As the premiere date for The Bachelor: Winter Games inches closer, ABC has begun to unveil the contestants for its newest spin-off, and apparently, they're casting the net wide. On Thursday, Mike Fleiss announced the first international castmate to board the competition via Twitter, and that same day, he returned with another: Kevin Wendt. But for those not up-to-date on their cross-country Bachelor/ette viewing, you may be wondering: Who is Kevin Wendt?
Always one to leave fans in suspense, Fleiss didn't actually include a name with his reveal, but savvy Twitter users quickly figured out that it was Wendt. He appeared last year on the inaugural season of The Bachelorette Canada, ultimately winning the heart of lead Jasmine Lorimer. But not long after the final rose was handed out, they succumbed to the fate of many Bachelor couples and called it quits after five months together. Lorimer announced the split via her Instagram, writing that both their differences and the physical distance between them had taken a toll on their relationship. (He’s based in Toronto; she’s in British Columbia.) Nonetheless, they parted ways amicably. "There are no hard feelings between the two of us. Kevin is a fantastic person with a huge heart and holds so many incredible qualities," Lorimer captioned her post.
One day later, Wendt reportedly shared his own Instagram statement, though the caption appears to have since been removed. According to Us Weekly he wrote, in part:
"[It's] impossible to put into words the love and respect I have for this woman. Im sad to share, at this point in our lives we have decided that it is best we go our separate ways. The situation in which we met and fell in love is a very real one. With it comes a mental and emotional test from day one. We gained strength together and a bond we will share forever ... Jasmine you are the brightest star in my eyes, and I will always be your biggest fan."
For viewers, their breakup didn't come as a complete surprise. According to Us Weekly, Lorimer and Wendt got into a heated argument during the fantasy suites that resulted in him walking out, and it came as a shock when she chose him over fan-favorite Mikhel Sickand. In her finale speech, Lorimer reportedly said that it had been hard to break through Lorimer's tough exterior, but that they had "crazy electricity." Both confessed their love for another, and Wendt proposed.
In Wendt's cast bio, he's described as a "family man at heart." He was 32 during his stint on Bachelorette and apparently talks to his mom every day, loves his niece, and is eager to find a relationship as strong as his parents’ and settle down with a family of his own. He's a Navy veteran turned fireman, and has put himself in many dangerous situations over the years in order to help others.
Based on his Instagram, both family and fitness are core parts of his life, and he's fiercely dedicated to his fire team. "My fire crew is a group of guys I'd do anything with, and anything for. Together we spend holidays, intense workouts, a lot of laughs, and even sad days leaning on each other," he captioned a recent video. "I'll go into any emergency situation with the confidence that they have my back, and they know that I have theirs. Most of all I think of them as my family."
He also seems to have a fervent interest in travel. He describes himself as "a man chasing experience," recently took trips to Bali and St. Lucia, and has plans to visit Costa Rica, Australia, and Hawaii.
Other than that, not much can be gleaned about Wendt from the internet alone, but he'll surely share more when The Bachelor: Winter Games premieres next year.
