You remember the screaming. If you watched Season 29 of The Amazing Race, you definitely remember the screaming. Brooke Camhi and Scott Flanary weren’t exactly the "zen" team of the year. In fact, for the first few weeks, most fans were betting they’d implode before they even hit the halfway mark. They were strangers who met at the starting line, a prosecutor from New York and a recruiting manager from North Carolina. On paper? A disaster. In reality? They became one of the most statistically fascinating winners in the history of the show.
Honestly, their win felt like a glitch in the matrix to some people. They only won two legs the entire race—the last two.
Why the "Dysfunctional" Label Was Total Junk
Most viewers saw Brooke’s meltdowns and Scott’s constant eye-rolling and figured they hated each other. That’s the edit for you. But if you look closer, Brooke and Scott were actually playing a high-level game of emotional management. Scott realized early on that his partner needed to vent to function. He didn't try to change her personality in the middle of a leg in Tanzania; he just waited it out.
They weren't just "lucky" strangers. They were both massive superfans of the CBS trifecta: The Amazing Race, Survivor, and Big Brother. That mattered. While other teams were focused on the scenery or their own internal drama, Brooke and Scott were treating every pit stop like a study session.
They kept a notebook. Not just a "we went here" diary, but a granular, word-for-word record of every clue, every greeter's name, and every detour they chose.
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The $1 Million Notebook
- Clue Verbatim: They wrote down exactly what the cards said to anticipate "trick" questions later.
- Greeter Descriptions: They memorized what the people at the mats looked like.
- First Impressions: They even memorized what they thought of each other on Day 1, knowing the final memory challenge often digs into personal details.
When they hit the final challenge at Wrigley Field in Chicago, they weren't guessing. They got in and out of that task in roughly 15 minutes. While Tara and Joey were struggling with the specifics, Brooke and Scott were already in a taxi to the finish line.
The Numbers Behind the Chaos
Let’s talk stats because the "luck" argument falls apart when you see the progression. Their average placement was 4.08. That puts them in the company of teams that are "good but not dominant." They weren't the "Team Fun" (Becca and Floyd) who everyone loved, but they were consistent.
| Race Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Legs Run | 12 |
| Leg Wins | 2 (Leg 11 & Leg 12) |
| Average Position | 4.08 |
| Miles Traveled | ~36,000 |
They were the ultimate "upward trend" team. They started 4th, dipped into 6th and 7th place during the middle of the race, and then hit their stride exactly when the prize money was actually on the line. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. They proved that you can suck at the "middle" as long as you are perfect at the end.
Dealing with the "I Can't" Moments
One of the biggest criticisms of Brooke was her habit of saying "I can't" during physical tasks. It drove fans crazy. Scott, who is deathly afraid of heights, had his own hurdles. He had to wash windows on a skyscraper in Brazil and bungee jump in Greece. He didn't like it. He was terrified. But he did it because he knew Brooke was doing the heavy lifting on the legal-brained, detail-oriented tasks.
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Life After the Finish Line: 2026 Update
So, what happened when the cameras stopped rolling and the million dollars hit the bank? Surprisingly, they didn't go their separate ways. Most "Stranger" teams from that season drifted apart, but Brooke and Scott did the opposite.
They went on a "Victory Lap" tour. They literally traveled together to London, Amsterdam, and Belgium just for fun. No cameras, no clues, just actual friendship. Scott used a chunk of his winnings to pay off his Harvard loans and eventually moved to Seattle for a promotion. Brooke stayed in the legal world but pivoted toward media, becoming a legal correspondent.
Brooke got married in September 2023 to Matt Goodwin. Scott was right there, still the "brother" she found in a random lineup in Los Angeles years ago.
Where they are now:
- Brooke Camhi: She’s a regular on the Purple Pants Podcast with Survivor legend Brice Izyah. She still breaks down every episode of the race with a level of insight most commentators lack.
- Scott Flanary: He’s still a powerhouse in talent acquisition and remains one of the most accessible "Alumni" for fans of the show. He hasn't made it onto Survivor yet (his dream), but he’s still very much in the CBS orbit.
The Strategy You Can Actually Use
The biggest takeaway from Brooke and Scott isn't about how to run a race; it's about compartmentalization. They argued. They snapped at each other. They had massive personality clashes.
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But they never let the argument from Leg 3 bleed into the task in Leg 4. They treated every clue like a reset button.
If you want to win a high-stakes game—or just survive a stressful project at work—stop trying to be "best friends" with your partner and start being "best teammates." There is a massive difference. Brooke and Scott won because they respected each other's competence, even when they couldn't stand each other's tone.
Next Steps for Fans: If you’re looking to re-watch their run, focus on Leg 11 in South Korea. It’s the moment where the "superfan" preparation finally overrides the "dysfunctional" narrative. Pay attention to how they handle the luggage—checking their bags at the airport so they could run faster in the final leg. It was a risky move that saved them the precious minutes they needed to beat Tara and Joey.
Watch their post-race interviews on the Purple Pants Podcast to hear the behind-the-scenes stories they couldn't tell while under NDA. Their perspective on how the "edit" changed the public's view of their relationship is a masterclass in how reality TV is actually made.