Sarah Lacina: A Legacy of Strategy and Victory in Reality Television
Few competitors in the realm of competitive reality television have demonstrated as much versatility and strategic prowess as Sarah Lacina. Balancing her professional duties with the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Lacina has utilized her leave to carve out a formidable reputation across multiple high-stakes series, evolving from a promising newcomer into a champion.
Key Facts
- Profession: Police Officer with the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
- Survivor Wins: Winner of Survivor: Game Changers.
- The Challenge Wins: Female winner of The Challenge: USA.
- Total Survivor Appearances: Three seasons (Cagayan, Game Changers, Winners at War).
- Notable Achievements: Won $254,500 on The Challenge: USA.
The Survivor Journey
Lacina first entered the world of Survivor in 2013 during the 28th season, Survivor: Cagayan. The season featured a theme of "Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty," and Lacina was placed on the Brawn tribe, Aparri. Leveraging her professional background, she formed the "Cops-R-Us" alliance with fellow officer Tony Vlachos. While Aparri dominated the early immunity challenges, a tribe swap left Lacina as the sole original member of her group. She ultimately finished in eleventh place, becoming the first member of the jury.
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Dominance in Game Changers
Returning for the 34th season, Survivor: Game Changers in 2017, Lacina employed a vastly different strategy. By remaining in the middle of competing alliances, she positioned herself as the swing vote—the deciding factor in tie-breaking votes—to maximize her options. Her game was marked by strategic blindsides and the successful use of a vote-stealer advantage.
Lacina also acquired the Legacy Advantage following the elimination of Sierra Dawn Thomas, which she used at the Final Six to secure her own safety. Alongside allies Brad Culpepper and "Troyzan" Robertson, she reached the Final Tribal Council. Despite accusations of backstabbing from juror Ozzy Lusth, her ability to maintain social connections while driving the game's strategy earned her the title of Sole Survivor in a 7–3–0 vote.
Winners at War and Social Advocacy
In 2019, Lacina competed in the 40th season, Survivor: Winners at War. Beyond the gameplay, she used her platform to address gender bias within the show. She requested that host Jeff Probst refer to her as "Lacina," noting that male players were often honored with their surnames while female players were called by their first names. She concluded the season in fourth place.
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Transition to The Challenge
In 2022, Lacina shifted her focus to the CBS series The Challenge: USA. Her competitive drive paid off as she emerged as the female winner of the season, earning a prize of $254,500.
This victory qualified her for The Challenge: World Championship in 2023 on Paramount+. Lacina reached the final, but ultimately finished in fourth place after her partner, Theo Campbell, was medically disqualified.
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Career Performance Summary
| Show/Season | Year | Placement | Key Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survivor: Cagayan | 2013 | 11th | First jury member |
| Survivor: Game Changers | 2017 | 1st | Sole Survivor |
| Survivor: Winners at War | 2019 | 4th | Advocated for gender equality |
| The Challenge: USA | 2022 | Winner (Female) | Won $254,500 |
| The Challenge: World Championship | 2023 | 4th | Finalist |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sarah Lacina's professional career?
Sarah Lacina is a police officer with the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
How did Sarah Lacina win Survivor: Game Changers?
She won by positioning herself as the swing vote, utilizing a vote-stealer advantage, and using the Legacy Advantage to save herself at the Final Six, eventually winning the final vote 7–3–0.
What was the "Cops-R-Us" alliance?
It was an alliance formed between Sarah Lacina and Tony Vlachos during Survivor: Cagayan, based on their shared profession as police officers.
What issue did Lacina raise during Survivor: Winners at War?
She called out gender bias regarding how the host, Jeff Probst, addressed male players by their surnames while using first names for female players.
How much money did she win on The Challenge: USA?
Sarah Lacina took home $254,500 as the female winner of the season.