Mike Zahalsky

Michael "Mike" Zahalsky is a contestant from .
Known for his neurotic personality, Mike was initially on the outs on the Soko tribe after being caught looking for a Hidden Immunity Idol by Joe Mena on Day 1, Mike managed to salvage his social game after the tribe switch. At the merge, Mike again found himself on the outside, but managed to survive the Pagonging of his original tribe to witness the eventual cannibalism of the majority alliance. At the final five, Mike finally seemed to be in a somewhat comfortable position until Ben Driebergen played a Hidden Immunity Idol for an unprecedented third time in a row and Devon Pinto cast a stray vote against him, which caused a 1-1-0 tie between himself and Devon. At the revote, Mike found himself eliminated 2-1.
==Profile==
Retrieved from CBS.com
Age: 43
Hometown: Parkland, Fla.
Current Residence: Parkland, Fla.
Occupation: Urologist
Hobbies: Archery, watching Game of Thrones, and fishing.
Pet peeves: Double dipping because I am a germaphobe.
Three words to describe you: Intelligent, enthusiastic, and determined.
Who or what is your inspiration in life? My wife and my children inspire me to be a better version of myself every day.
If you could have three things on the island, what would they be and why? A photo of my kids because I love them, a deck of cards to play with, and an extra pair of underwear.
Which Survivor contestant are you most like? Boston Rob—because he was smart and socially strategic.
What's your reason for being on Survivor? To teach my kids to follow their dreams wherever they take you. When opportunity comes knocking, answer the door.
Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor? I've been a fan since Season 1 so I understand how the game has changed. I am smart, I am strategic, and I am social. People will be hugging me as I vote them off.http://web.archive.org/web/20230321033902/https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/cast/215727/
==Survivor==
Mike was placed on the Soko tribe. On Day 1, he attempted to search for the Hidden Immunity Idol, but was caught by Joe Mena. Joe then put a target on Mike's back, though on a personal level they stayed on good terms and joked around. Mike appeared to be on the bottom of the tribe although the tribe grew more suspicious of Joe over time. The Healers remained in tact as they didn't face Tribal Council during the original tribe phase. He was switched to Yawa after a Tribe Switch where he found an idol with the help of Jessica Johnston, formed a friendship with Ben Driebergen, and grew annoyed with Cole Medders's antics. He appeared the be the swing vote between the newer Soko members and his original tribemates, but those developments were left untested as Yawa won the next three challenges.
Mike reached the merge, where he regrouped with his fellow Soko tribemates and became a part of the Soko Alliance. However, the former Yawa and Levu members formed a coalition to take out Mike and his allies, leaving Mike in the minority. Mike saw his allies leave one by one, though he remained temporarily safe due to his connections with Lauren and Ben. He tried to use his idol to get Ben out at the final 10, giving a heart felt "Statue of Liberty" speech, but it proved to be an idol wasted. Things would change in the following vote as the majority alliance began to crack, and at that Tribal Council, Mike and his last ally Joe were spared as Ben, Lauren Rimmer, Ashley Nolan, and Devon Pinto sided with them and blindsided JP Hilsabeck, though Joe was blindsided at the following Tribal Council leaving Mike as the last former Soko remaining.
Despite being the last outsider remaining, he was not the main target as Ben and Chrissy Hofbeck became bigger threats. He met his wife Bari at the loved ones. When Chrissy won the Loved Ones Challenge she shared the reward with Mike, Ryan Ulrich and Ashley. On Day 33, Lauren gave him her second half of the idol to build trust, but he threw it in the fire at Tribal Council. Mike tried to help the majority in voting out Ben, but his plan was thwarted by Ben's idol plays. On Day 37, Mike along with Chrissy and Devon, planned to use her powerless super idol to convince Ben that she found the idol which would prevent him from looking for another idol, though unaware that Ben already had the real one. At Tribal Council, Chrissy gave the idol to Mike, but Ben shocked everyone by playing the real idol, negating the 3 votes cast against him, resulting in a 1-1 tie between Mike and Devon. In the revote, Mike was voted out in a 2-1 vote.
During the Final Tribal Council, Mike told Ben he played one of the best games in history, he would be a legend of the game, and asked him to explain why he believed he should win. He voted for Chrissy which allowed her to become the runner up as Ben won the title of Sole Survivor with five votes.
