Dario Medrano’s Journey on The Challenge All Stars: Rivals
In a surprising turn of events on The Challenge All Stars: Rivals, Dario Medrano found himself teamed up with his former girlfriend, Ashley Kelsey, after a six-year silence between them. During an insightful interview with Parade on March 22, 2025, Medrano shared his perspective on this unexpected pairing.
“Overall, she’s a good partner. She’s athletic. She is younger than most of the other women on that season. So it was a good situation,” he stated.
While their competitive journey ended prematurely in episode 8, Medrano noted the team was able to confront their past issues together, reflecting a growth in their relationship dynamics.
Rekindling Old Connections
Dario and Ashley’s paths first crossed during The Challenge Season 29, where they were romantically involved for several years before their breakup. Their reunion on All Stars: Rivals brought a unique challenge, compelling them to work cohesively despite past grievances. In discussing the partnership, Medrano expressed his lack of anxiety regarding their past, emphasizing:
“Ashley’s not really a confrontational person. She’s very nice. And while we hadn’t talked in six years, I knew that, within a couple of minutes, we could discuss whatever we needed to discuss, if there was anything to discuss, and move forward.”
Medrano acknowledged that he could have handled their past breakup more effectively, citing his immaturity at the age of 25. He highlighted that the challenges of The Challenge provided them with an invaluable opportunity for open dialogue.
Strategic Moves and Conflicts
As Medrano focused on mending his partnership with Kelsey, he found himself entangled in a growing dispute with fellow contestant Leroy Garrett. When it came time for eliminations, Medrano chose to stay silent regarding Garrett’s name being mentioned, believing discretion was the better part of valor.
“There was a train coming down the tracks. Whether Leroy liked it, it didn’t matter. It was going to happen,” he explained.
Garrett perceived Medrano’s silence as an act of betrayal, exacerbating tensions when his partner, Devin Walker, confronted Medrano directly. He reflected on being unfairly positioned as the scapegoat:
“I got made the scapegoat, and it was easy to just blame me. I didn’t sit there with a whiteboard and put this all together.”
Despite not being the architect of the elimination plan, Medrano acknowledged the emotional complexity of the situation with Garrett.
Elimination and Lessons Learned
Ultimately, Medrano and Kelsey managed to navigate through one elimination round before facing defeat against Turbo and Nany Gonzalez. Medrano recognized the team’s strategic shortcomings, stating:
“Ashley and I just didn’t have deep allies. And the allies we had, we kind of didn’t really use them to the best of our ability.”
Reflecting on his overall experience, Medrano expressed gratitude for the chance to reconnect with Kelsey, noting:
“I’m glad I had the opportunity to talk to her. Because there were times when I could have reached out, but because I was in another relationship, out of respect for her, I didn’t think it was appropriate.”
For fans eager to catch the latest developments, new episodes of The Challenge All Stars: Rivals air every Wednesday at 8 PM on MTV.