Phil Keoghan has hosted The Amazing Race since its inception in September of 2001. For nearly twenty years, The Amazing Race has thrilled audiences with its delectable mix of personalities, unique concept, and exquisite editing. Part travel show, part reality show, and part game show, The Amazing Race is undeniably one of the most unique programs on television.

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At the heart of everything is Phil Keoghan. Unlike many other reality show hosts, Keoghan doesn't often interfere. He simply informs viewers how a certain task is to be done, and he only interacts with the players at the pit stops, informing them of what position they have placed. But what don't fans know about this seasoned host?

He Was Born Near Christchurch

Phil Keoghan, arms wide open, against bucolic backdrop in The Amazing Race

Chirstchurch, New Zealand is the largest city on the southern island of New Zealand, the oldest city in New Zealand, and its population is just behind the capital city of Auckland.

Keoghan was born in Chirstchurch and returned following the earthquakes that occurred there in the early 2010s. He also attended St. Andrew's College in the city, and his parents still run a local bed and breakfast.

He Traveled A Lot As A Child

Phil Keoghan raising his arms in The Amazing Race

While Keoghan was born in Christchurch, he and his family left the city when Keoghan was just three years old. His father was an agricultural scientist, and this required the family to move around from place to place. After leaving New Zealand for work, the family settled in the likes of Antigua and Barbuda.

Keoghan never had much of a stable home life owing to his father's work, and it instilled him with an adventurous personality and an unquenchable sense of wanderlust. It's no wonder he became the host of The Amazing Race.

He Was Mostly Raised In The Caribbean

Phil Keoghan on The Amazing Race 32

As mentioned in the prior segment, Keoghan and his family eventually settled in Antigua and Barbuda, among many other places. Antigua and Barbuda is where Keoghan spent most of his childhood, as the family spent eight years on the Caribbean islands.

Keoghan has good memories of living in the Caribbean, saying, "To grow up and watch your parents connect with poor farmers or my mother, who would offer music lessons to struggling reggae artists. She was able to teach them music, and they would come to our house. ... So I learned about connecting with people from all walks of life."

He Holds An "Unofficial" Bungee Record In New Zealand

Phil Keoghan posing for a selfie

Despite spending much of his childhood in other countries and locales, Keoghan continuously returns to New Zealand (as evident by his attending college there). However, he also returned to New Zealand for a more eclectic reason - setting an unofficial bungee jumping record in Queenstown.

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Keoghan has stated, "There's more adventure packed into that one town than any other place I know on Earth," and he once leaped off a bridge tied to eight other participants.

He Almost Hosted Survivor

Jeff raising his hand at a challenge to call 'survivors ready'

When it comes to early 2000s reality television, it's hard to beat The Amazing Race and Survivor. They are both credited with revitalizing the reality show genre, and they were both enormously popular in their heydays. Naturally, Keoghan almost received the hosting gig (before it went to Jeff Probst).

However, his accent was considered too high a barrier, and he was scrapped from contention. From Keoghan's own mouth, "One of the reasons I was told that I didn’t get the job was that I was a New Zealander."

He Was Asked To "Americanize" His Voice

Phil Keoghan stands wearing a jacket

Keoghan's accent is what prevented him from hosting Survivor. And while it wasn't a detriment for The Amazing Race, he was still asked to "tone it down", so to speak. Keoghan told Listener, "They gave me a shot, but they asked me to Americanise my voice."

It's very evident while watching the show, with his native New Zealand accent slipping into odd phrases, sounds, and vocal inflections.

He's A Big Fan Of Italy

Amazing Race - Amy & Maya

Keoghan has been around the world and has seen more countries and locales than most people will in an entire lifetime. The experiences he has, and the sights he has seen, must remain indelibly sketched into memory. Yet despite all that, Keoghan is a huge fan of Italy - perhaps the most popular tourist destination in the entire world.

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In one exclusive interview, Keoghan stated that he loved Italy owing to its culture, beautiful landscapes, and people.

He Nearly Drowned In A Shipwreck

Phil Keoghan wearing a hat

As a young adult, Keoghan worked for a children's show called Spot On. It was during his work for the show that Keoghan developed his love of life and adventure - albeit not in a very fun or inspirational manner. While working for Spot On, Keoghan dove down to the shipwreck of the MS Mikhail Lermontov.

While waiting for the camera crew, Keoghan had a panic attack in the darkened ballroom of the ship and nearly drowned. Luckily, he was saved in the nick of time by a diving buddy.

He Moved To America In 1992

Phil Keoghan holding a wad of cash

Following his wildly unpredictable upraising, Phil Keoghan moved to the United States in 1992. He was 25 years old. He was offered a job at MTV but lacked the necessary green card. Instead, he worked with an independent cameraman for an environmental project set in the Florida Everglades.

He later found work on a Fox morning show and earned his own Discovery Channel program called Phil Keoghan's Adventure Crazy.

He Is An Avid Cyclist

Phil Keoghan raising a bike over his head

Phil Keoghan isn't just an adventurer and a reality show host. He is also an avid cycler and has put his interest in the sport towards a great cause. In 2009, Keoghan made a 42 day trip across the United States in a charity event to raise money for multiple sclerosis research.

The bike ride raised $500,000, nearly all of which were made through donations to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

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