The Block winners Omar and Oz reveal the hardest part of the renovation series after their record-breaking $1.6 million win: ‘It takes a lot of mental strength’

The Block winners Omar Slaimankhel and Ozman ‘Oz’ Abu Malik may have walked away winners from the show last year, but it did not come without hardship.

The western Sydney team said the hardest part about appearing on the renovation program was the incredible tight deadlines and it took a toll on them mentally. 

‘It is very, very tough,’ Omar told Yahoo Lifestyle.

The pair won the show’s 18th season and scored a record-breaking $1.6 million profit when their Gisborne home went to auction.

‘We got pretty lucky and we walked away with a fair bit of money, but there’s been people on the show that walk away with nothing,’ he added. 

‘It’s not easy building a home in 12 weeks, it’s not easy doing it in front of cameras where you’re watched 24/7, and it just takes a lot of mental strength.’

Rachel Carr, who completed on the same season, said fans often found it hard to distinguish between facts and reality.   

‘It’s really funny, the one thing that I’ve noticed with the hate is people comment on things that don’t actually happen and it’s their interpretation of things, but they say it like it’s fact,’ she said. 

Omar and Oz told Daily Mail Australia at the Poker Face premiere last year they haven’t spoken to the other contestants since winning the show. 

The western Sydney team said the hardest part about appearing on the renovation program was the incredible tight deadlines and it took a toll on them mentally 

‘It’s a competition right. They knew from week one, we were the ones to be careful from,’ Omar explained.

‘They didn’t receive anything in the end. We did win the Block. They are doing their own thing and going back to their lives.’

Oz agreed, adding: ‘If we do see them, we would say hello but we’ll just let them be at the moment.’

The best friends made the largest sum over reserve of all five Block houses, selling their property for $5,666,666 and taking home a record breaking $1.6million in profit.

Rachel Carr, who completed on the same season, said fans often found it hard to distinguish between facts and reality. Pictured here with husband and teammate, Ryan

Omar and Oz created a five bedroom, three-bedroom property with one of the biggest draw cards being its resort-style amenities include a solar heated pool.

The property also featured and a full-sized multifunctional court for tennis, basketball, or soccer.

A Caesarstone waterfall bench top and splash back, wine fridge, and serving bar are all spectacular features in the kitchen.

Their dining and living space also showcases towering ceilings with exposed timber beams and concrete flooring.

‘We’re absolutely stoked that we took out the win this year – we had a plan and stuck to it,’ said Oz.

Omar and Oz made the largest sum over reserve of all five Block houses last year, selling their property for $5,666,666 and taking home a record breaking $1.6million in profit. Pictured: Omar and Oz’s house on The Block