“From ‘I Do’ to ‘I Dare” – how married couple Julia & Olivia made their mark on The Amazing Race Canada

Mrs. & Mrs. Julia Viola and Olivia Curto celebrate their first wedding anniversary today! The power couple tied the knot at a beautiful Italian villa-inspired ceremony in Toronto last August surrounded by friends and family, so it’s only fitting they celebrate their one-year sipping espresso and eating gelato in Rome, Italy, after what can only be described as the race of a lifetime! To say their journey is inspirational is an understatement.

When TEAM JULIVIA, as I affectionately call them (or TEAM BAM BAM, as fans of the show have also come to know them) are not training for IronMan triathlons, running marathons, cycling, kayaking, swimming, scuba diving, hiking across Ontario or getting engaged at the top of a mountain in British Columbia, (to name just a few activities they find themselves doing for fun), it’s no secret they like to cozy up at home with a good snack and watch their favourite show: The Amazing Race Canada.

After three past attempts, TEAM JULIVIA auditioned for The Amazing Race Canada for a fourth time, this time for the show’s anticipated tenth season (currently airing on CTV).

Serendipitously, the pair got a callback and were officially cast! A hallmark moment as the show’s tenth season amazingly coincides with the couple’s tenth anniversary as an out and proud couple!

“We love to do things together and create memories,” Julia says in a promotional video clip. “We just knew that – one day -we would be on this show and here we are!”

“We’re going in with pure hearts,” Olivia adds. We don’t really wanna backstab anyone or put a target on our backs. We just want to run a clean, safe, healthy race.”

When I say these two women are among the most loving, outgoing, and tough-as-nails women I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing – I make no exaggerations.

Earlier this year, Julia and Olivia hit the small screen for the first time, alongside myself and our parents, Sam and Emma Viola, on a single yet memorable episode of Family Feud Canada (Season 5, Episode 94). In a controversial albeit exciting episode, we went head to head with famed tennis player Eugenie Bouchard, and her family. $ 10,000 was on the line, and while we didn’t win the money, we felt like we won Canada’s hearts. We received an outpour of support with comments online calling to “Bring The Violas Back” and “Justice For The Violas!” After all, it was an incredible experience we shared on national television, and I couldn’t be a more proud son and big brother…

Speaking of Big Brother… Despite TEAM JULIVIA’s honest intentions and impressive standings during The Amazing Race Canada, they found themselves at the center of one of the show’s most drama-filled episodes as former Big Brother Canada winner Kevin Martin (and his new girlfriend Gurleen Mann) decided to “play the game” by U-Turning Julia and Olivia after vocally promising not to. The move didn’t go over well with fans or fellow teams and nearly ended Julia and Olivia’s race…

TEAM JULIVIA placed next to last in that episode. Still, the power couple prevailed, not only surpassing the show’s self-proclaimed “snakes” Kevin and Gurleen, but winning the very next leg of the race in Episode 5, where teams had to eat pig brain/bison testicles, memorize and flawlessly execute professional football plays and Ukranian folk dances, and so much more.

The episode also spawned a hilariously viral moment with nearly 1 million views on Instagram with Julia proclaiming “We don’t do testicles” followed by wretched gags from Olivia, all while trying to stomach boiled pig brain. Gross!

The episode’s title is another memorable quote, this time from Olivia, as she stares out the car window feeling ill after eating pig brain: ” I smell like carcass,” she says with tears welling up. The pair have an abundance of hilarious moments throughout their six episodes; unintentionally becoming the season’s comedic relief. So it’s hard to pick a favourite quote… “Don’t smile at me” from Julia has to be one of mine.

Still, TEAM JULIVIA went from last to first in one of The Amazing Race Canada‘s most vindicative moments of all time winning an all-expenses-paid dream honeymoon to Italy along with $10,000 courtesy of the show’s sponsors, Expedia. Look who’s smiling now!

As a writer, I’m impressed, as a fan of The Amazing Race Canada, I’m elated, and as a brother, I’m full of love and pride for what my amazing sister and her equally amazing wife have accomplished in their first year of marriage.

Happy First Wedding Anniversary, TEAM JULIVIA!
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