The Amazing Race 2

The Amazing Race 2 is the second season of the American reality competition show The Amazing Race. Hosted by Phil Keoghan, it featured eleven teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, competing in a race around the world to win US$1,000,000. This season visited five continents and eight countries and traveled over 52,000 miles (84,000 km) during thirteen legs. Starting in Pahrump, Nevada, racers traveled through Brazil, South Africa, Namibia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand before returning to the United States, traveling through Hawaii and Alaska, and finishing in the San Francisco Bay Area. The season premiered on CBS on March 11, 2002, and concluded on May 15, 2002.
Lifelong friends Chris Luca and Alex Boylan were the winners of this season, while estranged couple Wil Steger and Tara Lynch finished in second place, and siblings Blake Mycoskie and Paige Mycoskie finished in third place.
The second season of The Amazing Race traveled 52,000 miles in 28 days, spanning five continents and eight countries. Location scouting took place during September 2001 but was paused for a month and a half following the September 11 attacks. The Amazing Race 2 featured first-time visits to Brazil, Namibia, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong, and was the first season to travel to the continents of South America and Oceania. During pre-production, producers had planned a leg in Argentina, but cancelled it due to Argentina's political instability after its economy failed. Argentina was eventually visited in The Amazing Race 5.
The edition marked the debut of several show traditions. The color scheme for all route markers and flags was changed to yellow and red after the previous season's yellow and white. In addition, host Phil Keoghan and a local greeter welcomed all teams arriving at the Pit Stops at the end of each leg. Previously, Keoghan had appeared only to greet the last-place teams. Teams were also required to read their clues out loud on camera; this was optional for teams in the previous season.
Casting for the second season began during the summer of 2001 before the first season premiered. Casting finals were taking place in Los Angeles in September during the September 11 attacks.
Eleven teams participated in the second season of The Amazing Race. The cast featured twins, a mother/daughter duo, siblings, grandmothers, pastors, and childhood friends.
Oswald & Danny were selected to race in The Amazing Race: All-Stars.
Alex Boylan went on to create and host the first season of the WGN America online reality show Around the World for Free, in which he journeyed around the world with no money, relying on the generosity and hospitality of locals. Blake Mycoskie appeared as a guest shark during the twelfth season of Shark Tank.
The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order.
The Amazing Race 2 received positive reviews with the final footrace to the finish often regarded as one of the show's best moments. Linda Holmes of Television Without Pity wrote that "the teams weren't as compelling as personalities this go-round" compared to the previous season but it was "still just a really good show." In 2016, this season was ranked 11th out of the first 27 seasons by the Rob Has a Podcast Amazing Race correspondents. Kareem Gantt of Screen Rant wrote that this season was "where the show finally gained its sea legs. This season went bold with its Roadblocks, and it also contained a good amount of drama that kept fans on the edge of their seats all season long." In 2021, Jane Andrews of Gossip Cop ranked this season as the show's overall best season. In 2022, Jason Shomer of Collider ranked this season among the show's top seven seasons. In 2022, Rhenn Taguiam of Game Rant ranked this season as the ninth-best season. In 2024, Taguiam's ranking was updated with this season ranked 14th out of 36.