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The Challenge, season 40, episode 18, aired on January 1. It was the first part of the two-part finale. The contestants competed in a challenge that tested their swimming skills. The challenge was divided into three checkpoints, each requiring them to complete three different tasks.
While Jordan won all three checkpoints from the men's team, Michele secured the first one in the women's team, and Jenny bagged the other two. In the season's history, Michele went into the Arena thrice, the highest among the other three finalists — Jenny, Tori, and Rachel — who have touched the bottom twice.
Michele's swimming skills took center stage as she swam to the win in the first checkpoint. Her performance wasn't up to the mark in the second checkpoint, though, because she came in last. However, the last checkpoint was a game changer for her as she covered up and secured second place. Fans of The Challenge came to X to praise Michele for her first checkpoint win.
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"Michele beating Jenny in the swim…. Oh I love to see it," said another.
"I’m calling a Michelle women’s victory!! Girl is not doing bad, I think she’s gonna count tf out of these coins and get an OKAY Karma vote," added a third fan.
"Great start by Michele. Not surprised by Jordan getting first," another wrote.
Fans of The Challenge also pointed out that Michele's win was noteworthy because the other contestants underestimated her win.
"Challenge casuals have been calling Michele weak all season & calling her elims faulty just for her to destroy Jenny/Rachel/Tori in the first portion of the final," an X user wrote.
"I am so proud of Michele for making her first final despite the odds being stacked against her. She's against three champions but if I believe in anyone to exceed expectations I believe in her," another user wrote.
"So proud of Michele. She's even doing better than the men. Only Jordan and Jenny are doing better than her," commented one.
"YESSS MICHELE FIRST PLACE, LETS GO," another wrote.
The final challenge and the results of The Challenge season 40, episode 18
Part 1 of the finale episode had an overnight challenge, while the second half of the challenge will be held the next day and will be aired in the second episode. In part 1, though, the first checkpoint had the contestants swim to the shore to solve a puzzle. After solving it, they had to swim back to their boat, Sinister.
Michele secured the lead, with Jenny coming in second, Tori third, and Rachel last. For the second checkpoint, they had to dive down to a Ghost Ship and memorize symbols, which they had to recreate after resurfacing. Jenny took the first spot in this challenge, Michele came in last, and Tori and Rachel came in second and third place, respectively.
For the third checkpoint, they had to swim to the shore and climb 1,000 stairs. They then followed clues to solve a puzzle before swimming back to Sinister. Michele turned her game around and advanced to second place, after Jenny and before Tori and Rachel. As for the men, Jordan secured first place in all three checkpoints, with Kyland coming in last.
The finale part 2 of The Challenge season 40 will be aired on MTV next Wednesday at 8 pm ET.
