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- THE MOST DIFFICULT OBSTACLE COURSE
IN THE WORLD, MOUNT MIDORIYAMA,
WAS METICULOUSLY CONSTRUCTED IN LAS VEGAS,
BRUTAL OBSTACLE BY BRUTAL OBSTACLE.
100 ATHLETES ATTEMPTED TO CONQUER IT.
- NO!
OH!
- ONE CAME CLOSE...
- BRENT STEFFENSEN HAS JUST MADE HISTORY.
- BUT COULDN'T DEFEAT THE MOUNTAIN.
- NO! AND HE'S OUT!
- THIS YEAR THE SEARCH CONTINUES,
AS WE TRAVEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY
LOOKING FOR A CHAMPION,
FROM BALTIMORE TO DENVER,
FROM MIAMI TO LOS ANGELES.
- 967 MILES TRAVELED.
- THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I LIVE FOR.
- I'VE BEEN WAITING FIVE YEARS TO BE ON THIS SHOW.
- I'VE BEEN DOING NOTHING BUT JUST TRAINING HARD.
- THE TOUGHEST QUALIFYING COURSES EVER
AND NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN OBSTACLES AWAIT THEM.
HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF COMPETITORS
FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE...
- I WORK ON A RANCH. - I'M A GARBAGE MAN.
- HIGH-SCHOOL TEACHER. - E.R. PHYSICIAN.
- FOOTBALL PLAYER. - OLYMPIAN.
- FIREFIGHTER. - STUNTWOMAN.
- ALL WITH THE SAME GOAL--
CONQUER THE QUALIFYING COURSES
AND MOVE ONE STEP CLOSER
TO EARNING A TICKET TO LAS VEGAS
FOR A SHOT AT THE GRANDEST AND MOST CHALLENGING
OF ALL OBSTACLE COURSES
AND THE $1/2 MILLION GRAND PRIZE.
THERE WILL BE PAIN.
[all groaning]
THERE WILL BE GLORY,
AND JUST MAYBE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER,
THERE WILL BE
AN AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
- WELCOME TO MIAMI, FLORIDA.
IN A CITY KNOWN FOR ITS VIBRANT ENERGY,
THE MOST INTENSE AND CHALLENGING QUALIFYING COURSE
IN AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR HISTORY
HAS BEEN ASSEMBLED ALONG THE BANKS OF BISCAYNE BAY.
125 ATHLETES WILL TRY TO COMPLETE IT.
I'M MATT ISEMAN HERE WITH FORMER NFL DEFENSEMAN
AKBAR GBAJA-BIAMILA.
AND WE'RE IN MIAMI, WHERE THE NIGHTLIFE
IS ABOUT TO BEGIN AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR STYLE.
- ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
THESE ATHLETES GET TO COMPETE ON A PERFECT NIGHT LIKE THIS?
IT'S 75 DEGREES, WITH LOW HUMIDITY,
IDEAL CONDITIONS BECAUSE ATHLETES' MUSCLES STAY LOOSE.
THEIR GRIP WON'T BE COMPROMISED BY MOISTURE.
I'M ANTICIPATING SOME VERY STRONG PERFORMANCES TONIGHT.
- TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE COURSE,
LET'S GO DOWN TO THE THIRD MEMBER OF OUR TEAM,
JENN BROWN.
- THANKS, MATT.
AS IN EVERY CITY, THERE ARE SIX OBSTACLES
IN THE QUALIFYING ROUND.
AND TONIGHT THESE ATHLETES WILL HAVE TO NEGOTIATE
FOUR NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN OBSTACLES
ON AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
THE CHALLENGE BEGINS WITH THE DREADED QUINTUPLE STEPS.
ATHLETES MUST LEAP THROUGH FIVE ANGLED STEPS
TO REACH A PLATFORM.
FROM THERE, IT'S THE FIRST OF THE NEW OBSTACLES--
THE UTILITY POLE SLIDER.
ATHLETES WILL CLING TO A ROTATING POLE
AS IT SLIDES DOWN THE TRACK THROUGH A JARRING DROP.
THEN IT'S ON TO THE BALANCE BRIDGE,
WHERE COMPETITORS MUST NAVIGATE
TWO NARROW TILTING PADS SEPARATED BY A LARGE GAP.
NEXT UP IS A SLIDER JUMP.
COMPETITORS WILL SLIDE DOWN A TRACK
WHILE HANGING FROM A PIPE, THEN LAUNCH THEMSELVES OUT
TO THE CARGO NET.
THEN IT'S ON TO THE MONKEY PEG,
WHERE COMPETITORS WILL NAVIGATE MONKEY BARS ON THE WAY UP
AND REMOVABLE PEGS ON THE WAY DOWN TO THE LANDING AREA.
AFTER THE MONKEY PEG, IT'S ON
TO AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR'S SIGNATURE OBSTACLE--
THE WARPED WALL.
SCALE THIS 14-FOOT-HIGH CONCAVE BEAST, HIT THE BUTTON,
AND YOU'RE MOVING ON TO THE MIAMI CITY FINALS.
BACK TO YOU, GUYS. - THANKS, JENN.
THIS YEAR ANY COMPETITOR WHO SUCCESSFULLY SCALES
THE WARPED WALL AND ALL OF THE OBSTACLES PRECEDING IT,
WILL BE ASSURED A SPOT IN THE MIAMI FINALS.
- AND AS USUAL, WE'LL BE MOVING
AT LEAST 30 ATHLETES ON TO THE MIAMI FINALS.
SO, IF FEWER THAN THAT COMPLETE THE COURSE,
WE'LL ROUND OUT THAT GROUP
WITH THOSE WHO RAN THE FURTHEST, THE FASTEST.
- SO LET'S GET THIS STARTED.
FOR OUR FIRST RUNNER TONIGHT, WE HAVE ATHLETIC ROYALTY.
TWO-TIME TEAM USA OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST DEEDEE TROTTER--
A WOMAN KNOWN AS MUCH FOR HER GLITTER FACE
AS FOR HER INCREDIBLE SKILLS.
- FOR ME, SPORTS AS A KID STARTED WITH BASKETBALL.
FROM THERE ON OUT, IT WAS TRACK,
JUST BECAUSE I COULD RUN.
I WAS A TALENTED RUNNER,
I WAS JUST DOING WHAT GOD GAVE ME THE GIFT TO DO,
AND RUNNING JUST TOOK ME PLACES.
- SHE WON GOLD IN THE 4x400 METER RELAY
AT THE 2004 OLYMPICS.
THEN IN 2012,
SHE TOOK BRONZE IN THE INDIVIDUAL 400 METERS...
AND GOLD YET AGAIN IN THE RELAY.
AND JUST LIKE THE OLYMPICS, SHE'S EYEING
THE AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR COMPETITION.
- I'M A REAL COMPETITOR.
I DON'T REALLY GET INTIMIDATED TOO EASY.
I RUN, I JUMP, I SKIP, I DO EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN,
SO I'M READY.
I'M AN OLYMPIAN. I JUST COME OUT HERE.
I SHOW MY MEDALS AND THAT TELLS YOU WHAT I CAN DO.
- GOT TO LOVE HER CONFIDENCE, MATT.
THE QUESTION IS, CAN SHE HANDLE THESE TRICKY OBSTACLES?
- YEAH, THERE'S NO FLAT TRACK HERE TONIGHT.
DEEDEE IS SO GOOD WITH THE CROWD.
YOU CAN SEE, PUMPING THEM UP.
