For those who’ve by no means watched the Netflix actuality sequence Love Is Blindthe tenth season has unexpectedly intersected with the working and triathlon area, and never in a constructive approach.
Chris Fuscoa 33-year-old account government and self-proclaimed health fanatic from Columbus, Ohio, fashioned a blind connection within the present’s pods with doctor Jessica Barrett. However as soon as the 2 met outdoors the present’s confined setting, Fusco mentioned he struggled to see their relationship working in the actual world.
Through the present, Fusco instructed Barrett that he “usually dates ladies who do Pilates or CrossFit” and prompt he didn’t really feel a robust bodily attraction to her as a result of she doesn’t work out. Fusco added that he likes pushing himself by endurance challenges comparable to marathons and Ironman races.
Fusco’s feedback sparked backlash on-line, with followers of the present accusing him of physique shaming and different runners hitting Fusco the place it hurts: his race outcomes.
In line with his Athlinks profileFusco positioned 136th out of 140 opponents within the males’s 30–34 age group at an Ironman 70.3 Ohio race in 2022, ending in 7:55. Most lately, he ran the 2025 Columbus Marathon in 4:30:21 (sporting his well-known black Ironman hat), which positioned him in roughly the thirtieth percentile of all finishers.
We aren’t saying both achievement just isn’t spectacular; it takes constant coaching to finish each challenges, although followers assume feedback towards Barrett are rather a lot coming from somebody who isn’t precisely near successful their age class.
“The working group is about being supportive, however you misplaced that privilege once you determined to insult a profitable lady on nationwide TV,” one fan wrote on Instagram, which echoed many different feedback.
One other commenter added: “He was sporting an Ironman hat, so I believed he had for certain achieved a sub-10 full Ironman to have this ego… Man little one!”
Regardless of the backlash, Fusco instructed Leisure Weekly that he doesn’t remorse taking part within the present, although he acknowledged he might have made some errors. “I’m not likely too fearful about what the blowback will likely be (from my feedback) as soon as folks see what occurs in these episodes,” Fusco mentioned.
