Amazing Race season 36 finale: Former NFL player Rod Gardner and wife Leticia went for the title. Who won?
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Warning: Spoilers ahead from the season finale of CBS' "The Amazing Race" season 36 that aired on Wednesday, May 15.
It was the Super Bowl of "The Amazing Race" Wednesday night.
After 10 eliminations, eight countries and thousands of miles, a winner for season 36 of the long-running CBS reality TV competition show was crowned.
It was a coronation for winners Ricky Rotandi and Cesar Aldrete.
That meant former NFL player and one-time Green Bay Packers wide receiver Rod Gardner and his wife, Leticia, came up just short of the championship and the $1 million prize.
The Gardners finished in third place behind Rotandi and Aldrete, and runners-up Juan Villa and Shane Bilek.
Rod and Leticia had their eyes on the title from the beginning of the season and were even more confident after a first-place finish in the penultimate leg earlier in the season finale.
But in the final leg, they fell back during challenges that required memorization, sharp listening skills, attention to detail and a puzzle representative of the city of Philadelphia — the site of this final leg.
"It has taught us to not give up," Rod said on lessons he'll take from the race after he and Leticia checked into the mat surrounded by all the other eliminated teams as well as the first- and second-place teams.
The Gardners were one of three duos with ties to Wisconsin that the Journal Sentinel chronicled all season. The others were Wisconsin firefighters Sunny Pulver and Bizzy Smith, and Milwaukee native Shelisa Williams and her husband Derek.
Ahead of the season finale that featured the final 4, host Phil Keoghan set the stage for the Gardners' race: "Married couple Rod and Leticia had plenty of success early. And along the way, former NFL player Rod’s competitive spirit always shined bright."
Keoghan then noted "even with some failures their love and confidence never wavered. Can their love lead them to a win?"
Here's a look at how the Gardners fared in the season finale of "The Amazing Race."
Rod and Leticia Gardner on Amazing Race: Former NFL player, wife win season finale leg 10 in Dominican Republic
Rod and Leticia Gardner, who were the complete package on "The Amazing Race," followed up their second-place finish in the Dominican Republic last week, with a first-place showing in leg 10.
It was their first victory since winning back-to-back legs in Weeks 1 and 2. Their win snapped the streak of Rotandi and Aldrete, who had won the last three legs and have been the most dominant team in the race.
The Gardners oozed confidence — especially Rod — during the race and while the show challenged teams emotionally the Gardners' love for each other always came through.
Rod was loving Leticia's performance in this leg.
She crushed the Roadblock that required teams to windsurf for 1 minute. It actually didn't start out great for Leticia, who was knocked in the head by the sail and fell in the water. That left Rod worried from the beach where he feared his wife may have a concussion.
But the 38-year-old Leticia quickly got up, used her strength and completed it better than any other player. It was a joyous moment for the couple.
They bypassed Rotandi and Aldrete, who surprisingly finished in third after this leg.
Rod said this was a "statement" win. As winners of this leg, the Gardners earned cashback rewards for a trip for two to Rome, Italy.
Rod has said winning the race would be even bigger than a Super Bowl, something that eluded him in his NFL career. Leticia has wanted to win the race for her children, whom she has referenced often on the race.
They now had that chance.
Rod Gardner in the NFL, challenge in Philadelphia brings him back to football days
While the Gardners overtook Rotandi and Aldrete in the previous leg, the dating couple showed in the final leg why they were the team to beat all season.
The finale took teams to Philadelphia where teams would visit many of the city's landmarks along the way. The final leg always concludes back in the United States.
Teams started the leg together at the Philadelphia Museum of Art where they received their first clue. Teams were directed to their first challenge inside Lincoln Financial Stadium, home of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.
One player on each team dressed up as a mascot — the mascots of each of the Philadelphia pro sports teams even greeted them — and had to go through a series of drills on the field. Leticia took part in this challenge. Rod, like he always does, cheered her on from the sidelines. When Rod stepped in the stadium he told another player it brought back memories from his playing days.
Rod, 46, had a six-year NFL career from 2001-06 after being a first-round draft pick by the Kansas City Chiefs. He spent the first four years of his career with the Chiefs. The former wide receiver enjoyed his best season in 2002 when he totaled over 1,000 receiving yards, 71 receptions and eight touchdowns.
He played two games with the Packers late in the 2005 season.
Who won the Amazing Race 2024?
The Gardners left the mascot Roadblock in second place behind Rotandi and Aldrete.