YOU CAN TELL SHE LOVES TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
- LET'S GO, DEEDEE! - COME ON, COME ON!
- AND HER OLYMPIC MATES, LAURYN WILLIAMS
AND HYLEAS FOUNTAIN, CHEERING FROM THE SIDELINES.
OH! A NEAR SLIPUP ON THE THIRD QUINTUPLE STEP.
THOSE THINGS ARE ONLY 3 FEET WIDE,
BUT A NICE SAVE RIGHT OFF THE BAT FROM DEEDEE.
SHE'S ON TO THE UTILITY POLE SLIDER.
- [screams excitedly] - LOOK AT THAT ENTHUSIASM.
SHE'S THRILLED TO BE HERE.
- ALL THAT GLITTERS ISN'T GOLD.
SOMETIMES IT'S LITERALLY GLITTER ON HER FACE.
SHE IS A SHOW-WOMAN.
[cheers and applause]
DID YOU JUST SEE DEEDEE?
SHE JUST BUSTED OUT THE DOUGIE.
OKAY, TEACH ME HOW TO DOUGIE, DEEDEE.
LEG STRENGTH NOT AN ISSUE.
TREMENDOUS GLUTEAL POWER THERE.
- OH, NO, NO, MATT. SHE'S A POWERHOUSE.
SHE'S AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST IN THE 4x400 RELAY.
DEEDEE IS ONE OF THE FASTEST WOMEN ON EARTH.
BUT ON THIS OBSTACLE,
SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE.
THE LAST THING SHE WANTS TO DO HERE IS RUSH.
- BUT AGAIN, LET'S MAKE NO MISTAKE.
NO WOMAN HAS EVER COMPLETED THIS QUALIFYING COURSE.
SHE CERTAINLY HAS THE ATHLETICISM TO DO IT.
- BUT THIS NEXT ONE HERE, THOUGH, MATT, IS ALL UPPER BODY.
AND THIS IS WHERE TRACK ATHLETES CAN GET IN TROUBLE.
SHE REALLY NEEDS TO GET A GOOD GRIP ON THE BAR.
both: OH!
- AND IT'S OFF THE RAILS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE GOLD MEDALIST
ENDS UP GOING OUT ON THE SLIDER.
- WHY?
- WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHY, MATT.
SHE JUST COULDN'T KEEP THE POLE STRAIGHT,
AND AFTER THAT FIRST DROP, SHE LOST IT.
- LET'S GO DOWN TO JENN, WHO'S STANDING BY
WITH DEEDEE RIGHT NOW.
- DEEDEE, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF OUR COURSE OUT THERE?
- MAN, IT'S AWESOME. IT'S VERY CHALLENGING.
I GOT CAUGHT UP ON THAT BAR, SLIPPING OFF THAT THING, MAN.
AND I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING.
THAT'S ONE OF THE TOUGHEST PART OF THE COURSES, I THINK.
- YOU DID A GREAT JOB OUT THERE.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL SEE YOU BACK. - THANK YOU.
- ALL RIGHT. GUYS, BACK UP TO YOU.
- THANKS, JENN.
WELL, UP NEXT ON THE STARTING LINE,
WE HAVE A WAREHOUSE WORKER FROM MELBOURNE, FLORIDA,
CONNOR HUGHES.
- FIVE YEARS AGO, CONNOR TOOK UP PARKOUR.
IN THAT TIME, HE'S DEVELOPED INCREDIBLE SKILLS
NOT SEEN SINCE HIS TRAINING PARTNER,
DREW DRECHSEL, BURST ONTO THE SCENE.
- ME AND CONNOR, WE GO,
WE DO PARKOUR AND FREE RUNNING.
WE PLAY AROUND.
AND HE'LL SEE SOMETHING AND DO IT,
AND I'LL FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO DO IT, TOO,
JUST TO SEE, LIKE, IF I CAN.
WE TRADE BACK AND FORTH, TRY TO PUSH EACH OTHER.
I THINK HE CAN DO REALLY WELL.
- NOW THEIR FRIENDLY RIVALRY HEADS TO MIAMI.
AFTER WAITING FOUR YEARS TO COMPETE,
THE 21-YEAR-OLD PRODIGY
FINALLY GETS HIS CHANCE TO FULFILL HIS DREAM.
[cheers and applause]
- COME ON, SON!
YOU CAN DO THIS! I LOVE YOU!
- NOT ONLY IS DREW DRECHSEL THERE SUPPORTING HIM,
HIS PARENTS, HIS FAMILY ALL IN THE CROWD,
HOPING CONNOR CAN TURN IN A PERFORMANCE
WORTHY OF HIS MENTOR-- ONE OF THE BEST
IN THE BUSINESS, DREW DRECHSEL.
- YOU KNOW, HE STARTED OUT LOOKING LIKE DREW THERE,
BUT HE SWITCHED TO A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH THERE.
EITHER WAY, HE'S THROUGH.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING MORE GRATIFYING
THAN TO HAVE YOUR MENTOR SUPPORT YOU.
NOW THIS IS HIS STAGE, HIS OPPORTUNITY--
HE'S APPROACHING THE BALANCE BRIDGE--
TO SHOW OFF WHAT HIS TRAINING HAS REALLY PUT FORWARD.
- HAS BEEN A LONG-TIME FAN OF THE SHOW.
HAD TO WAIT UNTIL HE TURNED 21 TO COMPETE.
THIS IS THE MAGIC YEAR FOR HIM.
- YOU GOT TO SEIZE THE MOMENT AS A YOUNG BUCK.
YOU STEPPING ON THIS BALANCE BRIDGE,
YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR APPROACH,
AND YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE BALANCE.
- ONCE FELL OUT OF A TREE OVER 30 FEET, A BRANCH--
- OH! AND FELL DOWN RIGHT THERE.
- AND JUST OVERLOOKED THAT FINAL STEP.
YOU COULD SEE, AS HE TOOK THAT STEP,
THE BALANCE BRIDGE GAVE WAY,
AND HE JUST LOST HIS MOMENTUM AND FELL.
- NOW HE'S TAKING HIS TIME, VERY CAUTIOUS, VERY CAREFUL.
AND THEN THE HUGE SLIPUP AT THE END.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TELL THAT HE WAS ALREADY THINKING
ABOUT THE NEXT OBSTACLE.
A HUGE MENTAL ERROR.
- STILL, A NICE EFFORT BY A 21-YEAR-OLD ROOKIE.
HOPEFULLY, HE'LL LEARN FROM IT
AND COME BACK NEXT YEAR EVEN STRONGER.
BUT WE'VE ONLY JUST STARTED HERE IN MIAMI.
SO FAR, THE COURSE HAS GOTTEN THE BETTER
OF OUR COMPETITORS.
TEN MORE ATHLETES TOOK THEIR SHOT TO NO AVAIL,
FORCED OUT BY VARIOUS OBSTACLES ALONG THE WAY.
BUT IT'S THE SLIDER JUMP THAT CONTINUES
TO CLAIM THE MOST CASUALTIES.
FORMER PROFESSIONAL HIGH DIVER
JANE LABOMBARD CELEBRATED EVERY STEP ALONG THE WAY.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE CELEBRATION WAS CUT SHORT
BY THE SLIDER JUMP. - OH!
- I CAN'T BELIEVE I EVEN MADE IT THAT FAR!
- NOW LET'S GO DOWN TO JENN BROWN
WHO'S WITH A FAMILY HOPING TO SEE THEIR MOM
OVERCOME THE SLIDER JUMP. - THANKS, MATT.
