James 'Jim' Lynch was a 63-year-old Retired Fire Captain from Northglenn, Colorado when he competed on
Survivor: Guatemala as the oldest contestant of the season. A US Marine Corps veteran who served from 1960-1964 including during the Cuban Blockade, Jim earned his Associate of Arts degree from Red Rocks College and spent 30 years with the Aurora Fire Department rising to the rank of Captain. He became severely ill during the grueling 11-mile reward challenge on Day 1, tearing his bicep and keeping his arm in a sling for the remainder of his time on the show. Jim was unanimously voted out first on Day 3 due to health concerns, making him the first contestant in
Survivor history to win a Reward Challenge and still be the first person eliminated.
