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- HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF ATHLETES
HAVE TAKEN ON BRUTAL QUALIFYING COURSES
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
- OHH!
- AND TONIGHT, WE'RE BACK IN DENVER, COLORADO
WHERE THE TOP 48 QUALIFIERS WILL ATTEMPT AN EVEN TOUGHER
CITY FINALS COURSE.
OF THOSE, ONLY THE 15 BEST WILL EARN A TICKET TO VEGAS
TO TAKE ON MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
[cheers and applause]
ROCK CLIMBER AND MAINTENANCE MAN BRIAN ARNOLD
TORE UP THE QUALIFYING COURSE.
BUT CAN HE DO THE SAME HERE TONIGHT?
DESPITE SPRAINING HIS ANKLE IN QUALIFYING,
ROOKIE AND GYM OWNER SAM SANN IS BACK,
DETERMINED TO MAKE IT THROUGH TO THE NATIONAL FINALS.
AND VETERAN PAUL KASEMIR HAS FOUGHT HIS WAY TO MIDORIYAMA
THREE YEARS RUNNING.
WILL HE FULFILL HIS DREAM AND DO IT AGAIN?
FIND OUT RIGHT NOW.
WHO WILL EARN A CHANCE TO WIN A $1/2 MILLION
AND MAKE HISTORY AS THE FIRST-EVER
AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR?
- WELCOME TO DENVER, COLORADO.
THE TOP ATHLETES FROM EACH
OF OUR FIRST THREE QUALIFYING CITIES
HAVE SECURED THEIR SPOTS AT THE NATIONAL FINALS LAS VEGAS.
THE REMAINING SPOTS WILL BE FILLED TONIGHT
RIGHT HERE IN THE MILE HIGH CITY.
I'M MATT ISEMAN HERE WITH FORMER NFL DEFENSIVE END
AKBAR GBAJA-BIAMILA.
FOUR WEEKS AGO,
WE WITNESSED AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF ATHLETES
COMPLETE A VERY CHALLENGING
QUALIFYING COURSE HERE IN DENVER.
- AND AFTER THE ASTONISHING PERFORMANCES WE SAW
IN THE DENVER QUALIFYING,
I HAVE A FEELING WE'RE IN FOR SOME FIREWORKS TONIGHT.
- THAT'S RIGHT.
A RECORD-BREAKING 48 ATHLETES WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE
THE QUALIFYING COURSE.
BUT TONIGHT, IF THEY WANT A SHOT AT MOUNT MIDORIYAMA,
THEY'LL HAVE TO EARN IT ON A MUCH TOUGHER COURSE.
FOR MORE ON THAT,
LET'S GO DOWN TO OUR CO-HOST JENN BROWN.
- THANKS, MATT. NOW, IN ORDER TO MAKE IT
TO THE NATIONAL FINALS IN LAS VEGAS,
OUR COMPETITORS WILL NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE
THESE TEN GRUELING OBSTACLES.
AND, JUST LIKE WE SAW IN QUALIFYING,
IT ALL STARTS WITH THE QUINTUPLE STEPS.
ONCE ACROSS, THE ATHLETE MUST NAVIGATE THE ROLLING LOG
AND ROTATING BRIDGE.
AND AFTER THAT, IT'S ON TO THE JUMP HANG KAI
WHERE, FOR THE FINALS, THE DISTANCE TO THE CARGO NET
HAS BEEN INCREASED TO 9 1/2 FEET.
AND THEN, ON TO THE GRIP HANG,
WHERE THE SPACE BETWEEN THE RAIL SETS
HAS ALSO BEEN INCREASED.
IF THE ATHLETE MAKES IT PAST THAT,
IT'S ON TO THE 14-FOOT WARPED WALL.
MAKE IT PAST THE WALL
AND IT'S ON TO THE FOUR ADDITIONAL OBSTACLES.
FIRST UP, THE SALMON LADDER,
WHERE THE COMPETITORS MUST JUMP A BAR UP A SERIES OF RUNGS
USING SHEER UPPER BODY STRENGTH.
AND THE UPPER BODY GRIND CONTINUES
WITH THE FLOATING STAIRS.
