From Survivor to thriver, Ethan Zohn is many things: former soccer player and coach, an alum of the reality show, Survivor, a cancer survivor, a spokesperson for Katie Couric’s Stand Up to Cancer organization, and an advocate for HIV and AIDS prevention in African youth. He is also a motivational speaker who talks about how life’s challenges help people build character and face struggles with confidence and perseverance. He will be at the Capitol on November 9 at 6pm to speak about his time on Survivor, surviving cancer, and thriving through life’s challenges.
Zohn is an avid soccer player and has played the position of goalkeeper for several soccer teams. He played at Lexington High School in Massachusetts and Vassar College in New York before playing professionally for the Hawaii Tsunamis and Cape Cod Crusaders of the United Soccer Leagues. He also played for the Highlanders Football Club in the Republic of Zimbabwe in South Africa.
In 2001, Zohn became a contestant on the reality TV show Survivor: Africa. This was the third season of the Survivor franchise and filmed in Kenya’s Shaba National Reserve on the African continent. He was on the Boran team throughout the entire season and went on to be the third Survivor winner.
Prior to being on Survivor, Zohn had lived and played professional soccer in Zimbabwe. While he was there, he saw first-hand what was happening with HIV and AIDS and how it was destroying the community he was living in. After winning Survivor, Zohn used part of his money to create Grassroots Soccer as a result of his experience in Zimbabwe. Grassroots Soccer’s website explains that they are “an adolescent health organization that leverages the power of soccer to educate, inspire and mobilize youth in developing countries to overcome their greatest health challenges, live healthier, more productive lives and be agents for change in their communities.” He became a motivational speaker, often in Jewish venues, where he explained how he felt that his faith in Judaism helped him achieve success.
In 2009, Zohn was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer called CD20-positive Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After several treatments, he was pronounced cancer-free in 2010, but cancer returned 20 months later. Zohn underwent stem-cell transplants donated to him by his brother to fight the second cancer and has been in remission since 2013. He became a spokesperson for Katie Couric’s Stand Up To Cancer organization while enduring the rigors of cancer treatment.
Zohn continued his reality TV career after the first Survivor win. He appeared on Survivor again for Survivor: All-Stars in 2003 and Survivor: Winners at War in 2019. He also appeared on Fear Factor, Kill Reality, The Amazing Race and Pitchmen. He hosted Earth Tripping and co-hosted Outside Today.
In a Parade.com article, writer Mike Bloom asked Zohn, “You’ve been considered one of the most well-liked and revered players in Survivorhistory. What has been your reaction to that label?” Zohn’s response was, “It feels wonderful, to be honest. [Laughs.] It lets me reminisce about my past in a way that’s really fun and exciting for my family and me. I definitely didn’t drop off the face of the earth, but I’ve been in the public eye recently more as a cancer survivor than a Survivor player… I’m very appreciative of what this show has enabled me to do in my life.”
Zohn has also continued his charitable work, which led to awards and recognition, including Heroes Among Us from the Boston Celtics and the Massachusetts State Health Department, the Auxillia Chimusoro Award from the United States State Department in Zimbabwe and the Nkosi Johnson Community Spirit Award by the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care.
He has also been awarded the 2007 Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award and the 2008 A Caring Hand’s Philanthropic Achievement Award. In 2005, he was named one of People magazine’s Helpers of the Year and appeared on the cover of People in 2009 and kept a video blog of his treatments for cancer.
The Warren County Public Library invites you to join us for Ethan Zohn’s presentation at the historic Capitol Arts Theatre at 416 E. Main Street in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
-submitted by Warren County Public Library
