Meet The Teams on The Amazing Race 36

The highly acclaimed and award-winning reality series, The Amazing Race, is set to make its return to CBS with a thrilling 36th season. This season promises to be more exciting than ever, with 90-minute episodes airing all season long on Reality Night Wednesday.

The excitement begins with an exhilarating lineup of contestants, including a former NFL player competing alongside his wife, a pair of firefighter moms, military pilots, twin brothers, and many other diverse teams. These 13 new teams will embark on a journey of a lifetime when the season premieres on Wednesday, March 13th.

Hosted by the incomparable Phil Keoghan, the race kicks off from the stunning location of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The teams will face their first challenge right from the start – a traditional Mexican rodeo that demands precision and skill. They must lasso their way to the finish line without falling behind because this season features no non-elimination legs. The team that finishes last in each leg will be eliminated from the race.

As the race unfolds, the competitors will find themselves paragliding in Colombia and rally car racing in Argentina. Moreover, they will have the opportunity to visit two new countries that have never been featured on the show before. Their adventures will take them swimming through waterfalls in the Dominican Republic and even visiting music superstar Rihanna’s childhood home in Barbados.

Executive producers Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri express their excitement for this season’s cast of adventurous thrill-seekers. They assure viewers that they are prepared for a global adventure like never before. With 90-minute episodes returning this season, audiences can expect to fully immerse themselves in each country visited and get to know these amazing contestants even better.

Let’s meet some of the teams competing on this thrilling season:

– Derek and Shelisa Williams: A married couple from Alta Loma, Calif., retired chief of police (57) and retired sheriff’s lieutenant (55) respectively.
– Danny and Angie Butler: A mother-son duo from San Diego, Calif., and Walla Walla, Wash., university resident director (27) and seventh grade teacher (55) respectively.
– Rod and Leticia Gardner: A married couple from Lawrenceville, Ga., former NFL player/owner of Gshred Supplements (46) and fitness business owner (38) respectively. Rod has played for Washington, Carolina, Green Bay, and Kansas City.
– Michelle and Sean Clark: Married owners of Double Dutch Aerobics from East Point, Ga. (39) and (46) respectively.
– Yvonne Chavez and Melissa Main: A dating couple from San Diego, Calif., global strategy and operations lead (40) and investigator for U.S. Navy special operations (38).
– Sunny Pulver and Bizzy Smith: Best friends who are firefighters from Edgerton, Wis., and New Berlin, Wis. aged 41 and 37 respectively.
– Amber Craven and Vinny Cagungun: Dating nurse anesthetists from Englewood, Colo., aged 30 and 37 respectively.
– Ricky Rotandi and Cesar Aldrete: A dating couple consisting of a preschool teacher (34) from New York, N.Y.,and a food stylist(34).
– Juan Villa and Shane Bilek: Best friends who are Air Force pilots from Spokane, Wash.,and Marine City, Mich. aged 29.
– Anthony and Bailey Smith: Twin brothers who work as recruiters in Clearwater, Fla., aged 26.
– Kishori Turner and Karishma Cordero: Cousins hailing from Gaithersburg, Md.,and Austin Texas aged 26 and 22 respectively. Kishori is a senior marketing strategist while Karishma is a student.
– Maya Mody and Rohan Mody: Sibling competitors from Monmouth Junction, N.J., aged 20 and 23 respectively. Maya is a student, and Rohan is a master’s student.
– Chris Foster and Mary Cardona-Foster: A father-daughter team consisting of a receptionist (60) and a marketing manager (27) from Waltham, Mass.

Throughout this season, one team will be eliminated at the end of each leg. The teams, comprised of two individuals with pre-existing relationships, will compete in mental and physical challenges at every destination. Once they complete these tasks, they receive their next destination clue.

The race takes the contestants to various breathtaking locations, including Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, and Pennsylvania state. The team that successfully crosses the final finish line will be crowned the winner of The Amazing Race and awarded the coveted $1 million prize.

Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Earthview Inc., in association with ABC Studios and Amazing Race Productions, bring this incredible series to life. The show was created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri. The executive producers include Jerry Bruckheimer, Bertram van Munster, Jonathan Littman, Elise Doganieri, Mark Vertullo, Phil Keoghan,and Patrick Cariaga.

Viewers can catch the live episodes on CBS Television Network or stream them on Paramount+. Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers have the privilege of streaming live via their local CBS affiliate’s live feed on the service as well as enjoying on-demand access. Paramount+ Essential subscribers can access on-demand content the day after an episode airs.