Courtesy of CBS
The 24-year-old financial analyst is an Ivy League track star whose IQ is so high, according to Probst, that “it’s a squiggle!” Select highlights from James’ CBS bio:
Personal Claim to Fame:I am a U.S. Presidential Scholar selected by President Obama’s commission, and interned for his White House administration. In college, I was a walk-on sprinter for Harvard Track and Field and, as a senior, was elected team captain by my teammates, becoming the first Asian American captain in program history.
Inspiration in Life: My grandfather came from a rural village in Korea, survived the Korean War, put himself through the best college in the country, and eventually became a successful businessman. He came from nothing to overcome tremendous odds and so much adversity and always exemplified love for family along the way. He passed away a couple of years ago but remains an inspiration in everything I do.
Survivor Contestant You Are Most Like: Yul Kwon. Our backgrounds are uncannily similar as Korean American management consultants, and I plan to follow his example in being cool, calm, and collected throughout the game. Yul’s Survivor journey contributed greatly to the positive representation of Asian Americans on TV, and I hope to do the same.
Reason for Being on Survivor: Survivor is an adventure like no other. Everything it presents—the wilderness, the challenges, the fellow castaways from all cross-sections of America—will be a chance for me to break out of the bubble I’ve been a part of for most of my life and push myself physically, emotionally, and mentally like never before. I’ll embrace the challenge and have fun along the way.
Why You Think You’ll “Survive” Survivor: There is no magic formula to winning Survivor. However, there are qualities that will help players get far. I believe I have most of them—I am team-oriented, athletic, outgoing, and tenacious. I will focus on being a helpful, likable asset to those around me, and on the down low strategically pave my path to the very end.