The Challenge: 10 Fun Facts About Host T.J. Lavin

From his BMX racing honors, music, and acting career to his private family life and upbringing, The Challenge host, T.J. Lavin, has had quite a life.

The Challenge host TJ lavin poses with a Tupac shirt and with his wife Roxanne in the desert

As the host of MTV's The Challenge and various spinoffs since the 2005-06 season, T.J. Lavin has been the ideal spokesman for the extreme sports reality competition series. As someone with a history of his own impressive athletic achievements, Lavin brings a level of authority and legitimacy to the game show that viewers can tell is the real deal. As such, the players take his advice to heart.

With season 37 of The Challenge currently underway, it's past overdue that fans of the series learn a few personal factoids, tidbits, and fun trivial nuggets about T.J. Lavin.

10 He Was Born In Las Vegas & He's a Sagittarius

TV Lavin clasps hands and wears a parka and beanie on The Challenge

The first thing fans may not know about T.J. Lavin is that the initials of his first name stand for Thomas Joseph. According to MDDailyRecord, Thomas Joseph Lavin was born in Las Vegas on December 7, 1976, and continues to call Sin City his home to this day.

The 44-year-old Sagittarian host of the beloved MTV reality TV series has all the astrological hallmarks you'd expect from someone born on December 7th, including a cheery disposition as a host, winning success as an athlete, worldly wisdom he imparts to contestants, and successful forays into art and music (more to come).

9 He Was A Professional Dirt Jumping Cyclist By 19

TJ lavin poses on his BMX bike at dusk by a mountainside

Lavin began riding bikes at the age of two and developed a specialty in bicycle motocross (BMX) until he quit to pursue dirt jumping. As reported in the same MDDailyRecord article mentioned above, four years later, Lavin became a professional dirt-jumping cyclist at just age 19.

In his professional career, Lavin has competed at the highest level at the X Games, Gravity Games, The Dew Action Sports Tour, and much more. Lavin was crowned the "King of Dirt" in 1995 after winning the DK Dirt Circuit championship, European Championship, and Crazy Freakin' Biker (CFB) championship.

8 He Has 10 X-Games Medals

TJ Lavin smiles while posing in front of trees for The Chaellnege promo

Lavin won a total of 10 X Games medals from 1996 to 2005 and still ranks as one of only two riders to a gold medal in Dirt Jumping more than once (1997 & 1999). According to X Games, Lavin has earned two gold, one silver, and three bronze medals at the competition.

Lavin added another X Games gold medal when he competed in the Australian leg of the tour. In 2004, Lavin made a valiant return to the track after separating both of his clavicles, underscoring his toughness, determination, and relentless will to succeed no matter what.

7 He Has A Backyard Racetrack

TJ Lavin gives speech to The Challenge players on The Challenge

According to Las Vegas Weekly, Lavin has a backyard racetrack that he uses for fun and to help his friends train with new tricks. The one-acre dirt track is outfitted with multiple trails and dirt jumps that he says are "way more technical than a Dew Tour" and that "when you get to the level where you can ride here, it's 90 percent mental."

With an unwavering dedication to the sport, Lavin says he spends "at least two hours a day out here, minimum. Some days are 12, 13-hour days out here just digging. I love it. It's home to me."

6 He's Has A Ton Of Sponsorship Deals & A Net Worth Of $9M

TJ Lavin poses in the woods for The Challenge promo

Due to his legendary status in the world of BMX, Lavin has enjoyed a host of high-profile sponsors over his career. He is currently sponsored by Monster Energy Drink, Headrush, S&M Bikes, Kicker, and Lavs Labs (MDDailyRecord).

Combined with his hosting duties, which have helped retain The Challenge's status as one of MTV's most popular reality shows in 2021, Lavin has amassed a net worth of roughly $9 million, according to Exactnetworth.com. Lavin is even the subject of "King of Dirt," a photorealistic painting by artist, Bert Ernie.

5 He's Married & Has A Daughter

JT Lavin kisses his wife Roxanne on the cheek

According to People, after being together for eight years, Lavin and his longtime girlfriend, Roxanne Siordia got married on their anniversary on November 2, 2012. Their lowkey wedding ceremony took place at Las Vegas City Hall.

According to Lavin, "I knew I was going to marry her the second I met her. We thought about doing it at the drive-thru but we couldn't go through with it, so I said I was down with City Hall. Fancy weddings aren't our thing." Lavin has since adopted Raquel, Roxanne's daughter from a prior relationship.

4 He's Appeared On Cribs - Twice!

As a longtime MTV mainstay, Lavin appeared on an episode of the once-popular reality TV show, Cribs, twice. The first time came in 2002 when he was a bachelor, and his sprawling Las Vegas abode was adorned with pianos, pool tables, and other accouterments for living single.

In August 2021, Lavin reinvited the MTV Cribs' crew back into the same house from nearly 20 years prior to showcase how it has evolved now that he is a married man and a father. The makeover is an unrecognizable upgrade of the house from 2002, highlighting just how far Lavin has come and how successful his path has been in the process.

3 He Also Has A Music Career

TJ Lavin plays guitar for his dog on MTV Cribs

Another fun fact about T.J. Lavin is his tertiary music career. Lavin taught himself how to play piano as a child and has built a recording studio in his home, which he calls Lavs Labs. His first album, "LAVS the First Set" was released in 2007.

In 2008, Lavin released the single "Soldier," a heartfelt tribute to his close friend Stephen Murray, a BMX rider who sustained a catastrophic spinal injury during the AST Dew Tour. Lavin has also sung on tracks by Tsunami Boys and Suburban Noize.

2 He Even Acts!

Ely wears a hood in the woods in A Monster Among Men

In addition to his music career, Lavin has also dabbled in cinema a few times. After producing and starring as Ely in the 2013 independent horror film, Beast: A Monster Among Men, Lavin recently played a version of himself as a BMX rider in the punk-rock drama, Viena and the Fantomes.

Lavin also composed the original music for the 2007 short film, Freak Accident, and was given a credit of gratitude for the 2019 documentary, Any One Of Us, which chronicles the difficulty of athletes recovering from severe spinal injuries.

1 He Has His Own Video Game

Rider approaches a dirt mound in TJ Lavin's Ultimate BMX video game

Much like professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, Lavin has a videogame named after him. Released in 2000 for Game Boy Color and 2001 for PS1, MTV Sports: T.J. Lavin's Ultimate BMX is a sports game that allows players to race bikes, dirt jump, perform elaborate tricks, and much more.

Unfortunately, the extreme sports game drew mostly negative reviews, earning a 47 Metascore and 50 percent GameRankings score with Metacritic. Combined with underwhelming sales, the game was not turned into a franchise. Still, not many people can say they have a video game bearing their likeness.

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