<tabber>Challenge History=
Episode 	TribeAffiliation 	Challenge 	Challenge Type 	Sit-Out? 	Result
1 	rowspan=4 	Race to Shore 	Reward 	No 	
1 	Tracks of My Tears 	Immunity 	No 	 	
2 	Crossroads 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	 	
3 	Block in a Hard Place 	Reward/Immunity 	Yes 	 	
colspan="6" 	 	 	 	 	
4 	rowspan=6 	Tangled Up 	Reward 	No 	
4 	The Color and the Shape 	Immunity 	No 	 	
5 	Head Long Flight 	Reward 	No 	 	
5 	Rice Race 	Immunity 	Yes 	 	
6 	A-Tension Span 	Reward 	Yes 	 	
6 	Discy Business 	Immunity 	No 	 	
colspan="6" 	 	 	 	 	
7 	rowspan=14 	Will It Go Round 	Immunity 	 	
8 	Air Raid 	Reward 	No 	 	
8 	Ten-Foot Pole 	Immunity 	 	 	
9 	Hear About It Ladder 	Reward 	 	 	
9 	Squatty Probst 	Immunity 	 	 	
10 	The Game is Afoot 	Reward 	 	 	
10 	Bermuda Triangles 	Immunity 	No 	 	
10 	Kenny Log-Ins 	Reward 	 	 	
10 	Driving Wheel 	Immunity 	 	 	
11 	Love on the Rocks 	Reward 	 	 	
11 	This Much 	Immunity 	 	 	
12 	The Bottom Line 	Reward 	 	 	
12 	Franklin's Tower 	Immunity 	 	 	
13 	Might as Well Jump 	Reward/Immunity 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Notes: Chrissy shared her reward with Mike.	Notes: Chrissy shared her reward with Mike.	Notes: Chrissy shared her reward with Mike.	Notes: Chrissy shared her reward with Mike.	Notes: Chrissy shared her reward with Mike.	Notes: Chrissy shared her reward with Mike.
|-|Voting History=
Episode 	Mike'sVotes	Voted AgainstMike
1 	 	
2 	 	
3 	 	
4 	 	
5 	 	
6 	 	
7 	 	
8 	 	
9 	 	
10 	 	
10 	 	
11 	 	
12 	 	
13 	 	
 	 	
Voted ForSole Survivor	colspan="2"	
 In , the vote ended with a 4-4 tie between Desi and Joe, forcing a revote. Mike did not change his vote on the revote. In , Mike used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating 2 votes against him. In , Ryan used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating Mike's vote against him. In , Ben used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating Mike's vote against him. In , Ben used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating Mike's vote against him. Also, the vote ended with a 1-1-0 tie between Mike and Devon, forcing a revote. Chrissy and Ryan changed their votes to Mike on the revote, eliminating him from the game.</tabber>
==Post-Survivor==
* On February 14, 2018, Mike was one of the doctors who imminently rushed to the scene to help shooting victims after the incident.https://people.com/crime/florida-school-shooting-doctors-nurses-speak-out/
* Mike attended his castmate Jessica Johnston's wedding in March 2019.https://www.reddit.com/r/survivor/comments/b4naes
==Trivia==
* Mike is the oldest member of the original Soko tribe, and the oldest man to compete on .
* Mike, along with Cole Medders and Jessica Johnston, are the first contestants to win every pre-merge challenge.
** Mike, Cole, and Jessica are tied with Randy Bailey (in ) for the most consecutive tribal challenge wins, with 10.
* Mike is the highest-ranking member of the original Soko tribe.
* Mike is the first person idoled out after a revote, unless counting Kimmi Kappenberg's consensus elimination in . 
* Mike is tied with Baylor Wilson and Lauren O'Connell for the latest day being idoled out, having been so on Day 37.
*** Mike is the only male with this distinction.
* Mike lost 17 lbs. during his time on Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MpciGRbP6U
==References==
Category:Contestants
Category:Male Contestants
Category:Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers Contestants
Category:Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers Jury Members
Category:Soko Tribe
Category:Solewa Tribe
Category:5th Place
Category:Survivor (U.S.)
Category:Survivor (U.S.) Contestants
Category:Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers
Category:1973 births
Category:Living people