I'M WITH THE SHAHBOZ FAMILY.
MARC, YOUR WIFE, JOYCE IS COMPETING TONIGHT.
NOT WITH YOU THIS TIME. - NO.
- SO HOW DO YOU THINK SHE'S GONNA DO TONIGHT?
- I THINK SHE'S GONNA DO GREAT.
SHE'S BEEN TRAINING ALL YEAR. - THAT'S AWESOME.
GIRLS, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MOM COMPETING?
- UM, IT'S... both: SO COOL.
- AND I THINK SHE'S GONNA ROCK IT.
- THAT'S AWESOME. SHE'S GONNA ROCK.
WELL, SHE'S GETTING READY TO RUN THE COURSE.
SO, MATT, LET'S HEAD BACK UP TO YOU.
- THAT'S RIGHT, JENN. SHE IS GONNA ROCK IT.
IN THE STARTING BLOCKS RIGHT NOW,
SHE'S A 41-YEAR-OLD PHYSICAL THERAPIST
OUT OF GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA.
JOYCE SHAHBOZ.
LAST YEAR, JOYCE SHAHBOZ WENT FURTHER
THAN ANY WOMAN IN THE MIAMI QUALIFYING ROUND.
- OH!
AND A REAL GOOD JUMP.
AND SHE IS THE FIRST WOMAN TODAY
TO SUCCESSFULLY MAKE THAT LEAP
ONTO THE CARGO NET OF JUMP HANG.
- LAST SEASON, I ACTUALLY TOLD MY HUSBAND
THAT THIS WAS A ONE AND DONE DEAL.
- AFTER DEBATING RETURNING,
JOYCE WAS ENCOURAGED TO GIVE IT ANOTHER SHOT
BY THE BIGGEST MOTIVATORS ANY MOTHER CAN HAVE--
HER DAUGHTERS.
SO SHE STARTED ROCK-CLIMBING, FAMILY STYLE.
- NOT TRYING IS MORE OF A PROBLEM THAN FAILING.
AS A WOMAN, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO REALLY WELL,
AND SHOW EVERYBODY ELSE THAT WE GOT A CHANCE
AT THIS SPORT JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DOES.
[cheers and applause]
- GO, JOYCE!
- THERE'S JOYCE'S FAMILY,
TRYING TO GET HER FIRED UP FOR THE RUN.
- GOT TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
THIS YEAR, AKBAR, SHE COMES WITH EXPECTATIONS.
- YES, SHE DOES. BUT HERE'S THE CHALLENGE.
MANY OF THIS OBSTACLES HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE.
[cheers and applause]
- JOYCE HAS BEEN DOING MORE ROCK CLIMBING
WITH HER FAMILY THIS YEAR.
SO THAT ADDED UPPER BODY STRENGTH
SHOULD HELP HER ON THIS COURSE.
[audience ohs]
A LITTLE SLIP ON THE DISMOUNT
OFF THE UTILITY POLE SLIDER,
BUT MAINTAINS HER BALANCE.
- NOW MOVING ONTO THE BALANCE BRIDGE.
SHE'S TAKING A REALLY CAUTIOUS APPROACH
ON THE BALANCE BRIDGE.
- A SMART MOVE FROM A SAVVY VETERAN.
- JOYCE HAS TAUGHT CUONG NHU OVER THE YEARS,
WHICH IS A BLEND OF SHOTOKAN, JUDO,
AND OTHER MARTIAL ARTS.
SO HER BALANCE AND BODY CONTROL IS FANTASTIC.
AND SHE'S SHOWING IT HERE.
- PERFECTLY IN CONTROL OF EVERY MOVEMENT HERE.
SHE'S AN INCREDIBLE ATHLETE.
THIS TRANSITION IS ALL IMPORTANT.
THAT'S A 2-FOOT GAP SHE HAS TO TRAVERSE.
- NOT A VERY TALL WOMAN. 5'6".
- SHE'S MOVING DELICATELY.
SHE BETTER NOT OVEREXTEND HERSELF
AND GET CAUGHT OVER THAT GAP.
AND SHE'S DONE IT.
HER PATIENCE PAYS OFF.
AND SHE DOES A LOT OF ROCK-CLIMBING.
A LOT OF UPPER BODY STRENGTH,
PARTICULARLY FOR A WOMAN.
LET'S SEE HOW SHE DOES ON THE SLIDER JUMP.
REMEMBER, NO ONE HAS MADE IT
PAST THIS OBSTACLE TONIGHT.
- UPPER BODY STRENGTH AND BALANCE IS PARAMOUNT
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KEEP THAT POLE EVEN
IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE IT DOWN
THE FIRST DROP.
- GONNA NEED A GOOD PUSH-OFF.
- OH! - THAT WAS EASY FOR HER!
- AMAZING! JOYCE SHAHBOZ CONTINUES TO IMPRESS.
SO STRONG, AND FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW,
SHE'S MADE IT TO THE FIFTH OBSTACLE.
- YOU GOT IT! - YOU GOT THIS!
- THIS IS INCREDIBLE.
SHE KNOWS HOW TO COMPETE,
SHE HAS A GAME PLAN.
AND THAT'S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE TRAINING.
YOU'RE COMING INTO SOMETHING NEW.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ANALYZE AND ADAPT.
all chanting: JOYCE! JOYCE! JOYCE!
- AND A GREAT JOB THERE ON THE MONKEY BARS,
BUT THE PEG BOARD REALLY TAXING ON THE UPPER BODY.
WE TEND TO SEE WOMEN REALLY STRUGGLE
ON UPPER BODY OBSTACLES LIKE THIS.
- SHE'S A ROCK CLIMBER THOUGH.
IF ANYONE CAN GET THROUGH IT, IT'S HER.
- OH! OH! - CAN SHE SAVE IT?
SHE'S GOT TO SAVE HER LIFE HERE!
- MAN, LOOK AT THE GRIP NOW.
SHE'S GOT THE HOOK GRIP GOING ON.
IF SHE CAN JUST GET THAT PEG BACK IN THE HOLE.
- I LOVE HER DETERMINATION, HER UNWILLING--
OH! - AND THERE IT GOES.
ANOTHER FANTASTIC EFFORT, BUT JOYCE SHAHBOZ
COMES UP SHORT ON THE MONKEY PEG.
- WHAT AN IMPRESSIVE EFFORT FROM JOYCE.
HER TECHNIQUE WAS FLAWLESS UNTIL SHE MISSED
ONE OF THE HOLES ON THE MONKEY PEG.
SHE FULLY EXTENDED HER RIGHT ARM,
MAKING HER FATIGUE EVEN WORSE.
AND DOWN SHE GOES.
[cheers and applause]
AND THERE'S JOYCE HUSTLING DOWN THE LINE TO SEE HER FAMILY.
SOME WET HUGS TONIGHT FOR THE SHAHBOZ FAMILY.
JUST SO EXCITING TO WATCH.
- UP NEXT ON THE PLATFORM, IT'S BRIAN ESCARSEGA,
A 28-YEAR-OLD FROM WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA.
BRIAN'S AN UPHOLSTERY BUSINESS OWNER,
BUT THAT ISN'T HIS GREATEST SOURCE OF PRIDE.
- I'M A SINGLE DAD.
AND MY DAUGHTER'S 2 1/2 YEARS OLD.
I ABSOLUTELY ADORE HER.
SHE'S LIKE THE CUTEST LITTLE GIRL IN THE WORLD.
MY LIFE REALLY DOES REVOLVE AROUND HER.
