The Amazing Race: All-Stars crowned David O'Leary and Connor O'Leary the winners of the CBS reality competition's 24th overall season and third all-stars edition during Sunday night's finale episode.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dave and Connor, "Father and Son Cancer Survivors," won The Amazing Race's $1 million grand prize after crossing the twelfth and final leg's finish line at Aria Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV in first place. The team was victorious after traveling 22 cities, nine countries and more than 23,000 miles.

Dave became the oldest individual to ever win The Amazing Race. Not only that, the pair's victory marked the first time in The Amazing Race history a parent and child have ever won together.

In an exclusive interview with Reality TV World on Monday, Dave and Connor talked about their experience on the show. Below is the first half. Check back with us soon for the concluding portion.

Reality TV World: Congratulations on your big win!

Connor O'Leary: Thanks!

David O'Leary: Thank you!

Reality TV World: When Dave landed after skydiving, Connor, you said something along the lines of, "Do you know what you have to do now?!" So it sounded like you assumed that wasn't necessarily the end right then and there, is that right to say? What were you expecting?

David O'Leary: (Laughs)

Connor O'Leary: Yeah!

David O'Leary: Connor was.

Connor O'Leary: Well, you know, I thought, "This can't be it." It was too good to be true. He has -- there's got to be something else! But there wasn't and we got to run to the mat.

David O'Leary: I had the clue with me, and so he didn't have the chance to read it and see what else it said. And basically what I had to do was find that erection on the Las Vegas strip, and that was the additional challenge that he was concerned about and didn't know what it was. So when I landed, I knew we'd won, and I had to convince Connor of that, saying, "Son, we just won The Amazing Race!"

Reality TV World: Dave, how difficult was it to spot that Motor Speedway sign? How many passes until you spotted it, how long did it take and how did you even know what you were looking for?

David O'Leary: You had no idea other than it said -- I can't remember specifically -- but it was basically that you knew it was going to be a neon sign on the Las Vegas strip.

And so, you know, you're looking for anything, and I just decided to look for yellow and red. I thought, "There's got to be something that's yellow and red," and on the first pass, fortunately, I saw the sign on the area and I saw -- I didn't see "The Amazing Race."

I saw "Las Vegas Motor Speedway," and I said that before it came up and there was something that said, "The Amazing Race finale." I had already done it, so fortunately, we got it on the first pass. Because if we hadn't, we would've had to circle back around and then come in third place, because they would've taken the helicopters in order.

Reality TV World: Going into the finale, did you feel like it was anyone's game or did you two feel like you were at a real advantage or disadvantage for any reason? I mean, obviously Dave, you were dubbed like "the old man" of the season (laughs) and dating couples like Brendon and Rachel tend to excel in the Race for a number of reasons.

Connor O'Leary: Yeah, you know what? We definitely didn't feel like we had it in the bag. We thought, "This is anybody's game." And we knew that Brendon and Rachel had lived in Las Vegas, so we were fairly apprehensive. We thought, "Well, it's probably not the best end-city for us simply because of that fact." But, it ended up being okay.

Reality TV World: I have a few questions for you about Brendon and Rachel, starting with you accusing them of throwing dirt in your hole when you were all digging for the keys simultaneously. It was clear Brendon and Rachel didn't care either way, but are you convinced they truly did that intentionally rather than accidentally?

Connor O'Leary: You know, to be honest, I have no idea. All I know is that I asked them once or twice -- and the first time I was pretty polite about it -- and then they kept doing it. It could've been that they were just frantically digging, so it might not have been malicious. But watching the finale, they make me think they made it happen.

Reality TV World: Did you guys witness the alleged event in which Rachel pushed Caroline in the airport? Apparently they disagreed over who got in line first or something like that.

Connor O'Leary: Yeah!

David O'Leary: (Laughs)

Connor O'Leary: Yeah, that's exactly what happened. Like "The Country Girls" said, the claws kind of came out, and [Rachel] did get pretty scary to be 100% honest with you.

Reality TV World: Brendon and Rachel obviously also tried to steal Caroline and Jennifer's cab at the Neon Boneyard Museum. When you learned of that incident, what was your reaction? Do you think they crossed the line, and also, were you surprised Caroline and Jennifer's cab driver stuck with the girls?

David O'Leary: I think they crossed the line. I thought it was completely out of line. But I think it was pretty telling about Brendon and Rachel, that they'd win at all costs, and I was not totally surprised -- and I was really grateful -- that the cab driver stuck to his guns and recognized, "Hey, I have an obligation to help these girls who are the ones who hailed me first."

Reality TV World: Yes it was definitely surprising because Brendon had even offered the cab driver more money to take them instead.

David O'Leary: Yeah.

Connor O'Leary: I don't think it hurts that they're two attractive girls. (Laughs)

Reality TV World: Dave it seemed like you thought the illusion act failed with Connor inside the crate. What was going through your mind when that crate dropped before Connor surprised you in the fireman's suit? You seemed to start panicking a bit there that he might be hurt.

David O'Leary: Yeah, well you know, I handed him the keys, I saw him in the box, I saw the box get lifted up, and then I saw it crash into the fire. And I thought, "My gosh, he could be in there!"

And when I said to David Copperfield, "Where is he!?" I really meant, "Where is he!? If this is an illusion, where's my son?" And so, I don't think it crossed my mind -- I don't think I thought, "Oh my son is dead," but I thought, "Where is he!?" And so, I was so relieved when he came in behind me and threw his arms around me as a firefighter.

Reality TV World: Connor, any idea how long that David Copperfield Roadblock took you to complete?

Connor O'Leary: Not terribly long, probably 20-30 minutes maybe.

Reality TV World: The only bump in the road you two faced during the final leg was getting lost on your way to The Mirage. Could you talk about what happened there and how much time do you think you lost? It seemed like only five minutes.

Connor O'Leary: Yes, to be honest, I thought we were in good shape. Our cab driver knew where he was going and I think he took a different way with the perception it would be faster, but ultimately, I think it must've been a slower route.

David O'Leary: But I do remember Connor and his confusion about finding the employee entrance. Do you remember that?

Connor O'Leary: Yeah, but our cab driver had either worked there or knew a friend that had worked there, so he knew where he was going.

Above is the first half of Dave and Connor's exclusive interview with Reality TV World. Check back with us soon for the concluding portion.


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON GOOGLE NEWS