Texas State alumnus Yeremi Hykel wins MTV’s The Challenge

Yeremi Hykel never backs down from a challenge.

He proved it on international television when he was crowned MTV’s The Challenge: Vets and New Threats winner, along with veteran competitor Olivia Kaiser, taking home $425,000 in prize money ($212,500 each) and the honor of winning as a newcomer on the show.

The Challenge, hosted by BMX professional cyclist T.J. Lavin, is a competition that pushes contestants through physically and mentally challenging tasks for a shot at a cash grand prize. This season, veterans of the show were paired with newcomers and closed out with a two-day final challenge in the Andes Mountains. After a loss at a previous checkpoint the day before, Hykel and Kaiser started the second day in last place, which would have meant no prize money.

Instead of giving up, the duo persisted, and it paid off when they passed all three teams ahead of them to secure the win.

As Hykel, who earned his BBA in marketing in 2024 at Texas State University’s McCoy College of Business, made the final ascent up the Andes — the season’s toughest challenge — it marked the culmination of years of dedication and sacrifice through military service, late-night classes, and running ultramarathons.

“The first moment was like, thank God, this is done,” he said, referring to the moment he and Kaiser stood at the summit of the mountain after winning. “It was a life-changing moment. I just felt like everything that I had done in my life, all of the hard work, all of the suffering that I've chosen to go through, it all paid off.”

Hykel grew up in Kyle, Texas, after moving from New Mexico at the age of 12. At 17, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, which he credits with helping him become more resilient and building the confidence that would carry him through some of the more trying moments of his life. While still an active member of the military, he was also taking night classes. He would eventually leave the military to pursue his education full-time.

“It was an incredibly difficult time period,” he said. “ I felt like nobody was going to support me or help me, and that it was up to me to achieve my goals. I found out, fortunately, later that it is not the case. There are great people in this world who have been there to support me. But [being in the Marine Corps] helped me believe in myself more.”

At 21, after leaving the Marines, he transferred to Texas State, drawn by the familiar college-town community and proximity to his mother. At McCoy College, mentors helped shape his outlook on professionalism and service as a marketing student.

“At the end of my Marine Corps career, [my mother]  was struggling with some significant health issues, so I wanted to come back to this area to be close to her and be a support system for her,” Hykel said.

He continued: “I love this school. I tell people all the time that if you get the opportunity to find this place … you are privileged and lucky because it has a special and beautiful kind of magic. The community that is here, the town of San Marcos, the people who teach here, and the people who go to school here are amazing. There were so many professors who had a profound impact on me and helped [shape] who I am, such as Vicki West and Steven Rayburn. They made an important impact on my life in teaching me that you can be a good person, you can believe in yourself, you can work hard, and you can serve the community.”

Before winning The Challenge, Hykel made his television debut on The Amazing Race season 35, competing alongside his younger brother Liam. The experience helped them repair an otherwise strained relationship and taught them the value of trust and communication.

“That experience taught us that nothing is really more important than love and family,” he said. “It was the first time in our entire life that we probably worked together at the highest level that we ever had, and it made us extremely close.”

That experience proved crucial when Hykel entered The Challenge as a new threat. He said he drew attention right away after winning the opening mountain race, making him a target for the rest of the competition. Though he was anxious as a newcomer, he approached the competition with a fighter’s mindset.

“Coming into the season as a rookie is scary,” he said. “You're essentially walking into a house with a bunch of people who don't want you there. I didn't want to dim my light so it made other people feel comfortable about their strengths. I chose to be who I am and compete with my full capabilities.”

Hykel said he saw the prize money as a chance to end his family’s financial hardships. His mother had lived in Section 8 housing for years but is now in a safer home, with more stability and security.

“My family has never had a significant amount of money,” he said. “When I went to this competition, the biggest thing that pushed me to perform the way that I did was knowing that I'm not just there for myself. I'm fighting for my family and to change their lives. My mom has been fighting for me since I was born, so I want to be able to give back to her.”

Hykel said he is also grateful for the opportunity to represent Texas. Although he wasn’t born in the Lone Star State, he proudly claims the Texan identity.

“It means everything,” he said. “I love Texas because of the pride that our people have for who we are. Being able to support that community everywhere I go and compete as a Texan is amazing. It's more difficult to live here sometimes, and because of that, it creates a certain type of strength and pride.”

Now that he’s built a presence in the reality TV space, Hykel said he is open to new opportunities, including future competitions, expanding his modeling career, and pursuing his lifelong passion for world travel.

As a marketing graduate, veteran, reality TV competitor, and ultramarathon runner, Hykel encourages others to lean into adversity and discomfort.

“My biggest advice to people who are going through it, especially when it seems hard, is let it be hard,” he said. “Life means the most when it's difficult. Most times, the biggest prize and the most value are always going to come on the other side of suffering.” ✯