COMPETITORS MUST CARRY THEMSELVES
UP AND DOWN THESE THREE STAIRCASES
USING ONLY THEIR HANDS.
NEXT, THEY'LL FACE THE POLE GRASPER,
WHERE THEY MUST MAKE THEIR WAY
ACROSS A SERIES OF VERTICAL POLES,
AVOIDING A FALL INTO THE WATER BELOW.
AND IF THEY MAKE IT THROUGH THAT,
IT'S ON TO THE SPIDER CLIMB.
ATHLETES MUST WEDGE THEMSELVES BETWEEN THE WALLS
AND MAKE THE THREE-STORY CLIMB TO THE TOP.
AFTER THEY HIT THAT BUZZER,
WELL, THAT MEANS THEY'RE MOVING ON TO VEGAS.
GUYS?
- REMEMBER, A MINIMUM OF 15 COMPETITORS
WILL MOVE ON TO THE NATIONAL FINALS IN LAS VEGAS.
SO ANYONE WHO COMPLETES THIS COURSE TONIGHT
IS GUARANTEED A SPOT.
- BUT IF FEWER THAN 15 MAKE IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH,
THOSE WHO GO THE FURTHEST THE FASTEST
WILL ADVANCE TO LAS VEGAS TO TAKE ON MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
- EXACTLY.
AND WITH 48 QUALIFIERS,
THIS IS THE LARGEST AND MOST TALENTED CITY FINALS FIELD
WE'VE EVER SEEN.
LOOKING TO START THINGS OFF WITH A ***,
HE'S ONE OF THE THREE COLORADO FREE-RUNNERS
WHO TORE THROUGH OUR QUALIFYING COURSE,
25-YEAR-OLD JAKE SMITH.
A TWO-TIME MOUNT MIDORIYAMA VETERAN,
JAKE SMITH IS THE MOST SEASONED OF THE COLORADO FREE-RUNNERS
WHEN IT COMES TO AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
- THIS IS MY FOURTH TIME ON AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
I'VE BEEN GETTING BETTER AND BETTER EACH TIME.
- AND AFTER RUNNING OUT OF STEAM ON THE WARPED WALL LAST YEAR
IN THE NATIONAL FINALS,
IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO JAKE
TO MAKE IT BACK TO LAS VEGAS FOR A CHANCE AT REDEMPTION.
- I WOULDN'T SAY THAT IT REALLY ATE AWAY AT ME.
IT KINDA MADE ME THINK
OF THE WHOLE TRAINING FOR NINJA WARRIOR
IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT.
IT'S MORE MENTAL,
TRUSTING YOUR BODY TO DO WHAT YOU KNOW IT CAN.
I WILL BE THE FIRST AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
- AND WE ARE KICKING OFF THE NIGHT
WITH ONE OF OUR BIG GUYS.
HE WANTS TO EARN A SHOT AT REDEMPTION
AT MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
AND JAKE SMITH IS ON THE COURSE.
- HE JUST FLEW THROUGH THOSE QUINTUPLE STEPS.
AND HE'S ON TO THE ROLLING LOG.
LOOK LIKE JAKE IS GUNNING FOR THAT TOP SPOT AGAIN.
- SO CONFIDENT.
BARELY SLOWS DOWN FOR THE ROTATING BRIDGE
AND MOVES RIGHT UP ONTO THE JUMP HANG KAI.
- REMEMBER, JAKE SMITH WAS PART OF THE THREE-WAY
BATTLE OF FREE-RUNNERS IN QUALIFYING
AND IS GOING AFTER THE FINALS WITH THE SAME HIGH ENERGY.
- AND ONE OF THOSE THREE THE TOP QUALIFIER HERE IN DENVER,
BRANDON DOUGLAS, UNABLE TO COMPETE TONIGHT
DUE TO A KNEE INJURY.
SO I HAVE TO IMAGINE JAKE IS FEELING EXTRA PRESSURE
TO DELIVER TONIGHT.
- AND HE MAKES THE JUMP, BUT HE'S LOOKING TIRED ALREADY.
