The Biggest Loser Episode 11.17 The Biggest Loser 1117

After the amazing trip to New Zealand, everyone's glad to get back to the ranch... except for Austin, who's really missing his dad Ken after last week's elimination. Austin's really feeling the pressure now - if he's eliminated this week, he'll feel as if he really failed his dad. Meanwhile, Irene's two pounds away from losing 100 pounds total; she's the Biggest Loser right now. It's a lot of pressure.

Since it's Favorites Week, Jillian calls the contestants to the gym for a few surprises. Hannah opens the door and screams! Two of her all-time favorites, Season 5 winner Ali Vincent and Season 9's Sam Poueu are back to train the contestants. Sam was the first contestant to leave the ranch at his goal weight, and now he's a trainer at Fitness Ridge. This inspires Rulon, who's within 15 pounds of his goal weight. If he has to go home early, he's okay with it. Ali and Sam set up circuit training with two-minute intervals. Jay recalls that Ali was eliminated, then came back and won. Maybe that can happen for him, too!

Ali decides to show the contestants a great side dish or snack, a quinoa mango salad. For his part, Sam likes to eat within 20 minutes of working out. Mayo is a cultural staple for both Sam and Kaylee, so Sam suggests using hummus instead. Once the dishes are prepared, everyone sits down to eat. Later, Ali welcomes the contestants to the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California, and they immediately know the Get Back on Track Challenge is what's in store for this week. Clint Bowyer makes an impressive entrance, which has Rulon jumping up and down. It was only two years ago that Tara, the greatest competitor in Biggest Loser history, won this challenge - and because it's Favorites Week, she's back to compete! Tara tells everyone that since her time on the ranch, she's launched the Inspired Change Foundation to help people embrace change, especially children.

The challenge? Pull a car nearly half a mile. The first person across the finish line wins a VIP experience as Clint's guest at the Richmond International Speedway AND has his or her face appear on the cover of a collector's box of Wheaties. Rulon feels like it's redemption time because when he won the gold medal in Sydney, he didn't make it on the box. But now, it's time to start the challenge. Determined to win, Rulon's off to an amazing start, with Tara in second place. Irene has to get on all fours to pull the car, as Austin jogs himself into third place. Suddenly, Tara starts gaining, and it's a photo finish. In the end, Tara wins. Not only will her picture appear on a Wheaties box, but she's earned $5,000 for her foundation.

Bob hasn't seen the contestants since their return from New Zealand, so he's determined to make their Last Chance Workout really count. Brett helps out with a capoeira session, and Tara puts the contestants through their boxing paces. When she notices Rulon looking a little low energy, she pulls him aside for a talk. Rulon's convinced that he's ready to go home - that's where the next phase in his journey lies. Stunned, Tara wonders if the Olympic medalist is finally sick of competing. Later Irene takes a walk with Jillian, who advises her to turn off her mental tape recorder, the one that plays a loop of self-criticism inside her head. Doesn't she realize that she's the ranch's biggest loser right now? Jillian urges Irene to declare that she's worth it - right now! And of course, she does...

Ali welcomes everyone to the weigh-in, but first she gives Rulon the floor - he's got something he wants to say... that it's going to be his last time on the scale! He's decided to leave the show for personal reasons, stunning everyone. Without explanation, Rulon hugs the trainers and walks out of the gym. No one can figure it out, but now it's anyone's game... Nevertheless, Ali's determined to carry on with the weigh-in, and there will be an elimination tonight. After a stressful week, all Irene wants to do is become the first woman to lose 100 pounds this season. With three pounds gone - she makes it!

Next to weigh in is Kaylee, whose weight loss has been notoriously sporadic - and she's gained two pounds! She's frustrated, but unwilling to give up. Though he only needs four pounds to be safe, Austin's first week without his dad on the ranch means seven pounds lost. Hannah screams with delight when Olivia takes off six pounds. Bob agrees, Olivia is a rock star - she's at 99 pounds lost total. Jay needs to lose more than five to be safe from elimination, and luckily he comes in at seven. This puts Kaylee below the yellow line. But who will join her - Hannah or Irene? Hannah's got to weigh in to find out, and lose more than three pounds to stay safe - and she's lost five. This puts Irene and Kaylee below the yellow line.

The contestants say goodbye to the judges and Hannah, Olivia, Austin and Jay prepare their votes. Due to their close bond with Irene, both Hannah and Olivia vote to eliminate Kaylee. Since she had the lowest total weight loss, Kaylee would go anyway in the event of a tie, so there's no need to see Ken's vote. Kaylee feels strong and ready to go, promising the next time America lays eyes on her, she'll be the hottest Tongan this country has ever seen!