The next two tasks were where they fell off the pace.
Teams had to memorize and recite the Preamble of the United States Declaration of Independence. Rod had difficulty with his sections. Rotandi and Aldrete, at this point, extended their lead and even Villa and Bilek, who had trouble with navigation and even mistakenly drove into New Jersey, caught up.
Leticia again took on the next Roadblock task at the Betsy Ross House. After listening to an instructor give a history lesson, players had to assemble a Betsy Ross flag and display the 13 colonies in order they became states. Leticia repeatedly had details wrong on the flag, allowing Villa and Bilek to pass them.
The final task had teams put together a 3-D Liberty Bell puzzle at the Arch Street Friends Meeting House. Rotandi and Aldrete breezed through this and were well on their way to the winners mat where Keoghan announced their victory.
Rotandi and Aldrete were simply too good all season, winning seven of the 11 legs and added three second-place finishes as well. They completed tasks with ease, were comfortable in their environment no matter the country and ended the season with the final knockout punch in Philadelphia.
Rod and Leticia Gardner's final thoughts on Amazing Race
Despite not achieving their goal, the Gardners felt like winners.
"You're a team no matter what," Rod said after checking in for a final time.
While Rod never lacked for confidence all season, Leticia had to overcome some fears during the race. She also stressed the importance of being a role model for her children, most notably her youngest daughter.
"Even though this was our roughest leg," Leticia said, "I've come a long way from the first leg. I put that pride and ego away and kept fighting."
Are Amber Craven and Vinny Cagungun still together?
Yes.
And a wedding is in their near future.
Amber Craven and Vinny Cagungun, a dating couple who spent a lot of time arguing during the season, didn't make the final leg after they were eliminated in the 10th leg earlier in Wednesday's episode.
"He’s got the biggest heart of anyone I know," Craven told Keoghan as the couple reflected on their journey.
Cagungun then might have shocked Craven and all the viewers with what came next.
"The feelings I have for Amber are unmatched," he said. "All my faults and all my struggles and my traumas that I still work through today she’s accepted them and that solidifies a lot of things."
Cagungun, 37, then got down on one knee and proposed to the 30-year-old Craven.
He even had a ring. She accepted.
"I might not be going home with a million dollars but I’m going home with a ring," she said.
It was quite the about-face for the nurse anesthetists from Colorado who were shown more in the edit as a couple who couldn't get along in tense moments and often grew frustrated with each other.
"It’s the end of this race babe, but it’s not the end of ours," Cagungun said.
Craven added: "We grew tremendously from actually doing the race" to now "starting this life journey together."
The proposal happened in late 2022 at the conclusion of filming. Based on recent social media posts from Cagungun and Craven, the wedding date is approaching.
Amazing Race teams 2024 order of finish in finale leg of season finale
Ricky Rotandi and Cesar Aldrete (dating) - Amazing Race winners
Juan Villa and Shane Bilek (best friends) - Second place
Rod and Leticia Gardner (married, Rod played for the Green Bay Packers in the 2005 season) - Third place
Amazing Race teams eliminated
Amber Craven and Vinny Cagungun (dating) - Eliminated during season finale in 10th leg
Yvonne Chavez and Melissa Main (dating) - Eliminated in ninth episode
Angie and Danny Butler (mother, son) - Eliminated in eighth episode
Sunny Pulver and Bizzy Smith (best friends/firefighters from Wisconsin) - Eliminated in seventh episode
Shelisa and Derek Williams (Married couple from California. Shelisa is a Milwaukee native who graduated from Milwaukee Custer High School) - Eliminated in sixth episode
Kishori Turner and Karishma Cordero (cousins) - Eliminated in fifth episode
Michelle and Sean Clark (married) - Eliminated in fourth episode
Anthony and Bailey Smith (twin brothers) - Eliminated in third episode
Chris Foster and Mary Cardona-Foster (father-daughter) - Eliminated in second episode
Rohan and Maya Mody (brother, sister) - Eliminated in first episode
What time is Amazing Race on tonight?
The season finale episode of "The Amazing Race," titled "The Longest Minute of Your Life," started at 8:30 p.m. Central time on Wednesday, May 15.
The 90-minute episode followed "Survivor."
What channel is Amazing Race on?: TV, streaming
"The Amazing Race" is on CBS.
"The Amazing Race" streams on the CBS app and Paramount Plus. Fubo offers a free trial.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Amazing Race recap: Who won season 36? Rod and Leticia Gardner results
