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'Losers' face final exams before final four

The remaining contestants had to  ace physical and mental tests, but acing the exams didn't just earn the winner an A, but also $10,000.
/ Source: TODAY contributor

The remaining “Biggest Loser” hopefuls trimmed down to the final four Tuesday night, and they kicked off the quest in school-like fashion with an almost-end-of-term Final Exams week.

Well, not quite school-like fashion — most institutions fail to offer a cash prize of $10,000 to the student with the top scores.

Still, there was spinning class with Bob, wherein the players had to teach the master how it’s done. Professor Brett offered a health and nutrition quiz to ensure everyone knew their major macronutrients and would never forget the difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Motivation (or mini-me) skills were judged by Jillian. And Coach Cara faced off with the bunch in the boxing ring.

After the first few rounds it was clear that studious Olivia was teacher’s pet and sister Hannah wasn’t far behind. But there was one more subject ahead of them — video gameplay with “The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout.”

A respectable sisterly battle led Hannah to prove her exer-gaming skills were the best, but Olivia had the top score for all finals combined and walked away with the 10 grand.

Not that that was the only big prize to be had. The weekly challenge boasted a 1-pound advantage for the winner. And while Olivia and Hannah couldn’t be beat in the classroom, it was Austin who was unstoppable in the sandbag-hauling task.

“A pound is huge,” Austin said after his challenge victory. “I don’t necessarily feel like I need a pound at the end of this week. My weight loss has been great the last several (weeks). But this weigh-in is definitely one I can get past now.”

Yeah, about that ...

By weigh-in time, Austin was packing his one-pound advantage and Olivia had her $10,000, but they were offered the chance to trade in their respective prizes for the treat the other one was holding. Austin decided his seemingly superfluous pound was worth holding on to, and Olivia? Despite the oddly intense protests of trainer Jillian, Olivia threw scaleside caution to the wind and kept her money.

“I mean, the second I decided (to keep it) and told Ali, I had the biggest case of buyer’s remorse I’ve ever had,” the opera singer confessed to the camera. “Immediately the doubt creeps in.”

But Olivia’s doubt and Jillian’s concerns were misplaced. As it turned out, Olivia aced the weigh-in, as did Irene and even Jay (who should now be called Jay the Incredibly Lucky). That left Hannah the only player below the yellow line when Austin stepped up.

Austin needed to drop 6 pounds to ensure he wouldn’t fall alongside Hannah. He actually dropped just 1 — well, 2 counting the advantage that he didn’t think he’d need.

The man didn’t stand a chance. Olivia would never vote against her sister. Jay would never vote against the woman who brought him back into the game. And while Irene’s vote wasn’t revealed, it seems safe to say she wouldn’t have turned on her in-house almost-sister.

Bye-bye, Austin. Hello, final four.

Ree Hines can’t believe finale night is just two weeks away! Where has the season gone?! Follow on Twitter and tell her what you think of the last “Losers” standing.