JAKE NEEDS TO PUMP THE BRAKES A LITTLE BIT.
- IS HE PREPPING THE JUMP AGAIN?
HE'S SIX INCHES FROM THE END OF THE RAIL.
THIS COULD BE A DISASTER.
OH! - AND HE MAKES IT!
HE TEMPTED FATE, BUT HE PULLED IT OFF.
AND HE'S ON TO THE WARPED WALL.
- HE'S MADE IT TO MOUNT MIDORIYAMA
THE PAST TWO YEARS, BUT WANTS TO MAKE IT THREE IN A ROW.
FIRST, HE'LL HAVE TO GET PAST THE WARPED WALL.
FAILED HERE LAST YEAR AT MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
OH! AND MISSES HIS FIRST ATTEMPT BADLY.
- HE MENTIONED EARLIER
THAT THIS IS A DECEPTIVELY DIFFICULT OBSTACLE.
AND, SURE ENOUGH, HE IS HAVING TROUBLE HERE AGAIN.
- RIGHT UP IT THERE.
THAT'S GOTTA BE A RELIEF FOR HIM.
NOW ON TO THE SALMON LADDER.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE ALTITUDE
FOR THIS BOULDER BOY, BUT HE LOOKS WINDED.
- YEAH, HIS POSTURE IS NOT SCREAMING CONFIDENCE.
IT COULD BE BECAUSE HE'S A FREE-RUNNER.
AND YOU KNOW, UPPER BODY STRENGTH IS NOT HIS FORTE.
- MAKES THE JUMP.
HE'S ON THE BAR, LOOKING LIKE A VETERAN.
GREAT BODY CONTROL, ABLE TO CALM HIS BODY QUICKLY.
WHOA! - WHOA!
- UNEVEN.
- YEAH, I LIKE THE FACT THAT HE JUST ELIMINATED THE IDEA
OF CORRECTING IT ON THE SALMON LADDER.
- OH!
JAKE SMITH IS HUNG UP.
[victory horn blares] AND HE IS DONE.
YOU CAN SEE IN HIS FACE,
HE IS EXHAUSTED AND HAD TO THROW IN THE TOWEL.
AND WITH THAT, A FOUR-TIME VETERAN JUST GAVE UP
AND WENT OUT ON THE FLOATING STAIRS.
- THAT IS A COMPLETE SHOCKER. I AM BEFUDDLED RIGHT NOW.
- JAKE SMITH, TOO FATIGUED TO CONTINUE.
NO GUARANTEED TRIP TO VEGAS WITH THAT RUN.
SO WITH JAKE FAILING EARLY
AND BRANDON TOO INJURED TO COMPETE,
IT'S UP TO AMOS RENDAO TO STEP UP AND REPRESENT.
AT AGE 30, AMOS RENDAO
IS THE OLD MAN OF COLORADO FREERUNNING.
BUT DON'T TELL HIM THAT.
A KID AT HEART,
AMOS IS KNOWN AS MUCH FOR HIS ECLECTIC STYLE
AND FREE-SPIRITED NATURE
AS HE IS FOR HIS IMPRESSIVE FREE-RUNNING RESUME.
- I TEND TO FEEL THAT IF YOU FOLLOW WHAT YOU LOVE
AND YOU JUST HAVE FUN, THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU WANT
WILL PRESENT THEMSELVES.
- A FOUR-YEAR AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR VETERAN,
AMOS HAS YET TO MAKE A TRIP TO MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
BUT AFTER HIS ELECTRIFYING RUN IN THE QUALIFYING ROUND,
THIS COULD VERY WELL BE HIS YEAR.
- WHAT DRAWS ME TO COMPETE IN AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR
IS I LIKE TO PUT MYSELF IN HIGH-PRESSURE SITUATIONS
AND SEE IF I CAN PERFORM UNDER THAT PRESSURE.
AND, UH, WITH A CROWD AND ONLY ONE GO,
IT'S DEFINITELY A GOOD AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO WORK WITH.
IS HE BLINDFOLDING HIMSELF?
- AMOS ALWAYS BRINGS A LOT OF FUN AND FLAIR TO THE COURSE,
BUT I REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S THE SMARTEST APPROACH.
