What did you miss?
Race Across the World‘s Yin broke down in tears as she opened up about dealing with “struggles” on the show and told how it helped her move forward after her partner died.
Yin took part in the latest series of the BBC show with her ex husband Gaz, months after the loss of her partner of three years. The pair were eliminated after coming fifth in the third leg of the 14,000km journey from China to the Southernmost tip of India, but have since rejoined the other teams for a reunion show.
The emotional programme saw Yin tell the others how she had been grappling with issues around her Chinese heritage but that things had changed since the journey. She also told how the experience had taught her that “life is there to be lived” and that there was now “lightness” in her life.
What, how and why?
The reunion episode aired on Wednesday, 18 June, with Yin and Gaz meeting up with brothers Brian and Melvyn, teen couple Fin and Sioned, sisters Letitia and Elizabeth and mum and son Caroline and Tom, who won the race.
Emotional, Yin shared: “Since leaving Race I recognise that I was struggling already with what China means to me personally. My heritage is Chinese and I do identify as a Chinese person. Where I struggle is my upbringing. It was in a very traditional household and I didn’t leave home on good terms with my parents.”
She also tearfully referred to how during the leg in China, people she met had expected her to understand them.
Yin opened up about her struggles. (BBC screengrab)
“Some of the struggles that probably I went through are quite unique in the sense of because I look Chinese, I don’t speak Mandarin and I struggled with my Chinese heritage,” said Yin.
“When I came back from Race I reconnected with my siblings and recognised that had to be addressed. The real gift that Race gave me, it was to address that and then move forward with my life.”
She also told how when she started the show, the partner she had been with for three years had died very suddenly. “One of the reasons for coming on Race was to give me that kind of energy to see what’s out there,” she explained.
Caroline and Tom won Race Across the World. (BBC)
“The relief and lightness that I now feel, you know, and I do now feel that one of the biggest things probably changed about myself is that life is there to be lived… it was the catalyst to enable me to move forward.”
Her ex Gaz said the experience had “brought us more together”.
“We’ll always be in each other’s lives, because we’re just great friends,” he said.
“Probably seems really bizarre to the outside world, but to us it’s normal. And as we said, all I’ve ever wanted is the best for you. I’m just very proud of how Yin’s become.”
Sisters Letitia and Elizabeth on the reunion show. (BBC)
Read more: Race Across the World
“Gaz is the most amazing, kind-hearted, supportive person,” said Yin, as Gaz became tearful too. “I would always want him to always back me, because I don’t think I could have done it without you.”
What else happened on the reunion show?
The other teams also opened up about how the race had changed their relationships. Sisters Letitia and Elizabeth revealed it had improved the communication between them, with Letitia saying: “I am proud of us, and I am excited for the future.”
Melvyn and Brian shared how they were now getting together as a family. The brothers had been open about how Brian had gone away to boarding school, and how they had not spent much time together in recent years. They started the adventure hoping to bond and rediscover their connection.
Brian and Melvyn bonded during the show. (BBC)
“We kind of realised halfway through that we weren’t that far apart,” said driving instructor Melvyn.
“It was a little emotional,” agreed former financial advisor Brian.
Referring to their upbringing, he went on: “When we started this journey we were both struggling to explain and we were quite upset about it. Since the race I am now fine about it.”
“We both now know how we felt at the time and we’ve never mentioned that in 40 years,” said Melvyn.
“Next chapter I think, is to try and become a family.”
Sioned had a tough time in India, saying it was “too busy” and that she felt overwhelmed.
Sioned had a tough time in India. (BBC)
She said on the reunion show: “I think there was many times in India where I thought, ‘I can’t do this, I need to go home, not just want to, I need to, because this is too much’ but I am really glad I stuck it out because experiencing it has been really valuable, it has built character… it made us stronger.”
Race Across the World is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.