“I have to see to it Laurel’s not going to beat me,” Emily Schromm says.
“I’m preparing for the elimination of my life, me and Laurel.”
No one is more surprised to seeEmily Schrommreturn toThe Challengethan … well, Emily herself.
Emily Schromm, ‘The Challenge’.MTV
But finally, 11 years later, she’s officially back forseason 40’sBattle of the Eras.
“I really never thought I’d open this door again,” Emily tellsEntertainment Weekly.
“Everyone was shocked to see me.
‘The Challenge’ season 40 cast.MTV
They were like, ‘We never thought you would do this again.’
I said, ‘Me either.’
I never ever thought, but here we are.
‘The Challenge’ season 40 Era 2.MTV
I’m so glad I did it.”
But Emily didn’t take returning toThe Challengelightly.
Will Emily finally get the showdown with Laurel she was preparing for?
Read on to see how she feels about going against her own teammate and more.
MTV
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Were you getting calls to come back before this?
Had you ever considered returning before season 40?
EMILY SCHROMM:Yeah, I definitely had gotten calls.
And then I got a call for it.
So I said, “Yes, that’s my sign.
It’s time to do another one.”
You have to choose the best path of growth.
And the next chapter of my life was so fulfilling.
So it never was worth that.
I felt ready, emotionally and energetically prepared just as much as I was physically.
And production did such an amazing job taking care of us mentally, really making sure we had resources.
I was really grateful to see and experience that in a way that it hasn’t been addressed before.
So why did you decide to come back now after ending yourChallengecareer with a win?
What else did you want to accomplish?
People love you or hate you, there’s nothing you’re free to do about it.
How can I be creative and help make this world a better place?
Oh my God, I prepared so hard.
Because it’s been 10 years.
I don’t know if I can out-train that, but I have to try.
Then I took it to the next level and I started doing these things underwater.
I trained so hard.
I swam every day.
I was surfing in the water.
I did Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai.
This mission, this feeling, it was amazing.
It was a whole team effort.
“How do we prepare Emily to get ready to win?”
It was so fun.
Did you feel any pressure to live up to your past record?
The pressure is always there, but that’s just who I am.
I’m such a competitor.
Aside from competing, tell me about some of the fun you had this season.
[Laughs] Oh, God.
I always joke, “How can I be in love with so many people at once?”
It’s nothing but fun.
I’ve been pulling Oracle cards for people, helping them get spiritually centered.
I was helping people meditate before their elimination rounds.
It’s just this amazing good energy, because we know this isn’t going to last forever.
And, of course, that is just the beginning.
I need to stay focused on winning and being ready for really a good time.
And for me, a good time is winning.
What can you tease about how this season goes for you?
I don’t actually watch the show, truth be told.
I hung it up after my win with Paula.
I had no interest, it just wasn’t my thing.
But this game, it’s wild.
The curve balls that come, you’re free to’t prepare.
There’s no amount of training that can prepare you for what season 40 brings.
Holy s—, we’ve never had so much of an emotional roller coaster.
It felt like something else happened, some new rule, some new thing.
So just be prepared for a really wild and epic season.
I’m such an athlete, I just want to compete tell me the game so I can compete.
But it was good for me.
It really teaches you how to let go of control.
You just couldn’t even catch a break.
As soon as you thought you knew where you were going, another change.
And that was the game.
What was your reaction when you learned the format of the season and saw your team?
Because Era 2 is absolutely stacked.
[Laughs] It’s kind of a joke.
That’s what I said: I was like, “This is a joke.”
She’s the only one I know could potentially beat me, truthfully.
I’m a crazy person.
I have to verify Laurel’s not going to beat me and I’m ready to go against Laurel.
I’m preparing for the elimination of my life, me and Laurel.
[Laughs] This is epic.
Laurel and Cara and KellyAnne and Aviv.
I mean, it is just truly, it’s not even fair.
So we’ll see what happens.
It was like, “Wow, the universe is so funny.”
That was not expected.
But also it really is motivating when you are thinking about going against Laurel.
She’s a beast.
She’s so good at this game and I would be so honored to go against her and win.
That’s what I’m coming back to.
I’ve been gone for 10 years.
So I was really excited, when she was my teammate, to relax.
What can you tease about how your team works together?
Can they all work together or will your team fall apart?
Gosh, I think the writing is on the wall for what’s about to happen.
It’s pretty obvious.
At what point do we intervene because it’s not our problem, it’s their problem?
And in a way, it keeps me protected and Aviv protected and KellyAnne protected.
But then you also have Johnny who is such a GOAT.
I know he gets a lot of s—, but that’s my dude.
He is just so solid, and to have him as a teammate is amazing.
I listen to Johnny because he has so many reps in this game.
You mentioned being in love with a lot of the cast, some of whom are taken.
Were you in love with any single people?
Will we see you get into some romantic drama?
[Laughs] Your girl is just on one.
I am wilding out.
So yes, you might be seeing some Emily being free as a bird.
Did you get into any new rivalries this season?
I’m almost protective of it.
Definitely some hard turnoffs, I would say, with these new folks.
You’re like, “OGs only, thanks.”
That’s how it has to be.
The Challenge: Battle of the Eraspremieres Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
