The Amazing Race: All Stars Boston Rob Week: Wednesday Little legs, big-time competitor

When you stop growing and realize that all your legs is going to make you is four feet tall, the word “can’t” starts entering your daily life in a big way.

You can’t reach the instant coffee on the top shelf of the supermarket without assistance. You can’t reach the ground beef in the freezer on top of the fridge. You can’t play centre for the Washington Mystics. You can’t be selected as a model on Deal or No Deal.

You certainly can’t compete on The Amazing Race when you are just slightly taller than your backpack.

Charla Baklayan Faddoul challenged that last statement in Season Five.

Teamed with her cousin Mirna Hindoyan, Charla captured America’s heart in season five and in doing so, became a hero for everyone who knows that the height of their spirit is far more important than the height their waist is from the ground.

The cousins, now 30, were well accomplished by the time they came to the race. Born in Syria, they now reside in Maryland. Charla owns a chain of sportswear stores, one of which is managed by her husband. Mirna graduated from law school at 23 and is recently married.

Charla earned her all-star status in episode one. While in Uruguay, teams were required to walk a half-mile to a butcher shop with a 55-pound slab of meat. Their trip was made longer by the fact that they walked four blocks past the butcher shop. The meat also had a disgusting smell. Despite all that, seeing Charla carry the meat is one of the enduring images in Amazing Race history. They eventually finished fifth.

They made a ferry that was about to depart without them in episode two, thanks to a nice man who couldn’t help but feel sorry for the little person. They eventually finished second and Charla was out to prove that she can compete and win this race.

By episode three, Mirna was beginning to get on the nerves of many of the teams. But again, they persevered and finished second.

Suddenly, the other teams took notice. Mirna butted into a conversation Colin was having with a local in Argentina, sparking a feud that would last for the rest of Charla and Mirna’s travel. She already had a feud with Marshall and Lance which was also boiling over. Another of their lasting images was at the hockey rink where the sight of Charla in goalie’s equiptment sparked a roar of laughter in homes across America.

At a mineshaft in Cairo, Egypt, Charla again took control. The image of her climbing up the ladder with a wet, heavy bag, established her as someone who really can do anything she puts her mind to. That led to their famous “Charla and Mirna of Arabia” horse ride leading camels, and a second-place finish.

The next episode was the one where Mirna tried to take the cab Colin and Christie had already booked, thus escalating their battle one more step. But they put that aside well enough to complete the tasks and finish fifth.

Their downfall came on a flight to Nairobi. Instead of going through Abu Dhabi, they went through Dubai, then learned their flight was delayed, holding them, and Linda and Karen up. Despite a gallant effort, they never recovered and faced elimination.

Charla’s final words were, “I just wanted to prove to the world how much I can do, and it’s not easy when there’s always people thinking you can’t do it and you have to work extra hard to do it [but] you have to do it. You have to accomplish your dreams.”

Now for Charla and Mirna, a second chance to accomplish her dreams, see the world, and win The Amazing Race.

Except this time, no one is going to doubt her because they must tilt their head down to see her. All they’ll see is someone as strong as an ox, sharp as a sword, with the heart of a champion.

It will be a blast seeing my favourite Amazing Racer of all time in action again.

Sir Linksalot: The Amazing Race: All Stars