For most of Nicaragua, Jud Birza — universally known as Fabio — looked like comic relief: a spacey, perpetually grinning 21-year-old who seemed to be coasting on vibes alone. Underestimating him turned out to be the season's costliest mistake.
When the game went individual and the older alliance came for him, Fabio simply started winning — four immunity challenges, including the last two with his torch on the line every night. He rode the run to the final three and won 5-4, one of the most unlikely champions the show has produced.
