Carli Lloyd’s ‘Special Forces’ Challenge: Reliving Trauma During the Car Plunge Test & Lessons in Resilience
As a celebrated figure in professional soccer, Carli Lloyd has consistently faced immense pressure, both mentally and physically, throughout her illustrious career. Her journey on the pitch, marked by Olympic gold medals and World Cup triumphs, has honed her into an athlete renowned for her resilience and unwavering determination. However, she candidly admits that the rigorous trials presented on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test pushed her to an unprecedented level of intensity, unlike anything she had encountered before. During a particularly harrowing moment in the January 11th episode of the Fox reality series, Carli found herself confronting a profound sense of panic amidst a simulated car plunge test.
“You don’t realize when these moments are going to come. They just happen,” the decorated soccer star revealed in an exclusive interview on the HollywoodLife Podcast. Her statement perfectly encapsulates the unpredictable nature of trauma and how past experiences can unexpectedly resurface under stressful conditions. Carli further elaborated on her relationship with water, emphasizing her comfort and proficiency: “I was on the swim team until I was 18, I don’t have a fear of water. I’m comfortable swimming. I was comfortable back-diving out of the helicopter into water…” This background makes her subsequent panic during the car plunge test even more striking, highlighting that her reaction wasn’t a general fear of water, but something far more specific and deeply rooted.
The root cause of Carli’s distress quickly became clear as she delved into a terrifying personal anecdote. She revealed that her panic in the car plunge scenario stemmed directly from a frightening car accident she had experienced years prior. “I was in a snowstorm driving my car down to the Jersey Shore and I hit a patch of black ice. I went all the way across the road, over into the side of the road, which was some tidal water, and my car started to fill up with water,” she recounted with vivid detail during the exclusive interview. This harrowing, real-life experience created a powerful psychological trigger, causing her past trauma to collide with the present challenge on Special Forces.
“I think that that was a trigger for me,” Carli explained, reflecting on the profound impact of the incident. “It is a real life experience that could happen, which I think is the DS agents’ message to all of us — we’re, of course, on a training course, but this is a real life circumstance where people have gone off into the water and it’s like, what are you going to do?” Her words underscored the brutal realism of the show’s challenges, designed not just to test physical limits but to confront contestants with scenarios mirroring genuine life-or-death situations. This particular test brought her face-to-face with a moment where panic could be deadly, forcing her to consciously work towards calming herself down amidst the rising water and her own resurfacing fears. The internal battle against instinctual panic in such a critical moment is a testament to the mental fortitude required for the Special Forces course.
The Unseen Battle: Mental Fortitude Beyond the Field
Carli Lloyd’s illustrious soccer career is defined by teamwork. As a two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup champion, she understood the profound importance of having a cohesive unit, a supportive network of teammates to rely on. “I played on numerous teams and you need your teammates. You need people around you to support you, and if you’re not really having the best of your game, someone else can fill that void,” Carli reflected. This fundamental aspect of team sports, where collective strength can compensate for individual weaknesses, stands in stark contrast to the unforgiving environment of Special Forces.
On the show, the dynamic shifts dramatically. “But with this, this is just you. This is you and your thoughts, and just you in that moment,” Carli elaborated, pinpointing the unique psychological challenge posed by the series. The absence of a traditional team structure forces participants to confront their own limitations, fears, and internal struggles without the immediate comfort or support system of peers. This isolation amplifies the mental strain, turning every obstacle into a deeply personal battle. “But that’s what they’re testing,” she affirmed. “They’re testing to see the ones who can mentally withstand some of these wild moments.” It’s a test of pure, unadulterated mental resilience, stripping away all external aids and forcing individuals to dig deep within themselves.
This stark difference between her athletic background and the demands of Special Forces provided Carli with invaluable insights into her own mental architecture. In soccer, strategy and teamwork are paramount; here, it was raw, individual willpower against overwhelming odds. The show didn’t just push her physically; it challenged her understanding of self-reliance and how to navigate extreme pressure when completely isolated. For a veteran athlete like Carli, who has always operated within highly structured team environments, this shift represented a profound new frontier in mental toughness.
Physical Demands and the Scarcity of Recovery in the Desert
Beyond the mental anguish, the physical toll of Special Forces in the desolate Wadi Rum desert of Jordan was relentless. Professional athletes like Carli Lloyd are intimately familiar with the importance of recovery, understanding that their bodies are finely tuned instruments requiring meticulous care. From ice baths to specialized therapies, post-exertion recovery is a non-negotiable part of their regimen. However, in the unforgiving landscape of the Jordanian desert, such luxuries were virtually nonexistent. “You were lucky if you got ice once a day,” she told HL, a stark contrast to the abundant resources available to her during her soccer career.
