Amanda & Chris

Amanda & Chris
Team Profile
Born:	(1977-05-16) May 16, 1977 (Amanda) (1973-11-21) November 21, 1973 (Chris)
Hometown:	Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Relation:	Dating
Occupation:	Medical technician (Amanda) Freelance graphic designer (Chris)
Legs Competed:	2
Legs Won:	1
Placement:	11th
Average Position:	6.00
RoadblockCount:	Amanda: 0 Chris: 1
CountriesRaced:

For Amanda & Kris from The Amazing Race 14 and Unfinished Business, see Amanda & Kris.

Amanda Adams and Chris Garry are a Dating team on The Amazing Race 4.

They tied for first in the first leg, along with their allies Millie & Chuck and Steve & Josh. However, with the pack closely bunched together on the following leg, they were eliminated when Chris struggled at the Roadblock.

Profile

Retrieved from CBS.com

“While we usually hate each other in our daily lives, we really get along very well when traveling. It's really quite odd.”

Bio Q & A Twenty-five-year-old Amanda is a medical technician at a hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She loves to read and listen to music. Amanda describes herself as "very emotional, helpful and compassionate." She comes across as sweet and innocent, but underneath she is a tough, foul-mouthed girl. While Chris tends to be negative, she tends to be positive: good cop, bad cop. Her phobias include spiders, elevators and fear of the dark. Amanda has never traveled outside the United States, but is very excited about the prospect of experiencing new countries and cultures. Chris is 28 years old and works as a freelance graphic designer in Sioux Falls. He is very self-deprecating in his humor, calling himself "abominable, cantankerous and obnoxious." He admits that traveling takes him out of the comfort zone and causes some nervousness. He also has a fear of heights and is leery of flying. He's a perfectionist and tends to be overly critical. During the Race, he plans not only to make fun of the other contestants, but he will also "scheme, betray, plot and backstab more than any other contestant." At the same time, Chris says, Amanda will make peace with the other contestants so as not to upset too many people. How would you describe your previous travel experience? Amanda: I've gone on some family vacations in the United States and on a few trips with my boyfriend also in the US, but that is the extent of it. I have never been out of this country, not even to Canada or Mexico. Chris: I have traveled to many places within the US and to Canada and Mexico. I've never left North America and that sucks, so this is a great opportunity to change all that. What is the most stressful aspect of traveling? Amanda: I think the most stressful part of traveling is trying to accomplish everything that you have planned, and if you have not planned squat, it is hard to come up with last minute things to do. Chris: Traveling. Whether it be plane, train, cargo ship, hang glider, donkey or whatever, the most stressful part is getting from point A to point B. After that it's just gravy. Mmmmm, gravy! What is the most important item in your backpack, and why? Amanda: Toilet paper is the most important item in my backpack so that I can wipe my ass in countries that do not have any. Chris: My "camp towel." It soaks up 10 times its weight. When you're really moist, you want something to be able to sop it up. And what's better than a towel that collects 1000% of its weight in fluid. Right? Why did you want to be on THE AMAZING RACE? Amanda: I wanted to be on THE AMAZING RACE to prove to myself, my family, and my boyfriend that I am strong mentally, emotionally and physically. I tend to let people make decisions for me, and this is a big step towards being independent and being able to do things for myself and for my Team. Chris: To win it. Making friends, seeing great places, being on TV…that's all overrated. I want a ½ million dollars and the right to say, "I kicked your ass" to 22 other people. Have you and your partner traveled together before? If so, what was it like? Amanda: Chris and I have taken some vacations here in the US, and we have had so much fun traveling. We seem to really get along well in stressful times, which comes in handy when we're on the road far from home. Chris: We have traveled, but only to lame places like Wisconsin, Texas and so on. While we usually hate each other in our daily lives, we get along very well when traveling. It's really quite odd. I guess going to another place lets us pretend we're someone else for a while. What do you fear most about competing in THE AMAZING RACE? Amanda: I fear being out of my comfort zone. I like my days to be planned out, however boring that may be. I have a set