- WELL, EITHER WAY, HE'S MAKING A STATEMENT RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS SOMETHING OUT OF THE KARATE KID.
I DON'T KNOW IF MR. MIYAGI WOULD APPROVE.
AMOS ALWAYS GIVING THE CROWD SOMETHING THEY'VE NEVER SEEN.
- [laughing]
- BLINDFOLDED! AND THE CROWD HERE LOVES IT!
- OH, THAT IS-- THAT'S THE BEST EVER.
- THAT'S JUST SHOWING OFF.
- NO, THAT'S NOT SHOWING OFF. HE IS A TRUE JEDI WARRIOR.
both: WHOA! - ON TO THE JUMP HANG KAI.
AMOS RENDAO IS NEVER ONE TO HOLD BACK.
SOMETIMES IT COSTS HIM,
BUT THAT'S HOW HE APPROACHES LIFE.
THAT'S HOW HE'S APPROACHING THIS COURSE.
- MAN, YOU GOTTA HIT THIS COURSE LIKE YOU LIVE--HARD AND FAST.
- WELL, THE CROWD IS LOVING AMOS RENDAO.
A GO-FOR-BROKE APPROACH.
- YOU KNOW, IT'S FUN TO WATCH FOR SURE,
BUT IT'S RISKY.
JUST ONE MISTAKE AND IT WILL ALL BE OVER FOR FAMOUS AMOS.
- THAT'S TRUE, AKBAR,
BUT HE SEEMS UNFAZED BY THE RISK.
AMOS RENDAO LOOKING SO COMFORTABLE ON THIS COURSE.
- SO FAR, HE HAS SHOWN NOTHING BUT CONFIDENCE.
- AND RIGHT UP THE WARPED WALL.
I TELL YOU WHAT, HE HAS INFUSED THIS CROWD WITH ENERGY.
A ROLL THERE. RIGHT INTO THE SALMON LADDER.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
both: OH!
- AND AMOS RENDAO OUT ON THE SALMON LADDER.
- WHAT A SHAME. SUCH AN EXCITING RUN.
BUT COULD ANYONE KEEP UP A PACE LIKE THAT?
- WELL, I GOTTA SAY, WHILE I LOVE THE APPROACH,
I'M DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN
WHAT A MAN AS SKILLED AS AMOS IS
COULD'VE DONE ON MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
WELL, LET'S GO TO JENN TO FIND OUT
EXACTLY WHY AMOS TOOK THAT APPROACH.
- THANKS, GUYS.
AMOS, I'M--I HAVE TO SAY I'M VERY SURPRISED
TO SEE YOU GO OUT ON THE SALMON LADDER.
WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED?
- UH, I WAS JUST GOING FAST. DIDN'T TAKE A REST.
- WAS YOUR GOAL TO COMPLETE THE COURSE
AS FAST AS YOU COULD, OR WHAT?
- YEAH, IT'S JUST MORE FUN LIKE THAT.
- WELL, SPEAKING OF FUN,
THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SEEN ANYONE
ATTEMPT THE QUINTUPLE STEPS
AND SUCCESSFULLY DO IT BLINDFOLDED.
WHAT WERE YOU THINKING THERE?
- I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE MORE INTERESTING AS WELL.
- WE HAD A GREAT TIME WATCHING YOU.
THANKS FOR COMING OUT.
SORRY TO SEE YOU GO HOME LIKE THIS THOUGH.
UP NEXT, LOOKING TO BE THE FIRST FINISHER OF THE NIGHT,
HE'S A 28-YEAR-OLD FIREFIGHTER OUT OF DALLAS, TEXAS--
ADAM PARKHURST.
AND THIS IS A MAN WHO NEVER RUNS AWAY FROM DANGER.
- ADAM PARKHURST LIVES FOR ADVENTURE,
FROM HIS JOB...
- I WORK AS A FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC
AT THE EULESS FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND I'M A DISASTER MEDICAL SPECIALIST
WITH TEXAS TASK FORCE ONE'S URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM.