- AND SINCE TRAINING FOR AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR
IS ALSO HIGH ON THE PRIORITY LIST...
- ANY TIME I WORK OUT, SHE WANTS TO WORK OUT TOO.
IF SHE WAS HERE RIGHT NOW,
SHE WOULD WANT TO BE HANGING
ON MY BACK DOING PULL-UPS.
SO SHE'S INTO IT.
- NOW BRIAN HOPES TO SHOW HIS DAUGHTER
THAT ALL THEIR INTENSE FATHER-DAUGHTER TRAINING TIME
HAS PAID OFF.
- THIS GUY'S FROM WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA.
THAT'S THE SAME TOWN WHERE MICHAEL JORDAN GREW UP.
LET'S SEE IF BRIAN CAN PRODUCE
SOME OF THE SAME GREATNESS AS HIS AIRNESS.
- WELL, HE JUST BOUNDED THROUGH THE QUINTUPLE STEPS.
NOW ONTO THE UTILITY POLE SLIDER.
AND HE'S NOT EVEN USING HIS LEGS.
- AND IT ALMOST HIT HIM IN THE HEAD.
EASY, BUDDY.
SINGLE FATHER TO A TWO-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
- YES, SHE ACTUALLY TRAINS WITH HIM AT THE PARK.
- WATCH THE TRANSITION.
- GOOD BALANCE THERE.
GETTING THROUGH THE BALANCE BRIDGE.
- BECAUSE OF HIS BUSY SCHEDULE,
THIS GUY ONLY TRAINS TWO DAYS A WEEK.
I GUESS THIS GUY HAS GOOD GENES
BECAUSE HIS UPPER BODY LOOKS SOLID.
both: OH! - GREAT TRANSITION.
HE GRABS WITH TWO HANDS AND SWINGS TO THE PLATFORM.
- AND I AM IMPRESSED WITH THIS RUN
BRIAN ESCARSEGA IS PUTTING TOGETHER.
VERY CONFIDENT, VERY CONTROLLED.
- YEAH, YOU CAN SEE, EVEN IN HIS APPROACH,
EVERYTHING IS REALLY PLANNED.
AND HE UNDERSTAND HIS BODY.
LOOK AT THAT. GREAT UPPER BODY STRENGTH.
PHENOMENAL BODY CONTROL.
- BUT, YOU KNOW, THE PEG BOARD CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING.
BECAUSE AS YOU'RE TRAVERSING DOWN THE TRUSS
THAT PUTS A LOT OF STRAIN
ON THE FOREARM AND THE BACK MUSCLES.
- LOOKS LIKE HE'S MANAGING IT WELL.
CLEARLY A LOT OF UPPER BODY STRENGTH.
- BRIAN MIGHT MAKE IT LOOK EASY BUT IT IS DIFFICULT.
- WOW. - OH.
- AND HE'S DONE IT.
BRIAN ESCARSEGA IS OUR FIRST ATHLETE
TO GET PAST THE MONKEY PEG.
HE'S BEEN FLAWLESS WITH HIS TECHNIQUE,
BUT THE WARPED WALL IS A WHOLE OTHER BEAST.
HE'LL GET THREE CHANCES TO SCALE IT.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE WASN'T EVEN CLOSE
ON THAT FIRST-- - OKAY, FIRST OFF
TO BRIAN ESCARSEGA,
YOU GOT TO HAVE
A LOT OF MOMENTUM TO GET IT TO THE TOP.
- IT LOOKS TO ME HIS TANK HAS RUN DRY, AKBAR.
NOW I'M SHOCKED.
HE LOOKED SO COMFORTABLE, SO CONFIDENT
THROUGH THOSE FIRST FIVE OBSTACLES.
AND HE LOOKS COMPLETELY LOST HERE ON THE WARPED WALL.
DOWN TO HIS FINAL ATTEMPT.
AND NOT EVEN CLOSE. THAT SURPRISED ME.
- MATT, BRIAN ESCARSEGA JUST SHOWED US
WHAT NOT TO DO IF YOU WANT TO BEAT THE WARPED WALL.
NO MOMENTUM, HE MIGHT HAVE JUST RUN OUT OF GAS.
IT ALSO LOOKED LIKE ON THE THIRD TRY,
HE PLANTED HIS FOOT TOO EARLY AND FELL SHORT.
[horn blares]
- WELL, GOOD TECHNIQUE FROM BRIAN ESCARSEGA
UNTIL HE HIT THE WARPED WALL WHERE HIS RUN COMES TO AN END.
WE'RE HERE IN MIAMI, FLORIDA WHERE EIGHT MORE ATHLETES
STARTED THEIR RUN BUT ALL FELL WITH DIFFERENT OBSTACLES
ALONG THE WAY.
AND IT WAS THE SLIDER JUMP THAT CONTINUED
TO TAKE THE MOST VICTIMS.
TRAVIS ROBINSON, A 26-YEAR-OLD AUTOMOTIVE TECH
FROM NEW YORK COULDN'T MAKE THE JUMP TO THE CARGO NET.
AND ROBERT DASEKOFF, A 26-YEAR-OLD GAME DEVELOPER
FROM ORLANDO DIDN'T EVEN GET THAT FAR.
LOSING CONTROL OF THE BAR RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
[horn blares]
ROUGH START HERE IN MIAMI.
IT'S GONNA TAKE BETTER SHOWINGS THAN THAT
TO GET INTO THE MIAMI FINALS.
UP NEXT ON THE STARTING PLATFORM,
IT'S JOSH OLIVER, A 23-YEAR-OLD CHEMICAL ENGINEER
FROM BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.
BEYOND HIS ALL-AROUND ATHLETIC SKILLS,
JOSH IS ALSO BRINGING SOMETHING EVEN MORE IMPACTFUL
TO THE COURSE TODAY-- A HEAVY HEART.
- I MOVED TO BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO WORK
AS A CHEMICAL ENGINEER ON THE GULF COAST.
AND ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I MOVED DOWN,
I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MY MOM
SAYING MY BROTHER HAD DIED IN A CAR WRECK.
PHILIP WAS MY BEST FRIEND AND ONLY SIBLING,
SO IT KIND OF CHANGED EVERYTHING,
MY PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE.
PHILIP WAS A NATIONALLY RANKED POWER TUMBLER.
AND HE WAS AN ELITE TRAMPOLINIST
WHO COMPETED IN WORLD COMPETITIONS.
AND AMONG HIS ASPIRATIONS TO GO TO THE OLYMPICS,
HE ALSO WANTED TO COMPETE ON NINJA WARRIOR.
WE ALWAYS USED TO JOKE AROUND ABOUT HOW WE WOULD GO ON
AND TRY OUT TOGETHER.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
I'M GONNA FULFILL THAT DREAM.
AND I'LL MAKE HIM PROUD BECAUSE I KNOW HE'S UP THERE.
[cheers and applause]
- SUCH A TOUCHING STORY FROM JOSH.
MAKES HIM SUCH AN EASY GUY TO ROOT FOR HERE.
I THINK WE CAN EXPECT A LOT OF PASSION
IN HIS RUN TONIGHT.
- LOOK AT JOSH'S TWO-FOOTED TECHNIQUE.
DEFINITELY A SAFE APPROACH TO THE STEPS.
- THE POLE ON THE UTILITY POLE SLIDER IS 8 FEET LONG.
AND IT HITS A VICIOUS DROP.
BUT HE NAILS IT. [cheers and applause]
AND NOW THE BALANCE BRIDGE WHERE SLOW AND STEADY
USUALLY WORKS BEST.
