Who wins The Challenge: World Championship?

Who wins The Challenge: World Championship? Pictured: Jordan, Kaycee and Troy in the finale of THE CHALLENGE: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, season 1, episode 12 streaming on Paramount+
Jordan, Kaycee and Troy in The Challenge: World Championship (Image credit: Jonne Roriz/Paramount+)

After weeks of brutal physical tests, who wins The Challenge: World Championship?

"You've all faced trials and tribulations all the way to this point and this is going to be one of the most difficult finals ever," host T.J. Lavin told our four remaining teams — Team UK's Jordan and Kaz, Team Australia's Troy and Kaycee and Team USA's Theo and Sarah, and Tori and Danny — at the top of Wednesday night's big finale. "You all are going to face your fears." 

Indeed, the legends and global MVPs were literally hopping aboard the Fear Express, their moving home base for T.J.'s final. Day one kicks off with the "Loops of Hell," a 16-mile running trek with four checkpoints along the way, from puzzle solving to "sick smoothie" chugging. 

Even in this first phase, the competitors are struggling. "We're all exhausted... we're out in the sun, up rocky terrain, doing miles and miles. Our bodies are literally shutting down," Tori says. "Everything about this final is so challenging. I don't even know how long it's gonna last. This could just be the start of it," Kaz worries, adding: "I have never had to push my body this hard." 

Nobody has a rougher time though than Theo, who suffers an injury early on. "I made the biggest f*ck up ever," he says. "I slip in a crack and my foot falls underneath me. I'm in absolute agony right now. Absolute disaster. It's going to be a long, long day." 

Unfortunately for Theo and his partner Sarah, that long day is cut short when his ankle swells and he is no longer able to continue running. "My ankle is finished. I'm so sorry," Theo tells Sarah as the medical team sweeps in. Later that evening back on the train, T.J. informs the remaining The Challenge: World Championship cast members: "Unfortunately we lost one team. Sarah and Theo were medically unable to continue so they are out."

Along with the personally sad but competitively good news that they have one less team to beat comes an even better announcement: T.J. brings them to the train's Luxury Liner car for a feast of a dinner complete with champagne. That is, until he tells them an hour later that they cannot sleep that night and if they do try to sneak a wink, they'll be awakened via a shock collar fixed around their necks. 

With barely any sleep, the competitors then must tackle a literal "Race to the Finish" the next day, a brutal bike ride followed by an endurance run. Troy and Kaycee finish off the bike ride first but get overtaken by Kaz and Jordan in the running portion when Kaycee's body starts to feel the effects of the punishing comp. Troy literally carries his partner on his back while running, but his efforts don't stop Jordan and Kaz from besting them, and Team UK ultimately takes the title of The Challenge's first-ever World Champions. It is Jordan's fourth win and Kaz's second. 

"You become a Champion, you get a nice check. And that check allows me the freedom in my life to help and go to the places that need it the most," Jordan said early on in the episode. "Winning is huge but having the freedom to help others... that's what I want."

Fans react to who wins The Challenge: World Championship:

Most The Challenge viewers were happy for the long-time competitor and his British partner, but fans had plenty to say about the finale on social media: 

All episodes of The Challenge: World Championship are now available to stream on Paramount Plus.

Christina Izzo

Christina Izzo is the Deputy Editor of My Imperfect Life. More generally, she is a writer-editor covering food and drink, travel, lifestyle and culture in New York City. She was previously the Features Editor at Rachael Ray In Season and Reveal, as well as the Food & Drink Editor and chief restaurant critic at Time Out New York. 

When she’s not doing all that, she can probably be found eating cheese somewhere.