- TO HIS HOBBIES, LIKE ROCK CLIMBING AND KUNG FU.
- [laughing]
AND HIS LATEST ADRENALINE BOOSTER?
AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
- I GUARANTEE THERE WILL BE SOME EXCITEMENT
ON TONIGHT'S FINAL COURSE.
TAKING A CAUTIOUS, TWO-FOOTED APPROACH HERE
ON THE QUINTUPLE STEPS
DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE AN EARLY EXIT.
- NOW, REMEMBER, ADAM, AS A ROOKIE,
HE MADE IT THROUGH THE QUALIFYING ROUND,
BUT NOW HE HAS TO STEP IT UP IN THE FINALS.
- HE'S A DISASTER MEDICAL SPECIALIST
WITH THE DALLAS URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM.
THIS GUY DEALS WITH SERIOUS BAD SITUATIONS.
WHEREVER IT'S MOST HAZARDOUS, THAT'S WHERE ADAM HEADS.
- WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S HAZARDOUS IS
THIS NEW FINALS COURSE.
TOUGH FALL, BUT HE'S UP.
HAS A BLACK BELT IN KUNG FU,
SO HE CAN TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A BEATING.
THIS IS A GUY WHO LIKES TO BE CAPTURED BY THE MOMENT,
AND RIGHT NOW, HIS MOMENT IS ON THIS COURSE.
- OH, GRABS THE CARGO NET AND HAS A WILD SWING,
BUT HE'S HOLDING ON.
- MATT, THE CARGO NET WAS PUSHED OUT A FOOT
SINCE QUALIFYING, MAKING THE GRAB EVEN HARDER.
BUT PARKHURST IS A ROCK CLIMBER,
AND WAS ABLE TO LOCK HIS GRIP
AND HOLD ONTO THE NET.
- STILL LOOKING A BIT AWKWARD MOVING ACROSS...
BUT HE DOES IT, AND HE'S ON TO THE GRIP HANG.
- MATT, THIS GUY SPENDS HIS DAYS
RUNNING TOWARDS BURNING BUILDINGS,
SO WE KNOW HE'S COOL UNDER PRESSURE.
BUT I GOTTA SAY, HE DOES LOOK A LITTLE WORRIED
GOING ON TO THE GRIP HANG.
- THE GRIP HANG MAY BE FAMILIAR FROM QUALIFYING,
BUT THE DIFFICULTY HAS BEEN RAMPED UP.
- WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE, SINCE QUALIFYING,
WE'VE INCREASED THE TRANSITION DISTANCE
BETWEEN RAIL SETS FROM 36 TO 40 INCHES.
- BARELY HANGS ON.
- YEAH. AT 185 POUNDS, THAT'S A LOT OF WEIGHT
TO MOVE ACROSS THIS OBSTACLE.
- HAS A BIG SWING.
AND, OH! DOWN GOES PARKHURST!
AND THIS DENVER FINALS COURSE CLAIMS ANOTHER VICTIM
IN ADAM PARKHURST.
- JUST SLIPPED.
FARTHER GAP.
LOST MY GRIP, MAN.
DO WHAT YOU CAN DO.
- UP NEXT, LOOKING TO SECURE A SPOT
IN THE NATIONAL FINALS, THE 30-YEAR-OLD GYMNAST
FROM CHANUTE, KANSAS, CASEY FINLEY.
WHEN CASEY FINLEY FLEW THROUGH THE QUALIFYING COURSE
WITH THE SEVENTH-FASTEST TIME,
PEOPLE TOOK NOTE OF THIS UNKNOWN ROOKIE.
BUT THERE'S ONE PERSON
IN THE AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR FAMILY
WHO WAS NOT SURPRISED BY CASEY'S PERFORMANCE--
THE LEGEND HIMSELF, BRENT STEFFENSEN.
- BRENT STEFFENSEN AND I DO TRAMPOLINE SHOWS TOGETHER.
MY MAIN GOAL IS TO SHOW EVERYONE
WHAT I AM CAPABLE OF.
- BRENT HAS ALWAYS HAD THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE
IN CASEY'S ABILITIES AS AN ATHLETE.