THERE'S DEFINITELY A DETERMINED LOOK IN JOSH'S EYES.
THIS IS A MAN DRIVEN TO DO WELL HERE TONIGHT.
- MATT, I'VE PLAYED WITH GUYS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD
WHO'VE GONE THROUGH A RECENT LOSS
AND IN THE NEXT WEEK, THEY GO OUT
AND HAVE A INSPIRED PERFORMANCE.
LOOKS LIKE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE TONIGHT.
- ONTO THE SLIDER JUMP.
THIS OBSTACLE IS REALLY GONNA TEST HIS VERSATILITY.
THOSE DROPS ARE BOTH 8 INCHES
SO BODY CONTROL IS KEY HERE.
both: OH!
- HE JUST COULDN'T GRAB A HOLD OF THAT CARGO NET.
AND JOSH OLIVER, YET ANOTHER VICTIM
OF THE SLIDER JUMP.
TOUGH ENDING, BUT I'M SURE JOSH
MADE HIS BROTHER VERY PROUD IN HIS EFFORT TONIGHT.
- I LOVE YOU, BRO.
- IT'S TOO BAD BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE
HE COULD HAVE MADE IT WITH THAT TRAJECTORY.
- JOSH JUST DIDN'T QUITE EXTEND FAR ENOUGH
AND COULDN'T GET A GOOD GRAB ON THE NET.
[horn blares]
- NEXT ON THE STARTING PLATFORM,
A 25-YEAR-OLD FREELANCE CINEMATOGRAPHER
FROM SARASOTA, FLORIDA, SEAN MORRIS.
HE'S A FUN-LOVING, MOUNT MIDORIYAMA VETERAN
WHO ALWAYS RUNS THE COURSE IN HIS OWN STYLE.
HE'S GOT STYLE.
- I TAKE A MORE LAID-BACK APPROACH
THAN A LOT OF THE OTHER ATHLETES.
THE BIG SLIPUP FOR MOST PEOPLE
IS THAT THEIR NERVES GET TO THEM,
AND THEY TEND TO MAKE CARELESS ERRORS.
MY WHOLE MENTALITY IS I TRY TO TREAT THIS
AS THOUGH IT'S JUST ANOTHER DAY.
- AND IT'S AN APPROACH SEAN HOPES
TO SHARE WITH KIDS IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO MUCH SO THAT HE'S BUILT A BACKYARD PLAYGROUND.
- WE BUILT AN 18-FOOT ROCK WALL,
UNDERGROUND TRAMPOLINE, BAR SETUPS, SLACKLINE AREA,
WE JUST KEEP BUILDING.
- AND THE COST FOR KIDS TO COME PLAY?
- I DON'T FEEL IT RIGHT TO CHARGE,
SO WE TREAT IT MORE OR LESS LIKE
AN INDEPENDENTLY OWNED PUBLIC PARK.
THE WHOLE MENTALITY IS WE WANT TO TRY AND GET KIDS
A WAY FROM THE SEDENTARY ROUTINE
OF VIDEO GAMES OR FACEBOOK.
I WANT TO SEE KIDS GET BACK INTO GROUPS
AND CLUSTERS THE WAY WE ALWAYS HAVE.
- WHEN THIS GUY'S ENJOYING HIMSELF,
HE IS AT HIS BEST.
- LOOK AT SEAN. HEADPHONES ON, READY TO ROCK.
IT'S HARD NOT TO LOVE HIS ATTITUDE.
- YOU'VE HEARD PEOPLE WHO MARCH
TO THE BEAT OF THEIR OWN DRUMMER.
SEAN HERE COMPETES TO HIS OWN SOUNDTRACK.
WHAT IS HE LISTENING TO IS WHAT I'M TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT RIGHT NOW.
- AND WE SAW THIS LAST YEAR IN VEGAS
AT MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
UNFORTUNATELY, HE ENDED UP WET,
SO HE MUST HAVE GOTTEN A NEW MP3 PLAYER HERE.
HE'S HANDLING THE BALANCE BRIDGE.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S SHOWBOATING A LITTLE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT SEAN'S ABOUT.
I THINK HE'S JUST OUT THERE HAVING A BLAST.
NOW FOR THE SLIDER JUMP.
TESTING THE BAR.
APPARENTLY LIKES WHAT HE SEES.
GOOD BODY CONTROL.
- OH! - OH.
- SAY HELLO. - LOOK AT HIM.
I MEAN, HE JUST SHOWED-- HE'S A SHOW MAN, A WALKMAN.
LOOK AT HIM!
- THAT WAS CLOSE, BUT IT DOESN'T PHASE SEAN MORRIS.
NOW HE GETS A LOOK AT THE MONKEY PEG.
LOOK AT THIS.
HIS SMILE HAS NOT LEFT HIS FACE.
TALK ABOUT THE JOY OF COMPETING
ON AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
HE IS EMBODYING IT.
- YOU KNOW, IT'S SO HARD TOO.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE NEW QUALIFYING COURSE IS GONNA PRESENT.
AND SO YOU CAN TRAIN AS LONG AS YOU WANT,
BUT I'M PRETTY SURE GETTING UP TO THE MONKEY PEG,
HE'S NEVER SEEN THE PEG BOARD.
THIS IS VERY INTENSIVE WHEN IT COMES TO UPPER BODY.
LOOK AT HIS ARMS AT 90 DEGREES.
TREMENDOUS FORM.
CLEARLY THE TRAINING IS PAYING OFF.
- YEAH, AND NOT ONLY THAT,
LOOK AT THE BODY CONTROL HE HAS.
- OH! - OH.
- NOT QUITE AS COCKY, THE TONGUE STICKING OUT.
AND HE'S THROUGH.
[cheers and applause]
THE WARPED WALL, HE'S DONE THIS BEFORE.
ALL THAT'S STANDING BETWEEN HIM AND HIS SPOT
IN THE CITY FINALS.
- HE GETS THREE TRIES AT GETTING UP THE WALL.
OH! - AND HE DOES IT.
SEAN MORRIS, THE TRAINING PAYS OFF.
[buzzer]
AND THE SOUNDTRACK IN HIS HEAD
HAS TO BE SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES
OF WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.
WELL, LET'S GO TO JENN BROWN,
WHO'S DOWN WITH THE ROCK AND ROLL MAN,
SEAN MORRIS.
- THANKS, GUYS. GET OVER HERE, SEAN.
ALWAYS HAVING FUN OUT THERE.
WHAT ARE YOU ROCKING OUT TO
WHILE YOU'RE RUNNING THE COURSE?
- I'M LISTENING TO THE BAND GUNTHER DOUG.
- VERY NICE.
YOU ARE MOVING ON TO THE MIAMI FINALS.
HOW DOES THAT FEEL?
- [sighs] IT FEELS GOOD.
IT REALLY DOES.
- ALL RIGHT, GREAT JOB TONIGHT.
GUYS, BACK UP TO YOU.
- THANKS, JENN.
WELL, SEAN MORRIS IS A ROCK STAR
TO THE CROWD HERE IN MIAMI.
AND HE'S OUR FIRST ATHLETE TO COMPLETE
THIS BRUTAL QUALIFYING COURSE TONIGHT.
- SO FAR THIS MIAMI QUALIFYING COURSE
IS PROVING TO BE JUST AS TOUGH
AS THE QUALIFIERS IN VENICE AND BALTIMORE.
LAST NIGHT ON G4,
THE COURSE TOOK OUT SEVERAL SKILLED COMPETITORS.
OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST HYLEAS FOUNTAIN
LOST ALL CONTROL ON THE SLIDER JUMP.
AND THE BALANCE BRIDGE PROVED TO BE TOO DIFFICULT
FOR 64-YEAR-OLD GREAT GRANDFATHER
DAN LEACH.
- SOME, HOWEVER, WERE ABLE TO BRAVE THE STORM
AND SCALE THE WARPED WALL.
AIRLINE PILOT BRANDON ARRINGTON
BATTLED THROUGH A BACK INJURY,
TOOK FLIGHT UP THE WARPED WALL
AND PUNCHED HIS TICKET TO THE CITY FINALS.
WALK-ON JOSHUA WINDBECK WAS DENIED A CHANCE
TO COMPETE IN BALTIMORE.
SO HE DROVE DOWN TO MIAMI,
WAS FIRST IN LINE, AND TORE THROUGH THE COURSE
WITH HIS DAD CHEERING HIM ON.
AND AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR LEGEND RYAN STRATIS
SILENCED THE DOUBTERS AFTER LAST YEAR'S SHOCKING FALL.
LETTING OUT AN INTENSE ROAR BEFORE SCALING
THE WARPED WALL AND SECURING REDEMPTION.
IN THE END, EIGHT TALENTED ATHLETES
ADVANCED AND SECURED A SPOT IN THE CITY FINALS.
LET'S GO DOWN TO JENN BROWN
WHO'S WITH A SEASONED MOUNT MIDORIYAMA VETERAN
FOR HIS TAKE ON THE COURSE.
- THANKS, GUYS. I'M HERE WITH FLIP RODRIGUEZ.
FLIP, YOU COMPETED THE LAST TWO SEASONS
MADE IT TO MOUNT MIDORIYAMA BOTH TIMES.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE COURSE HERE TONIGHT?
- TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
THE COURSE IS GETTING ME A LITTLE BIT ON THE EDGE.
JUST BECAUSE THE SLIDER JUMP IS IN THERE.
IT TOOK ME OUT MY FIRST SEASON.
I MADE IT LAST SEASON.
BUT STILL, THE NERVE STAYS. - WELL, ALL RIGHT.
WELL, HERE'S TO HOPING THAT YOU MAKE IT PAST THAT.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU TONIGHT, OKAY?
GUYS, BACK UP TO YOU. - THANKS, JENN.
WE'LL SEE FLIP'S RUN LATER ON TONIGHT.
NOW ON THE STARTING BLOCK,
HE'S A 23-YEAR-OLD PROFESSIONAL MMA FIGHTER
FROM RIGHT HERE IN MIAMI, FLORIDA.
JASON SOARES.
EVERY SINGLE DAY SINCE HE WAS 18 YEARS OLD,
JASON HAS BEEN TRAINING IN MIXED MARTIAL ART.
NEARING THE TOP OF HIS GAME,
JASON NOW WANTS A NEW CHALLENGE--
THE AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR COURSE.
- MMA TRAINING IS EXTREMELY HARD.
YOU HAVE TO BE FAST, STRONG,
BE ABLE TO CONTROL YOUR BODY WEIGHT,
AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF ASPECTS
ARE THE SAME IN AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
AND I'M REALLY LOOKING TO BEAT THE COURSE
IN A DOMINANT FASHION.
- COME ON, JASON.
- THERE'S JASON'S GIRLFRIEND AND MOM CHEERING HIM ON.
[timer beeping]
- HE STARTED OUT USING THE ONE-FOOT METHOD.
NOW RESORTING TO A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH.
- LOOK AT HIM. HE--HE'S GOING.
- ON TO THE UTILITY POLE SLIDER.
WHOA! GREAT BODY CONTROL.
GOES BY THE NICKNAME, "THE SPECIMEN."
WON THE GRAPPLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SERBIA.
THIS MAN'S UNDEFEATED.
LET'S SEE IF HE CAN MAINTAIN THAT PERFECT RECORD
AGAINST OUR COURSE.
IT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE IT, BUT HE DESCRIBES HIMSELF
AS A BIG NERD.
LEAPS OVER THE GAP, WRAPS HIMSELF
AROUND THE SECOND BRIDGE.
THAT'S A HUGE SAVE.
- WHOO!
- NOW FOR HIS SLIDER JUMP.
WHICH HAS WREAKED HAVOC FOR THE ATHLETES TONIGHT.
OH! HE DOES IT. WHAT GRIP STRENGTH.
- YOU KNOW, THAT'S IMPORTANT,
ESPECIALLY FOR A MMA FIGHTER TO HAVE REALLY GOOD GRIP.
NOW YOU'VE SEEN THAT.
YOU'VE SEEN HIM USING THAT ON THE CARGO NET.
- AND HE'S DONE IT.
NICELY DONE.
5'7", 155, GREAT STRENGTH TO WEIGHT RATIO.
NOT A LOT OF EXCESS BAGGAGE ON HIS FRAME.
- YOU'RE RIGHT.
BEING LIGHTER WILL TAKE SOME PRESSURE
OFF OF THE UPPER BODY.
YOU KNOW, MMA FIGHTERS SPEND HALF OF THE TIME
ON THE GROUND AND THE OTHER HALF STANDING UP.
SO I MEAN, NEVER REALLY HANGING THEIR ARMS LIKE THIS.
- YOU CAN'T HAVE WANDERING EYES ON THE PEG BOARD.
YOU GOT TO KEEP YOUR EYES FOCUSED ON EACH AND EVER HOLE.
- GOES FOR THE LANDING AND HE STICKS IT.
ONE OBSTACLE LEFT TO GO.
JASON'S AN AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR ROOKIE,
SO HE'S NEVER TRIED THE WARPED WALL BEFORE.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, NO EASY TASK.
- OOH, THAT WAS AN AGGRESSIVE APPROACH
UP THE WARPED WALL.
HE'S GOT TO KEEP HIS EYES AT THE TOP
IF HE'S GONNA HAVE ANY SUCCESS.
HE ONLY GETS THREE SHOTS AT THIS.
AND ROUND ONE GOES TO THE WARPED WALL.
SECOND ONE IS WALL.
- OH. - COME ON, JASON.
- COME ON, JASON!
- HE'S DOWN TO HIS FINAL ATTEMPT.
NO EASY TASK SINCE HE'S ONLY 5'7".
YOU KNOW, HEIGHT COULD BE HIS DISADVANTAGE,
BUT IF I'M JASON SOARES,
I'M ACTUALLY TRYING TO ADJUST MY BODY ANGLE
AS I'M GOING UP THE WARPED WALL
OH! HE ALMOST DID IT.
IT LOOKED LIKE HE HAD THE HEIGHT,
HAD HIS FINGERS UP THERE, JUST COULDN'T HOLD ON.
THAT'S GOT TO BE DISAPPOINTING FOR JASON.
- YOU KNOW, HE SHOULDN'T BE TOO *** HIMSELF.
YOU CAN SEE WHY HE'S AN UNDEFEATED FIGHTER.
HE ADAPTED TO THE WARPED WALL SO QUICKLY.
ON HIS FIRST ATTEMPT, HE GOT NOWHERE.
BUT HE REGROUPED, ADJUSTED HIS APPROACH
AND ON HIS SECOND ATTEMPT,
HE GOT 4 FEET HIGHER.
NOW ON HIS THIRD ATTEMPT, HE ACTUALLY REACHED THE TOP
BUT COULDN'T HOLD ON.
I'M TELLING YOU, IF HE WOULD HAVE HAD ANOTHER SHOT AT THIS,
HE WOULD HAVE DEFEATED THE WARPED WALL.