The extreme conditions, coupled with the rigorous nature of the tests – which ranged from endurance marches to tactical drills – meant constant muscle fatigue, aches, and potential injuries. The lack of proper recovery tools exacerbated these issues, pushing participants to their absolute physical limits without the typical means to bounce back. For Carli, this was particularly challenging, as her body, accustomed to high-level performance and dedicated recovery protocols, was suddenly deprived of its usual care.
This environment underscored the necessity of efficient and accessible recovery methods, a concept Carli has long championed. It became glaringly obvious how crucial tools are for self-care when professional support is unavailable. This perspective, born from personal experience in such a demanding setting, further cemented her belief in innovative recovery solutions. In a humorous aside, the now-retired USWNT player quipped about the missing piece of her personal recovery arsenal: “I would have liked to have had a Vertigun around. I think we all would have to help our bodies feel a lot better!” This longing for a simple, yet effective, self-massage tool in the midst of extreme physical stress highlights the critical role such products play in an athlete’s well-being and performance, even more so when conventional methods are absent.
Innovating Athlete Recovery: Carli Lloyd’s Partnership with Symbodi
Carli Lloyd’s commitment to peak physical condition extends far beyond her playing days. Recognizing the vital role of recovery, she has partnered with Symbodi, a company dedicated to creating innovative self-massage tools. This collaboration is a natural fit for Carli, who understands firsthand the demands placed on an athlete’s body and the critical need for effective recuperation. “It’s been great to team up with Symbodi,” she enthused. “The two existing products, the Vertiball and Vertiroller I’ve been using a ton. And now with the Vertigun handheld massager, it doesn’t get much better than that.”
The Symbodi line offers a unique approach to recovery, allowing individuals to target specific muscle groups with precision and ease. The Vertiball and Vertiroller, designed to adhere to smooth surfaces, enable users to apply pressure and massage hard-to-reach areas without the need for assistance. These tools are invaluable for deep tissue work, releasing tension, and improving circulation, which are all crucial for muscle recovery and injury prevention. The introduction of the Vertigun handheld massager further enhances this suite of products, offering versatile and powerful percussion massage capabilities.
What truly sets the Vertigun apart, and what Carli found particularly appealing, is its thoughtful design focused on user experience. “I think we all prefer somebody else to do the massaging versus having to hold it and do it ourselves, so I’ve been thrilled to take part in helping design this over the last 18 months,” she revealed. The Vertigun is engineered for convenience, allowing users to affix it to a wall or flat surface and let the device do the work. “You just put it on the wall and let it go and massage you. It’s so easy to use and it’s cost effective.” This innovative feature transforms self-massage from a strenuous task into a relaxing and efficient recovery method.
Carli’s involvement in the design process underscores her dedication to promoting effective and accessible recovery solutions not just for elite athletes, but for anyone seeking relief from muscle soreness and stiffness. Her personal experience on ‘Special Forces,’ where recovery resources were scarce, only amplified her appreciation for products like the Vertigun. It’s a testament to her enduring commitment to wellness and her desire to empower others with the tools needed to maintain physical health, whether they’re a professional athlete or navigating the daily grind.
Enduring Resilience: Lessons from the Toughest Test
Carli Lloyd’s journey on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test was far more than a physical endurance challenge; it was a profound exploration of mental resilience and the lasting impact of personal history. Her unexpected reaction to the car plunge test, triggered by a past near-death experience, highlighted how even the most composed and disciplined individuals can be profoundly affected by trauma. Yet, in confronting this deeply personal fear, Carli demonstrated an extraordinary capacity for self-awareness and control, choosing to actively calm herself down rather than succumbing to panic.
The show pushed Carli out of her comfort zone, forcing her to rely solely on her inner strength in an environment devoid of the team support she knew so well from her soccer career. This shift illuminated a different facet of her mental toughness, one that operates independently of external validation or collective effort. It was a raw, unfiltered test of her individual grit against internal demons and external pressures, ultimately affirming her remarkable ability to adapt and overcome.
Her partnership with Symbodi further reflects Carli’s holistic approach to well-being, recognizing that true resilience encompasses both mental and physical health. The lessons learned in the barren Wadi Rum desert about the critical need for accessible recovery tools underscore her commitment to empowering others. From the playing field to the wilderness of ‘Special Forces,’ Carli Lloyd continues to inspire, not just with her athletic prowess, but with her courageous honesty and unwavering pursuit of self-improvement. Her story on the show serves as a powerful reminder that true strength often lies in confronting our deepest fears and emerging with newfound understanding and resilience.
Listen to our full interview with Carli on the HollywoodLife Podcast!