Wednesday, October 25, 2023.- With a spectacular finish, American athlete Rachel Stege claimed the gold medal in the 1,500 meters final, narrowly defeating the top local contender in the pool, Kristel Köbrich, who had to settle for the silver medal.

Stege's time of 16:13.59 also set a new Pan American record.

The Centro Acuático del Estadio Nacional was boiling, as "The Cobra" enjoyed unwavering support from the packed stands.

From the 200-meter mark, the 38-year-old local favorite dominated much of the race but couldn't keep up with the pace of the young Stege (20 years) in the closing stages. She ended up relinquishing the lead in the final lap, to the disappointment of the Chilean audience.

With her second-place finish, Köbrich became the Chilean female athlete with the most Pan American medals, accumulating six in a record that includes gold in the 800 meters in Guadalajara in 2011, silver in the 1,500 meters in Lima 2019 and Santiago 2023, and the 800 meters in Toronto 2015, as well as two bronze medals in the 400 meters in Guadalajara 2011 and the 800 meters in Santo Domingo 2003.

Behind Stege and Köbrich, Brazilian athlete Viviane Jungblut (16:19.89) completed the podium.

Written by Pedro Marín Roldán; translated by Andrés Castro / Santiago 2023 via Photosport
Photo: Daniel Apuy / Santiago 2023 via Photosport