- JASON SOARES' IMPRESSIVE RUN COMES TO AN END
AT THE WARPED WALL.
OUR NEXT COMPETITOR ON THE STARTING PLATFORM TONIGHT
IS ADAM BOHN.
A 37-YEAR-OLD VIDEO GAME DEVELOPER
FROM TAMPA, FLORIDA.
LOOKS LIKE THIS GUY CAME PREPARED
FOR A ROUGH RUN TONIGHT.
- YEAH! - THAT'S RIGHT, MATT.
AND HE'S ARMED AND DANGEROUS.
- GREETINGS!
MY NAME IS ADAM BOHN.
CEO AND FOUNDER OF ARTIX ENTERTAINMENT.
- AN ENTREPRENEUR IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD,
YEARS AGO, ADAM FOUNDED HIS OWN
FAMILY-FRIENDLY VIDEO GAME COMPANY
AND HAS SINCE BUILT IT INTO AN EMPIRE.
WITH OVER 150 MILLION REGISTERED PLAYERS ON THE WEB.
[cheers and applause]
- THERE'S ADAM'S FIANCE, MICHELLE, CHEERING HIM ON.
- YEAH!
- ADAM IS DRESSED TONIGHT AS ARTIX,
ONE OF THE CHARACTERS HE HIMSELF CREATED.
- WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T SEE EVERY DAY.
BUT I HAVE TO BELIEVE IT'S GONNA AFFECT HIM
DURING HIS RUN.
OH!
HE HITS THE THIRD QUINTUPLE STEP
AND DOWN GOES ARTIX.
- WELL, HOPEFULLY THAT ARMOR IS RUST PROOF.
- SO THIS RUTHLESS QUALIFYING COURSE IN MIAMI
TAKES ANOTHER VICTIM, ADAM BOHN/ARTIX,
VANQUISHED BY YE OLDE QUINTUPLE STEPS.
TEN MORE ATHLETES TOOK TO THE COURSE,
SOME SPORTING COSTUMES AS FESTIVE AS MIAMI ITSELF.
MANY WHO GOT PAST THE SLIDER JUMP
SAW THEIR DREAMS DIE AT THE WARPED WALL.
[horn blares]
BRANDON SMITH, A FIREFIGHTER
FROM CLEARWATER, FLORIDA,
SAILED THROUGH THE MONKEY PEG,
BUT STRUGGLED ON THE 14-FOOT BEAST.
[horn blares]
AND SEAN BENNETT, A 41-YEAR-OLD ART DIRECTOR
WHO CALLS HIMSELF "THE MONSTER,"
SCARED THE COURSE INTO SUBMISSION
UNTIL HE TOO REACHED THE WALL.
[horn blares]
BUT TWO 21-YEAR-OLD ROOKIES GETTING THEIR FIRST SHOT
AT THE COURSE WERE ABLE TO OVERCOME THE WALL.
JAMES PERREIRA, A PIZZA DELIVERY GUY
FROM ORLANDO CONQUERED THE WARPED WALL
ON HIS FIRST TRY. [buzzer]
AND SPENCER "BRIGGS" SCHNEIDER,
AN ELECTRONICS SALESMEN FROM NASHVILLE
TOOK A SPILL OFF THE UTILITY POLE SLIDER,
BUT RECOVER TO ALSO SCALE THE WARPED WALL
ON HIS FIRST TRY.
[buzzer]
UP NEXT ON THE PLATFORM,
HOPING TO MAKE HIS OWN RETURN TRIP
TO THE CITY FINALS, FLIP RODRIGUEZ.
HE IS THE MASKED MAN WHO RECORDED
THE FASTEST QUALIFYING TIME HERE LAST YEAR.
THE QUESTION IS, CAN HE DO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR?
FLIP RODRIGUEZ IS NO STRANGER
TO MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
HAVING MADE IT TO STAGE TWO EACH OF THE LAST TWO YEARS...
- A GREAT RUN, JONNY.
- WITH HIS SUCCESS HAS COME COUNTLESS EMAILS
AND LETTERS FROM AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR FANS,
MOSTLY KIDS TELLING HIM HOW MUCH HE'S INSPIRED THEM.
- I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT BEING A ROLE MODEL.
SO WHEN IT JUST HAPPENED, I WAS JUST, LIKE, REALLY PROUD.
- I WANT TO BE THE NEXT AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
- I AM TRULY OUT HERE FOR THEM.
I REALLY RUN WITH EVERY FAN IN MY THOUGHTS.
- TO GIVE BACK TO HIS FANS,
HE NOW COACHES FREE RUNNING.
AND AFTER OVERCOMING HIS OWN DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD,
HE WEARS HIS TRADEMARK MASK
IN HIS RUNS TO SHOW SOLIDARITY
WITH KIDS IN SIMILAR TOUGH SITUATIONS.
NOW FLIP'S BACK IN HIS HOMETOWN,
HOPING TO HANDLE THE NINJA WARRIOR COURSE AGAIN
THE ONLY WAY HE KNOWS HOW--
WITH SKILL AND STYLE.
- IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY. IT'S ABOUT THE TITLE.
THEY CAN'T TAKE THE TITLE FROM ME.
I WILL BE THE FIRST AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
[cheers and applause]
- FLIP HAS FRIENDS, STUDENTS, AND FAMILY
HERE ON THE SIDELINES.
A LOT OF SUPPORT OUT HERE TONIGHT.
FLIP AND HIS TRADEMARK MASK, WEARS IT TO PROVE
HE CAN DO ANYTHING.
A SYMBOL OF THE LIGHT AND DARK IN HIS LIFE.
- WELL, THE WAY HE JUST DOMINATED
THE FIRST TWO OBSTACLES
IS EVIDENCE THAT FLIP IS STILL IN TOP FORM.
- WELL, TWO YEARS AGO, FLIP CAME OUT OF NOWHERE,
A YOUNG, THIN ROOKIE.
WITH EACH YEAR, HIS SKILLS, HIS POWER HAS GROWN.
NOW HE'S BECOME OF THE MOST DOMINANT COMPETITORS
IN AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
[cheers and applause]
- LOOK AT HIS REACTION TO THE SLIDER JUMP.
HE HAS A HISTORY OF HAVING TROUBLE
WITH SLIDING BAR OBSTACLES.
TWO YEARS AGO, HE FELL ON THE SLIDER DROP
AT STAGE TWO IN JAPAN.
- MAKES THE TRANSITION THERE.
NO PROBLEM TONIGHT.
LOOK AT THE YOUNG LAD GO.
- FANS GOING CRAZY FOR FLIP.
HE WORKS SO HARD TO BUILD UP HIS UPPER BODY STRENGTH.
- YOU KNOW I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR ATHLETES
WHO CAN TRAVERSE LIKE THIS.
IT TAKES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF STRENGTH.
- GREAT BODY CONTROL.
AND HERE IT IS.
SHOULD HAVE NO TROUBLE WITH THE WARPED WALL.
LOOK AT THAT!
- OH, HO, HO! THERE IT IS!
- FLIP RODRIGUEZ!
ELATED AND THE MASK COMES OFF!
HIS FANS GOING CRAZY,
THE HOMETOWN BOY MAKES GOOD YET AGAIN.
- TEAM FLIP, BABY!
- THAT WAS A RUN THAT ALL OTHER RUNS WILL BE JUDGED BY.
HE WASN'T TOO HAPPY ABOUT THE SLIDER JUMP,
BUT IT DIDN'T STOP HIM ON HIS WAY TO THE FINISH.
