Riley Tejcek Biography
Riley Tejcek is an American Marine Corps officer, former Team USA bobsled pilot and former Division I softball player who competes on Season 39 of CBS’s The Amazing Race. She races alongside her mother, Ann-Marie Tejcek.
Before reality television, Riley built an unusual career combining the military and competitive sports. She played softball at George Washington University, became a U.S. Marine Corps officer and later competed internationally as a bobsled pilot.
Riley is also a wife and new mother. She and her husband, Danny Waldron, welcomed their son, Miles David, in 2026.
Who Is Riley Tejcek?
Riley Tejcek is a U.S. Marine Corps officer, athlete, author and reality television personality.
She was born in San Diego, California, but grew up in Carmel, Indiana. Sports were a major part of her childhood, eventually leading to a Division I softball scholarship at George Washington University.
While attending college, Riley made another major decision. She began the process of becoming a Marine Corps officer.
Her athletic career did not end with softball. After college, she moved into bobsled and eventually competed internationally for the United States.
In 2026, viewers saw another side of Riley when she joined her mother, Ann-Marie, on The Amazing Race Season 39.
Riley Tejcek Age and Birthday
Riley Elizabeth Tejcek was born on January 11, 1997, in San Diego, California. She is 29 years old in 2026. Although Riley was born in California, she grew up in Carmel, Indiana, and considers Indiana home.
Riley Tejcek Height
Riley stands 5 feet 7 inches tall, according to her official George Washington University softball player profile.
Her height is documented from her years as an NCAA Division I athlete rather than estimated from photographs or television appearances.
Riley’s athletic background extends from softball to bobsled, two sports requiring different combinations of speed, strength and coordination.
High School and Softball Career
Riley attended Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana, graduating in 2015. She was a four-year varsity softball starter.
During her high school career, Riley recorded a combined .342 batting average with 96 hits, 71 runs and 59 RBIs. She helped Carmel reach a sectional championship game in 2015 and was part of sectional and regional championship success earlier in her school career.
Riley was also a four-time scholar-athlete. Outside her school team, she competed for Indiana Magic Gold from 2011 to 2015. Her achievements helped her earn an athletic scholarship to play NCAA Division I softball.
George Washington University
Riley attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where she studied political science.
She played Division I softball for the university for four years while balancing academics and her growing interest in military service. Riley wore No. 23 and played in the infield.
As a senior in 2019, she appeared in a career-high 55 games and helped George Washington win 44 games and claim a share of the program’s first Atlantic 10 regular-season title.
Her college career also included academic recognition. She was named to the GW Athletics Academic Dean’s List and the Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
Riley graduated cum laude in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
College Softball Player Profile
Riley’s George Washington athlete profile provides a detailed record of her college career.
During her freshman season, she batted .228 with 18 hits, 14 runs and 12 RBIs. One of her standout performances came against Georgetown, when she recorded four hits and nine total bases.
She also played an important role as George Washington’s softball program developed into an Atlantic 10 contender.
By her senior year, the Colonials had reached a new level of success, and Riley was part of the 2019 team that earned the program’s first share of an A-10 regular-season championship.
Her college softball career gave her four years of experience competing at the NCAA Division I level before she moved into military service and eventually bobsled.
Why Did Riley Tejcek Join the Marines?
Riley did not arrive at college planning to become a Marine. Shortly after starting at George Washington University, she met a Marine recruiter. The encounter changed the direction of her career. She entered the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class while continuing to study and play Division I softball.
After graduating in 2019, Riley was commissioned as a second lieutenant. She later became a logistics officer and rose to the rank of captain.
Her Marine Corps career has included multiple duty stations and a deployment. She has also worked in roles connected to recruiting future Marine officers.
Team USA Bobsled Career
After finishing college softball, Riley initially believed her competitive sports career was over. That changed in 2020. She submitted a video for an online USA Bobsled tryout and began learning a completely different sport.
Riley eventually became a bobsled pilot and competed internationally with Team USA.
She was part of the 2022-23 Team USA National Bobsled Team and competed in two World Championships during her bobsled career. She also earned medals in Europa Cup and North American Cup competition.
Her journey attracted additional attention because she was simultaneously serving as an active-duty Marine officer.
Riley pursued the goal of reaching the 2026 Winter Olympics, but she later retired from bobsled before the Games.
She should therefore be described as a former Team USA bobsled pilot and former Olympic hopeful, not a 2026 Olympian.
Marine Corps Athlete of the Year
Riley’s achievements in sports while serving in the military earned recognition from the Marine Corps.
She was named Female Marine Corps Athlete of the Year for her accomplishments while balancing military responsibilities and competitive bobsled.
She has also used her experience in sports and the military to speak about leadership, discipline and encouraging women to pursue opportunities in traditionally male-dominated fields.
The Amazing Race Season 39
Riley joined the cast of The Amazing Race Season 39 with her mother, Ann-Marie Tejcek.
