the panic."

But emerging from the chaotic challenge is Jonathan Young, the Thor-like contestant who shined in the dangerous waters. "Young went into beast mode," writes Lawrence Specker on AL.com. "He didn't just singlehandedly carry the ladder where it needed to go, he went back to help teammates who couldn't keep up. Then, standing in water up to his neck, he raised the ladder up and held it firm while another teammate climbed it. It was like a Captain America beefcake shot from an Avengers movie."

Probst agreed that it was an impressive performance. "I can't think of another more dominating individual performance in any challenge in�'Survivor'�history.�And it wasn't just pure strength, he's also amazing in the water, and he's a tremendous leader under pressure.�And then he finished out the challenge with the bean bag toss!�Come on now! I hesitated singling him out after the challenge was over, because I appreciate that nobody really wants that kind of attention, but there was simply no way to ignore his performance.�It was a hall of fame moment, and every single player knew it so we had to honor it."

It is a case of the right challenger at the right challenge. "He is an athlete, a bodyguard, and a world record holder," writes Screenrant about Young. "With brawn, long locks, and a beard, he looks like he was built for the series."
Fitness, Young feels, is integral to his success on the show and off. Screenrant continues: "Outside of working as a bodyguard, Jonathan has a Guinness World Record for doing pull-ups with one hundred pounds on his back. He runs a website called�youngstrength.com, where he focuses on workout gear, quality supplements, worldwide missions, and strength building.�In a promotional video for his business ventures, Jonathan explained,�"We were not put on this earth to sit still. We were put here to thrive. It comes down to, do you want to be comfortable and survive or be uncomfortable and thrive."�

Young has been bodybuilding since he was three when his father started training him in pull-ups, jumping jacks, and running from the age of three, reports the website sportskeeda.com. At 14, He participated in a "Survivor"-like show aimed at teens and attended the University of Alabama on a swimming scholarship and started a successful each service business called Ibeachservice.

He told CBS about his determination to win: "My athleticism will help me greatly in the challenges. My wit and charm will help me outside of the challenges. I'm very strong willed and determined. I will not give up on anything."