FLIP RODRIGUEZ IS THE MAN TO BEAT IN MIAMI.
- SO FLIP RODRIGUEZ BOLTS TO THE TOP
OF THE LEADER BOARD WITH THE FASTEST QUALIFYING TIME
OF THE NIGHT HERE IN HIS HOMETOWN OF MIAMI.
THE CROWD HERE IS STILL ON THEIR FEET
SINCE THAT MAN, MOUNT MIDORIYAMA VETERAN FLIP RODRIGUEZ,
FLEW THROUGH THE COURSE JUST MINUTES AGO,
TAKING THE FASTEST TIME OF THE NIGHT.
AND STANDING ON THE STARTING BLOCK
IS THE MAN WHO CAME IN SECOND RIGHT BEHIND FLIP LAST YEAR,
DREW DRECHSEL, A 24-YEAR-OLD CAR SALESMAN
FROM GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA.
AFTER TWO STRAIGHT YEARS OF FAILURE
AT MOUNT MIDORIYAMA,
[horn blares]
DREW DRECHSEL DECIDED TO CHANGE THINGS UP.
IN THE PAST YEAR, I'VE REPLICATED
MANY OF THE OBSTACLES I'VE ALREADY TRAINED ON
AND SOME I'VE NEVER EVEN SEEN BEFORE,
SO THAT I COULD BE READY FOR THIS YEAR.
I CUT SODA, I CUT CANDY,
I'VE JUST BEEN TRYING TO EAT GOOD AND WHOLESOME FOOD.
- AND HIS FAME FROM AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR
HAS HELPED HIM IN HIS DAY JOB AS A CARS SALESMAN.
- SO I GET CUSTOMERS COMING IN HERE TO SEE ME.
"OH, I KNOW YOU.
"I'VE SEEN YOU DOING THAT NINJA STUFF.
CAN YOU DO A FLIP?"
HIS SHOWMANSHIP HAS PAID OFF.
HE'S NOW THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP.
- EVERY YEAR, I GET A LOT MORE EXPERIENCE,
I LEARN SOMETHING NEW,
AND THIS KNOWLEDGE IN THAT INDUSTRY GETS YOU A LONG WAY.
DREW HOPES THE FOCUS AND DRIVE HE USES
TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT WORK WILL PROPEL HIM
ON THE AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR COURSE.
- AHH!
- THIS YEAR, HE WANTS TO MAKE A STATEMENT
AND LEAVE THE CHARGE TO VEGAS. - I'M GOING FOR FIRST.
I'M GOING FOR THAT TOP TIME SLOT.
MY GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO TAKE NUMBER ONE.
[cheers and applause]
- RIVALRIES LIKE THIS USUALLY BRING OUT
THE BEST IN BOTH COMPETITORS.
AND WE SEE THAT IN DREW AND FLIP,
BOTH GUNNING FOR THE FASTEST TIME.
- WE'LL SEE HOW HE DOES.
- THERE'S FLIP WATCHING INTENTLY.
1 MINUTE AND 27 SECONDS IS HIS TIME TO BEAT.
AND THE CROWD HERE DEFINITELY KNOWS WHAT'S AT STAKE.
I MEAN, THEY ARE GOING CRAZY.
WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
[timer beeping]
- DRECHSEL IS SO MOTIVATED BY FAILURE,
HE SWITCHES INTO HARDCORE MODE
OR CONTINUALLY TRIES SOMETHING
UNTIL HE CAN DO IT IN HIS SLEEP.
- WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT I LIKE ABOUT DREW DRECHSEL,
IS THE FACT THAT HE DREAMS BIG.
HE'S NOT GONNA GIVE YOU A SMALL DREAM.
HE'S GONNA GIVE IT TO YOU BIG.
HE WANTS TO AND THINKS HE HAS WHAT IT TAKES
TO BECOME AMERICA'S FIRST AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
- ONTO THE SLIDER JUMP.
1 MINUTE, 27 SECONDS IS THE TIME TO BEAT.
OH! HANGS ONTO THE BAR.
WILL HE MAKE THE TRANSITION THIS TIME?
YES.
DIDN'T LIKE WHAT HE SAW ON HIS FIRST PASS
SO HE REGROUPED AND GOT IT.
TRUE ATHLETICISM CAN LET YOU
GET AWAY WITH A COUPLE MISTAKES.
- AND HE'S PLOWING THROUGH THE MONKEY BARS.
NOW HE'S GOT TO GET OVER TO THE PEG BOARD.
AND THIS IS WHERE TRAVERSING ON THE PEG BOARD
IT CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING.
[cheers and applause]
- NOW LOOK AT THAT.
HE LOOKED LIKE HE'S OVEREXTENDING HIMSELF.
THAT'S TRUE CONFIDENCE.
- NOT ONLY TRUE CONFIDENCE,
BUT HE'S ALSO PRESERVING HIS UPPER BODY.
- ONTO THE WARPED WALL.
IF HE GETS UP ON ONE TRY,
HE'LL HAVE THE FASTEST TIME IN QUALIFYING.
LOOK AT THIS! HE'S GOOD!
[buzzer]
- DREW DRECHSEL ANNIHILATES THE COURSE.
WHAT CAN YOU SAY?
- YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S WHY I SAID
YOU GOTTA STOP THE PRESS
BECAUSE HE'S A NUMBER ONE STUNNER.
HE'S IMPRESSIVE.
AND I THINK HE HAS A LEGITIMATE SHOT.
- WHOO! THAT WAS AWESOME.
- NOTHING SHORT OF WHAT WE'D EXPECT
FROM ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED COMPETITORS
IN THE ENTIRE AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR PANTHEON.
LET'S GO TO JENN BROWN WHO'S STANDING BY WITH DREW.
- THANKS, GUYS. DREW, CONGRATS.
NO--NO SURPRISE SEEING YOU HIT THE BUZZER UP THERE.
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF OUR COURSE TONIGHT?
- I LIKED IT. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.
A LOT OF NEW OBSTACLES. I HAD A BLAST.
- CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU HAVE MADE IT TO THE FINALS IN MIAMI.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU THERE, ALL RIGHT?
- WHOO! THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
- GUYS, BACK TO YOU. - THANKS, JENN.
WELL, DREW DRECHSEL ACHIEVED HIS GOAL
AND ON UPPED HIS FRIEND AND RIVAL FLIP RODRIGUEZ,
TAKING THE FASTEST TIME HERE IN QUALIFYING,
WITH FLIP FINISHING SECOND.
OVERALL, OF THE 125 PEOPLE WHO RAN THIS QUALIFYING COURSE,
18 COMPLETED IT, FILLING OUT THE REST OF THE TOP 30,
THE ATHLETES WHO WENT THE FURTHEST
THE FASTEST.
THEY WILL ALL BE MOVING ON
TO THE MIAMI FINALS.
- WELL, THE TOP 30 HAVE PERFORMED WELL
ON THE QUALIFYING COURSE,
BUT A LONGER, MORE DIFFICULT COURSE LIES AHEAD
FOR THE MIAMI FINALS.
BUT BEFORE THEN, JOIN US NEXT SUNDAY ON G4
AND NEXT MONDAY ON NBC
AS WE HEAD TO DENVER, COLORADO
FOR THE FOURTH AND FINAL QUALIFYING ROUND
OF COMPETITION.
FOR AKBAR GBAJA-BIAMILA AND JENN BROWN,
I'M MATT ISEMAN.
JOIN US NEXT TIME ON AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.