HE'S BEEN TRYING TO CONVINCE ME FOR THREE OR FOUR YEARS
TO COME OUT AND DO IT, AND HE'S GIVING ME THE ELBOW--
"COME ON, MAN, COME ON, MAN. YOU GOTTA DO IT."
- BUT FOR CASEY, BEING BRENT'S FRIEND
COMES WITH A LOT OF EXPECTATIONS.
- FOR BRENT DOING AS GOOD AS HE DID,
IT PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON.
I FEEL LIKE I'M AS GOOD AS AN ATHLETE AS HE IS.
WE'LL SEE WHO-- WHO COMES OUT THE BEST.
- THIS IS A GUY WHO WAS SO FAST IN QUALIFYING--WHOA!
HEY, A LITTLE SLIP THERE ON THE QUINTUPLE STEPS.
HE MAY WANT TO TAKE IT EASY AND CONCENTRATE
ON FINISHING THIS FINALS COURSE.
- NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN.
JUMPS OFF THE ROLLING LOG.
GETTING SET FOR THE ROTATING BRIDGE.
- THE GYMNAST PICKING HIS LINE THROUGH THE ROTATING BRIDGE.
AND HE GOES STRAIGHT ACROSS.
BALANCE IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR FINLEY.
- HE'S ON TO THE JUMP HANG KAI.
- JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A TRAMPOLINIST
DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN TAKE THIS OBSTACLE FOR GRANTED.
OH!
- WAS THE SEVENTH FASTEST IN QUALIFYING,
AND HAS A SIMILAR PACE SO FAR TONIGHT.
- WHAT AN ATHLETE
YOU KNOW, BRENT STEFFENSEN SAID TO WATCH OUT FOR THIS GUY,
AND HE WASN'T KIDDING.
CASEY FINLEY HAS SKILLS.
- WHICH MAKES SENSE. HE TRAINS HARD, AKBAR.
OWNS A GYMNASTICS GYM IN CHANUTE, KANSAS,
WITH HIS WIFE.
SAYS HIS 2 1/2-YEAR-OLD SON CAN ALREADY DO BACK FLIPS.
- THAT WAS CONTROL. SUCH A SOFT LANDING.
HE KEEPS HIS ARMS BENT THE ENTIRE TIME,
AND HE'S JUST FLYING THROUGH THE GRIP HANG.
[cheering]
- REMEMBER, IN QUALIFYING IT TOOK HIM TWO TIMES
TO GET UP THE WARPED WALL.
BUT NOT TONIGHT. GOES RIGHT TO THE TOP.
- HE MAY BE IN TROUBLE. HE'S LOOKING A LITTLE WINDED
GOING INTO THE SALMON LADDER.
- IT'S TRUE, AKBAR, AND ONCE HE'S UP
AND ON THE SALMON LADDER,
NO REST FOR HIS UPPER BODY
UNTIL AFTER THE FLOATING STAIRS.
WHOA, GOING RIGHT AT IT.
AND DOESN'T STOP.
AND THAT IS HOW YOU DO THE SALMON LADDER.
NOW ON TO THE FLOATING STAIRS.
WE SAW JAKE SMITH GO OUT HERE EARLIER,
BUT CASEY LOOKING STRONG.
- THIS IS TRUE ATHLETICISM, MATT.
FIRST TIME ON EITHER OF THESE OBSTACLES,
AND HE'S IN FULL BEAST MODE.
- ONE HAND OVER, ONE HAND UNDER.
FINLEY'S PRECISE IN HIS MOVEMENT.
AKBAR, HE'S IN TROUBLE NOW.
HE NEEDS TO GRAB THAT TOP STEP TO MOVE ON.
OH, HE'S GOT IT!
AND STICKS THE DISMOUNT!
OUR FIRST ATHLETE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE FLOATING STAIRS.
AND NOW MOVING ON TO THE POLE GRASPER.
- FINLEY FINALLY SHOWING SIGNS OF FATIGUE, AND THAT'S NOT GOOD.
HE'S THE FIRST OF OUR COMPETITORS TONIGHT
TO MAKE IT TO THE NINTH OBSTACLE.
