The Amazing Race is one of the longest-running reality competitions on television, and the ongoing season 32 proves how far the show has come. Over the years, the show has naturally featured several iconic moments. As the TAR 32 teams create their own memorable moments on the show, it's time to take a look back at a few of the best moments throughout the series' first 31 seasons.
Race to the Finish (The Amazing Race 2)
On The Amazing Race 2, something incredible happened. Sure, the premise of the show is to feature groups of people racing around the world, but only occasionally does that translate into a genuine footrace. During the final leg of TAR season 2, however, the contestants actually had a footrace for the ages. Separated couple Wil and Tara were in prime position to claim the show's $1 million grand prize, but in order to prevent lifelong friends Chris and Alex from beating them, they tried to get out of their taxi at the wrong location to confuse their opponents. It ended up not working, leading to a neck-and-neck finish. As Wil inched closer to the finish line, he had to slow down and call out for Tara, who was lagging behind. Meanwhile, Chris and Alex managed to overtake Wil and emerge as the winners. Even host Phil Keoghan couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Cooper's Hill (The Amazing Race 14)
On The Amazing Race season 14, contestants traveled to Cooper's Hill in England to participate in a local tradition. Teams had to run down the steep hill to catch a rolling wheel of cheese. This may not sound too difficult, but the hill was particularly slippery on that fateful day, forcing both contestants and cheese wheels alike to go flying in every direction. The remains one of the most ridiculous and hilarious challenges in the history of the show.
Watermelon in the Face (The Amazing Race 17)
Perhaps the most viral moment of all time on The Amazing Race, the medieval slingshot challenge on season 17 took a darkly humorous turn when Claire accidentally fired a watermelon right into her own face. She had been struggling with the contraption for a while, and one final desperate attempt ultimately slung the watermelon right back towards her.
Claire complained about a severe headache after the fact, noting that her face felt entirely numb. While fans were concerned for her safety, they also couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of a woman firing a watermelon into her own face. Her partner Brook took the harshest approach, however, immediately telling Claire she needs to finish the challenge. That moment is certainly peak The Amazing Race.