‘The Challenge 21st Century’ Concludes with Record Ratings and a Champion Crowned

Caracol Televisión’s long-running reality competition series, El Desafío (The Challenge) concluded its 21st Century edition with a resounding success, achieving its highest final episode ratings in a decade. The season, which premiered in July 2025, captivated audiences with its thrilling challenges and unexpected twists, solidifying its position as Colombia’s most successful reality indicate.

Record-Breaking Viewership

The final episode of The Challenge 21st Century garnered a 14.4 rating point and a 60.6% share, marking the highest audience for a final episode of the format in the last ten years [Caracol Internacional]. The premiere episode also achieved impressive numbers, with 12.9 rating points, a 56.3% share, and a reach of 17.7%, translating to 8,754,895 viewers [Caracol Internacional]. Throughout its 138 episodes, the season maintained an average share of 53% and 11.3 rating points.

Anthony Zambrano Named Champion

Athlete Anthony Zambrano, an Olympic medalist from Tokyo 2020, emerged as the champion of Desafío Siglo XXI, taking home a prize of $160,000 USD. As a special bonus from sponsor BetPlay, Zambrano will also travel to support the Colombian National Team at the Soccer World Cup, sharing the prize with his partner in the final phase, Miryan.

International Adaptations and Production Innovation

El Desafío, an original Caracol Televisión format, has proven its global appeal with successful adaptations in Mexico, the United States, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, and Russia [Caracol Internacional]. The production employed cutting-edge technology, including 22 state-of-the-art robotic cameras and 14 broadcast cameras with specialized lenses, to capture the action with precision and detail [Caracol Internacional]. Super slow-motion cameras were also integrated to highlight key moments.

Key Takeaways

• The Challenge 21st Century achieved record-breaking ratings for its final episode, marking a decade high for the series.
• The season’s premiere reached nearly 9 million viewers in Colombia.
• Anthony Zambrano was crowned champion and awarded $160,000 USD, plus a trip to the Soccer World Cup.
• The format has been successfully adapted internationally in multiple countries.
• The production utilized advanced camera technology for high-quality footage.