2025 World Championships
- July 27 – August 3, 2025 (pool swimming)
- Singapore, Singapore
- World Aquatics Championships Arena
- LCM (50m)
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Less than two weeks shy of her 40th birthday, Chilean distance veteran Kristel Kobrich made it into the top 16 of the women’s 1500 at the 2025 World Championships.
Kobrich rocked a 16:22.66 this morning in Singapore, reaping 14th place. This means that if the 1500 were to (God forbid) have semifinals like most events, we would see a nearly 40-year-old competing in the night session.
Kobrich was the top finisher from Latin America in the event. She holds her country’s national record, standing at 15:54.30 from 2013 World Championships in Barcelona.
This feat would be impressive in any event, but Kobrich stands out among other late-30s swimmers because of the events she specializes in. Virtually all of the sports oldest stars competed in 50s and 100s – think Nicolas Santos, Dara Torres, Anthony Ervin, and Therese Alshammar. Kobrich, on the other hand, competes in an events characterized by high volume training and many athletes that peak in their teen years.
In fact, Kobrich is now the oldest competitor at this World Championships in the pool. She was born in Santiago on August 8th, 1985, making her 39 years and 352 days old at the start of competition. The next closest athlete is Cameroon’s Charly Ndjoume at 38 years old.
Currently based in Cordoba, Argentina, Kobrich holds six Pan-American Games medals, including a gold in the 800 free from 2011 Guadalajara. Her medals from this meet span 20 years, with earliest coming from 2003 and the latest from 2023. She also raced to a bronze medal at the 2010 Pan-Pacific championships in Irvine.
Kobrich will compete in the 800 free later in the week.
Other South America Day 2 News
- Best known as a sprint freestyler, Gui Caribe added “butterfly Worlds finalist” to his resume tonight. Caribe finished 8th in the 50 fly, touching in 22.92 – just .01 off his best time he went yesterday. The Bahia-born and UTK-trained athlete sets himself up well for the 50 and 100 free, events in which he earned silver medals in at the 2024 Short Course Worlds.
- Ulises Saravia made the 100 back semifinal at a major international meet for the first time. He swam a 53.74 in prelims to give Argentina its first night swim of the meet. In finals, he stopped the clock in 54.32 to place 16th.
- Argentina’s Macarena Ceballos gave her 100 breaststroke continent record a scare. Ceballos posted a 1:06.99, just missing the semifinal with a 17th place finish. Her South American record stands at 1:06.69 from the heats of the 2023 World Championships.
National Records
- Edhy Vargas, Chile: men’s 100 back — 56.59
What an absolute pleasure hosting and supporting Kristel and her Coach Prof. Daniel Garimaldi here in Singapore as they prepared for these World Championships. Unassuming and humble, disciplined and focussed – with both taking their time to share their vast experience and lessons with me. A rare and absolute privilege to meet them and know them and learn from them. Thank you Kristel. Thank you Professor Garimaldi. Congratulations on a remarkable career ! Wishing you every success !