Danny Cahill wins title of Biggest Loser, $250,000
BY SARAH HART World Scene Assistant Editor
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
12/08/09 at 11:45 PM
Broken Arrow is now home to a Biggest Loser.
Danny Cahill, a land surveyor, took the title of Biggest Loser after dropping 239 pounds during the show’s run on NBC this season, the eighth of “The Biggest Loser.”
He began 430 pounds and walked off 239 pounds lighter and $250,000 richer.
Cahill topped Rudy Pauls, his friendly rival on the show, who lost 234 pounds to finish second at a weight of 208 pounds.
Amanda Arlauskas, who fans voted in to participate, lost 87 pounds. She started the competition at 250 and ended at 163.
But this night definitely belonged to Danny. And he was a handsome, beaming light on the stage. He walked onto the stage after spending the previous 120 days at home continuing his weight loss. He wore a brown vest, striped blue shirt and skinny jeans that showed off how well he’d done. He didn’t look like the same man from the beginning of the show at all.
“At home, I walk down the streets and people don’t know who I am,” he said at the finale. “They say, ‘Who’s that guy in the brown socks?’”
Cahill said while he was working out at his home gym in Broken Arrow during the last three months of the show, he would see “Biggest Loser” commercials on the TV screens. He would look around, seeing if anyone recognized him, but no one did.
After it was announced that Danny had won the prize, his wife flew onstage and the couple embraced. They renewed their wedding vows during the two months that Danny was at home before last week’s show. In those two months, Cahill lost 59 pounds, and it was clear his quest wasn’t about to end.
He didn’t get everything he wanted, though. Cahill’s longtime best friend on the show, Liz Young, didn’t win the fan vote vs. Amanda, and she was eliminated.
The Tulsa area’s other competitor, Sean Algier, didn’t win the “at home” portion of the show, but did drop 155 pounds during the challenge, from 444 to 289. Rebecca Meyer won the at-home title and a $100,000 prize. She went from 279 pounds to 140, for a total weight loss of 139 pounds.
Shay Sorrells, who was the heaviest contender in the show’s history, started at 476 pounds. She ended at 304, and was invited to attend next season’s finale. For every pound she loses, Subway restaurant will give her $1,000.
The next season of “Biggest Loser” begins Jan. 5.
Associated Images:
From left, Rudy Pauls, Danny Cahill of Broken Arrow, Amanda Arlauskas and Liz Young pose for this publicity photo before Tuesday's final of "The Biggest Loser" TV show. Cahill took the title of Biggest Loser after dropping 239 pounds and was awarded $250,000. Trae Patton/NBC
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