time to do everything. On the Race, I won't know when I'll eat next, when I'll sleep next, when I'll be able to go to the bathroom next. I'm also afraid to let my partner down. Chris: Finding out that the next place we'll be going is a country that's just a tad bit "shady." Ya know, like North Korea, or Pakistan, or Yemen, or Canada. Those Canadians, they just always seem to look at you funny. Something just isn't right with them. I think they're up to something. What strengths and weaknesses do you bring to the Team? Amanda: I am a very positive, up-beat person. I love meeting people, and I am very social, and I like to help others. I'll be able to talk to locals, negotiate with other Teams, and get help when needed. My weaknesses play off that. I have a hard time competing because I care a lot for other people, and I don't want to make them feel bad. Chris: I don't have too many strengths. I'm more of a liability kind of guy, but if I had to pick, I'd say my strength is my competitiveness. I supply the drive to keep us going. There are far too many weaknesses to list; my primary fault is I'm an asshole. What strengths and weaknesses does your teammate bring to the Team? Amanda: He is very logical and rational and a wonderful decision-maker. He is very methodical in everything that he does, and he weighs all the pros and cons before acting upon anything. Instead of acting quickly in stressful times, he still enforces reason. His one big weakness is that he is super critical about everything, especially himself. He is his own worst enemy, and he has to evaluate everything he does or says. Sometimes he makes too negative of judgments and gives himself too hard of a time when it's not necessary. Chris: Her strength is her sweetness. But don't let the candy coating fool you. Underneath it, is a somewhat of an evil little woman. And that also is a part of her strength. She can act all innocent and sweet and then the next minute she is cussing like a truck driver and flipping people off in traffic. Her weakness is her ability to quit almost anything at a moment's notice. She gives up way too easily. And that is a big thing on this Race. What will you miss the most from home (besides your bed)? Amanda: I am afraid of the dark, so in our house we have various nightlights positioned throughout, so needless to say I will miss my nightlights. I know that I am going to be exhausted while traveling, hopefully that will defeat my night time worries. Chris: My worn-out, old, green rocking chair. It's great to just chill out in and think about stuff. And that is something that I'll be forced to live without for a while: relaxation. What languages do you speak? Amanda: I speak English. I learned some French in college, and at that time I could read and write it fairly well and sometimes even engage in conversation. I could probably ask some decent questions, but I do not think I would understand people's responses. I'm pretty good at reading body language. Chris: I speak English fairly well. Un poquito Espanol (a little Spanish). Lsoay, omesay Igpay Atlay (Also, some Pig Latin). What destination are you hoping to visit? Amanda: I love animals, so really anywhere with a lot of wildlife around me is cool. Other than that, I cannot wait to see anything and everything this Race has to offer. Bring it on! Chris: The Pyramids in Egypt. What country do you feel best prepared for? Amanda: Um…well…the United States. Does everyone say that? Wish me luck, please. Chris: The one where Phil will be standing, waiting to hand us the 1 million dollar check.

The Amazing Race 4

Race History

Amanda & Chris's Race History
Episode	Leg	Destination(s)	Detour Choice (underlined)	Roadblock Performer	Placement	Notes
1	1	United States → Italy	Search / Rescue	No Roadblock	1 of 12
2	2	Italy	Waterway / Pathway	Chris	11 of 11
				Average	6.00
Legend:      The team finished in first place      The team finished in last place and was eliminated from the race      The team finished in last place in a non-elimination leg      The team that won The Amazing Race      The team that crossed the Finish Line second      The team that crossed the Finish Line third

Trivia

• Amanda & Chris are the first team to win the first leg of the race, but be eliminated in the second leg.

External links

Interviews

• FansOfRealityTV (06/06/2003): "Our Interview with Amanda and Chris"
• Don Jorgensen on KelolandTV (06/06/2003): "Sioux Falls' Amazing Couple"
• TARflies (06/10/2003): "Bleep!"
• Jacalynn West at Media Friends (06/10/2003): "2nd Team Eliminated from The Amazing Race 4 talk about the race"
• Phil Kural at RealityNewsOnline (06/18/2003): "Don't Forget the Editing"
• CBS.com (2002): "After the Race"