CBS identifies Riley as a 29-year-old Marine officer from San Diego, California, while Ann-Marie is a 56-year-old healthcare executive from Carmel, Indiana.
The mother and daughter had been fans of The Amazing Race for years and had talked about competing together.
Their opportunity eventually arrived with Season 39. The season features 13 teams racing around the world for a $1 million prize.
For Riley, the competition adds reality television to a résumé that already includes Division I softball, the Marine Corps and international bobsled.
Riley and Ann-Marie Tejcek
Riley’s Amazing Race partner is her mother, Ann-Marie Tejcek.
Ann-Marie has built a career in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry. Her professional background includes leadership work at Eli Lilly and Company.
Sports and competition were also important in the Tejcek household. Riley has said that her parents emphasized both academics and athletics while she and her younger sister were growing up.
That upbringing eventually helped Riley become a college athlete while maintaining the academic record needed to complete her degree.
The mother and daughter also share a competitive personality, something that became part of their story entering The Amazing Race.
Riley Tejcek Parents
Riley’s parents are Ann-Marie Tejcek and John Paul Tejcek. Her mother, Ann-Marie, is a healthcare executive who has held senior positions in the pharmaceutical industry. Her father, John Tejcek, also has an athletic background.
John was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 32nd round of the 1993 MLB Draft and played professional minor-league baseball as an outfielder. His Minor League Baseball record lists 282 hits, 22 home runs, 138 RBIs and 43 stolen bases during his career.
Riley therefore grew up in a family with a strong connection to competitive sports.
Sister
Riley has a younger sister named Delaney Tejcek. Her George Washington University athlete biography identifies Riley as the daughter of Ann-Marie and John Paul Tejcek and lists Delaney as her younger sister.
Riley has said that athletics and academics were strongly emphasized for both sisters while they were growing up.
Riley Tejcek Husband
Riley is married to Danny Waldron. Danny is a former Royal Marine, giving the couple a shared connection to military service.
Riley publicly referred to Danny as her fiancé in 2025 and later confirmed that they married. She has spoken about her husband in posts connected to both her personal life and military events. The couple now lives in the San Diego area.
Son and Motherhood
Riley and Danny welcomed a son named Miles David in 2026. Riley announced his arrival publicly and described becoming a mother as more important to her than her sporting trophies, military promotions and other professional accomplishments.
Motherhood began another stage of her life around the same period that audiences were getting to know her through The Amazing Race.
Season 39 was filmed before Miles was born, meaning viewers are seeing Riley’s race with her mother from an earlier point in her life.
Other Achievements
Riley’s career includes accomplishments outside the military and competitive sports. She has worked as a public speaker and is also a published children’s author.
Riley has additionally participated in military-related pageantry and held the title Ms. Military.
Her public work frequently focuses on leadership, resilience, athletics and encouraging women to pursue difficult goals.
Riley’s verified public Instagram presence is @riley.tejcek. Her account covers her Marine Corps career, athletics, family life and appearance on The Amazing Race. She also uses her platform to discuss her experiences transitioning away from elite sport after retiring from bobsled.
Riley Tejcek Quick Facts
- Full name: Riley Elizabeth Tejcek
- Date of birth: January 11, 1997
- Age: 29 in 2026
- Birthplace: San Diego, California
- Raised in: Carmel, Indiana
- Current location: San Diego, California
- Height: 5 feet 7 inches
- High school: Carmel High School
- College: George Washington University
- Degree: Political Science
- College sport: NCAA Division I softball
- Softball number: No. 23
- Military branch: United States Marine Corps
- Rank: Captain
- Bobsled: Former Team USA pilot
- Mother: Ann-Marie Tejcek
- Father: John Paul Tejcek
- Sister: Delaney Tejcek
- Husband: Danny Waldron
- Son: Miles David
- Known for: The Amazing Race Season 39, Team USA bobsled and U.S. Marine Corps
- Amazing Race partner: Ann-Marie Tejcek
- Instagram: @riley.tejcek
Riley Tejcek on The Amazing Race
Riley entered The Amazing Race 39 with experience handling pressure in several very different environments.
She had already competed as a Division I softball player, served as a Marine officer and raced internationally in a bobsled before joining her mother on the CBS competition.
Those experiences form the background viewers see when Riley and Ann-Marie compete together.
Whatever their eventual placement, The Amazing Race adds another chapter to Riley’s career rather than defining her entire public profile. Her military service, college athletics, bobsled career and family remain important parts of her biography beyond Season 39.
More Amazing Race 39 Contestants
Season 39 includes 13 teams with backgrounds ranging from professional sports to medicine, education and business.
Ali Krieger and Joanna Lohman compete together as former professional soccer players and mothers.
Riley competes with her mother, Ann-Marie Tejcek, a healthcare executive from Indiana.
