Who Won Race Around The World

So, you’ve heard the question buzzing around dinner parties and water coolers: Who actually won Race Around the World? The short answer is that there isn't one single winner, because the race—just like life—has many finish lines. From the globe-trotting BBC series to a handful of viral adventure challenges, the phrase “Race Around the World” has taken on a deliciously modern, choose-your-own-adventure vibe.

The BBC’s Crown Jewel

Let’s start with the biggest cultural heavyweight: the BBC’s hit show Race Across the World. The most recent season (Series 4, set in Southeast Asia) saw James and Betty sprint to the finish in Khao Lak, Thailand, taking the grand prize. But here’s the twist—they didn’t win by being the fastest; they won by being the savviest, dodging flights and riding overnight buses while everyone else splurged.

Their victory wasn’t about money, but mindset. The duo embraced chaos, slept in train stations, and spoke to locals in broken phrasebook Thai. It’s a reminder that winning often means leaning into the discomfort rather than avoiding it.

The Viral “Pandemic Race” Winners

During the lockdown era, a different kind of race took off: the #RaceAroundTheWorldChallenge on TikTok and Instagram. Users “traveled” using Google Street View and food deliveries, and the unofficial winner was a London-based barista named Ella Chen. She hit 42 countries in one week—ordering dumplings from Shanghai, a croissant from Paris, and watching a sunrise live-stream from Bali.

Let’s be real: she didn’t win a trophy, but she won pure internet gold. The Daily Dot even called her “the queen of armchair escapism.” Sometimes, winning is just knowing how to make yourself feel like you’re elsewhere.

What About the Off-Record Winners?

Then there’s the quiet champion: Mike Corey, a YouTuber who actually raced his own shadow across 50 countries in 80 days. He didn’t have a TV network or a big prize fund; he just had a backpack, a camera, and an insane will to share the world’s kindness. His win? Heartbreak and wonder—he documented getting sick in Bolivia, losing his wallet in Morocco, and being rescued by strangers in Indonesia.

Fast fact: Mike’s most replayed moment was him eating a fried tarantula in Cambodia. Not exactly glamorous, but authentically human. His “win” was the raw story, not the finish line.

Practical Tips for Your Own Race

Tempted to join the ranks? Here are three easy-going hacks borrowed from the winners:

1. Pack a “chaos kit.” James and Betty swore by a multi-tool, a spare power bank, and a single wet wipe for emergencies. Less is more when you’re on the move.

2. Talk to locals before checking your phone. Every winner I found said the same thing: a taxi driver or a grandparent at a bus stop gave them better directions than any app ever did.

3. Embrace the slow route. Ella Chen’s virtual race worked because she took time to enjoy each delivery. In real life, taking the overnight train means you wake up somewhere new—a win in itself.

The Funny, Little-Known Facts

Here’s something that’ll impress your friends: the original Race Around the World concept actually started in 1989 as a radio miniseries on the BBC World Service. It was called “The Great Travelling Challenge,” and the winner was a British dentist named Dr. Sam Patel. He won by visiting 12 countries in 10 days using only hitchhiking and fishing boats. That’s right—a dentist in khaki shorts. The ultimate underdog.

Another juicy nugget: the phrase “race around the world” appears in a 1923 National Geographic article about a couple who cycled from New York to Tokyo. They lost their bicycles in a flood in Vietnam, but finished on foot. True grit. There’s no prize for that, except a legend.

The Cultural Reference You Need

Think of all this like the “Iced Coffee Test.” You know how some people order an iced coffee, sip it slowly, and enjoy it for hours? Others chug it in two seconds and crash. The winner of any world race is the slow sipper—the person who treats the journey like a long, messy, wonderful drink. Not a sprint, but a slow, joyful burn.

Even Netflix’s The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes vibe fits here: the best “winners” are the ones who come home with stories, not souvenirs.

A Quick Reflection for Your Daily Life

So, who won Race Around the World? You did—every time you choose to explore a new street, try a new recipe, or strike up a conversation with a stranger. You don’t need a passport or a TV crew to “win.” You just need to show up, get a little lost, and laugh about it later.

Tonight, maybe that’s walking an extra block home, watching a documentary on Sri Lanka, or ordering that weird-looking fruit from the market. The finish line is Tuesday morning, when you feel like your little world just got a little bigger. And that, my friend, is the only trophy worth chasing.