The Amazing Race 9 is the ninth 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 in order to win US$1,000,000. After the previous season's Family Edition, which had families of four racing around North America, this season returned to teams of two racing around the world. This season visited five continents and ten countries and traveled over 59000 mi. Starting in Morrison, Colorado, outside of Denver, racers traveled through Brazil, Russia, Germany, Italy, Greece, Oman, Australia, Thailand, and Japan before returning to the United States, traveling through Alaska, and finishing in Greater Denver. The season premiered on CBS on February 28, 2006, and concluded on May 17, 2006. Best friends B. J. Averell and Tyler MacNiven were the winners of this season, while friends Eric Sanchez and Jeremy Ryan finished in second place, and dating couple Ray Whitty and Yolanda Brown-Moore finished in third place.

Production

Development and filming

Filming for this season began on November 7, 2005, with teams spotted at Denver International Airport. By November 22, 2005, the show was filming in the Middle East. The show filmed at Crocodylus Park in Darwin, Northern Territory, on November 25, 2005. The Amazing Race 9 lasted 27 days, during which participants traveled over 59000 mi. Filming ran from November 7, 2005, to December 3, 2005. This season visited ten countries on five continents, three of which were new: Greece, Japan, and Oman. Additionally, this season of The Amazing Race was the first (and to date, currently the only) season to begin and end at the same location: Red Rocks Amphitheatre, located outside of Denver, Colorado.

Cast

Following the Family Edition, this season returned to the traditional format with eleven teams of two. The teams included hippie best friends, a couple married for forty years, and sisters living in different states. After the season finale, Eric announced that he and Danielle were dating. After the two participated in the All-Star season in 2007, Eric & Danielle announced in an interview that they were no longer dating due to the distance and were now just friends. Ray proposed to Yolanda on The Early Show the morning after the season finale, and she accepted. The Early Show also showed their full progress on the final leg of The Amazing Race, including Yolanda's progress on the final Roadblock. Eric Sanchez and Danielle Turner returned in The Amazing Race: All-Stars. Jeremy Ryan also appeared in the closing minutes of the season finale.

Results

The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order.

Race summary

Leg 1 (United States → Brazil)

Leg 2 (Brazil)

Leg 3 (Brazil → Russia → Germany)

Leg 4 (Germany → Italy)

Leg 5 (Italy)

Leg 6 (Italy → Greece)

Leg 7 (Greece → Oman)

Leg 8 (Oman → Australia)

Leg 9 (Australia)

Leg 10 (Australia → Thailand)

Leg 11 (Thailand → Japan)

Leg 12 (Japan → United States)

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Reception

Critical response

The Amazing Race 9 received mixed reviews. Linda Holmes of Television Without Pity was negative towards this season due to it being dominated by two "obnoxious" teams writing "Dear This Season: Boo." Andy Dehnart of reality blurred wrote that this season rebounded from the previous "lame" Family Edition. Heather Havrilesky of Salon wrote "all in all, this was a really lively, fun season of 'The Amazing Race,' the kind that strengthens my undying commitment to watch every second of every hour of every season of this show". In 2016, this season was ranked 21st out of the first 27 seasons by the Rob Has a Podcast Amazing Race correspondents. In 2021, Jane Andrews of Gossip Cop ranked this season as the show's 10th best season. In 2024, Rhenn Taguiam of Game Rant placed this season within the bottom 13 out of 36.

Ratings

Awards

On August 27, 2006, season 9 won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, the fourth consecutive award for the series.