THIS OBSTACLE IS SO DIFFICULT, AND NOT JUST PHYSICALLY,
BUT MENTALLY.
YOU NEED TO HAVE A CLEAR PLAN
ON HOW TO GET THROUGH THESE POLES
BEFORE YOU START.
YOU WAIT TILL YOU'RE UP THERE,
YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING SWIMMING.
YOU CAN SEE HIM, HE'S REACHING,
AND JUST BARELY MADE THE HOP
WITHOUT GOING INTO THE WATER.
- YEAH, NO PROBLEM ON THE NEAR POLE.
NOW SWINGS OVER AND GRABS ON ONE MORE TIME.
HE REALLY HAS TO BE FEELING SOME ARM PUMP AT THIS POINT.
- OH, THAT SLIDE ON THE TRANSITION COSTING HIM,
FORCING HIM TO EXPEND ENERGY
HIS BODY JUST DOESN'T HAVE.
CLIMBING UP FOR THE NEXT TRANSITION.
THIS IS A BIG SPACE BETWEEN POLES.
OH, MISSED THE GRAB, AND HE'S OUT
ONLY TWO POLES AWAY FROM THE FINAL OBSTACLE.
- MATT, I THINK THIS IS A CLASSIC CASE OF RUSHING
DUE TO FATIGUE.
HE TRIED TO HOP FROM ONE POLE TO THE NEXT,
BUT WHEN HIS RIGHT HAND MISSED A GRAB,
HIS FATE WAS SEALED.
[air horn blares]
- CASEY FINLEY, THE FIRST TO MAKE IT
TO THE POLE GRASPER TONIGHT,
BUT STILL FALLING SHORT OF THE ULTIMATE GOAL.
- NO GRIP. NO GRIP.
UP NEXT, LOOKING TO STOP THIS STREAK OF FAILURE,
IS SAM SANN.
WHEN IT COMES TO REACHING THE DENVER FINALS,
NO ONE HAS COME FARTHER THAN SAM SANN.
- I GREW UP IN CAMBODIA
THE FIRST 12 YEARS OF MY LIFE.
WHEN I WAS FIVE, I WAS SEPARATED
FROM MY MOM, TWO SISTERS, AND THREE BROTHERS.
THAT'S WHEN THE COMMUNISTS TOOK OVER CAMBODIA.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE ALL HAD TO-- FLED OUR HOME.
- A REFUGEE FROM COMMUNISM, SAM FLED TO THE U.S.
OVER 30 YEARS AGO.
AND SINCE THEN, HE'S SPENT HIS WHOLE LIFE
BUILDING THE AMERICAN DREAM.
- YOU HAVE TO DREAM BIG. IF YOU CAN DREAM BIG,
I THINK YOU CAN REACH ANYTHING.
- HIS LATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT, OPENING HS OWN
AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR GYM.
AND AFTER HIS AWE-INSPIRING RUN IN DENVER QUALIFYING,
WHERE SAM FOUGHT THROUGH A SEVERE ANKLE SPRAIN TO FINISH,
HE'S WELL ON HIS WAY TO HIS GOAL
OF BEING AN AMBASSADOR FOR THE SPORT.
- BASICALLY, I LIVE AND BREATHE AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
[cheers and applause]
- AND THERE'S SAM'S WIFE AND DAUGHTER,
SO EXCITED TO SEE HIM RUN TONIGHT.
SAM SANN, SUCH AN INSPIRATION.
DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
YOU CAN SEE THAT LEFT ANKLE TAPED UP.
INJURED IT IN THE QUALIFYING COURSE.
HAS BEEN BOTHERING HIM EVER SINCE,
BUT SAYS HE WOULDN'T MISS THIS FOR THE WORLD.
UH-OH.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S RE-INJURED THAT LEFT ANKLE.
THAT IS NOT A GOOD SIGN.
- MATT, IT TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON
TO WORK THROUGH INJURY 'CAUSE IT CAN GET IN YOUR HEAD.
- BUT THERE'S NO QUIT. SAM SANN IS CONTINUING.
THIS IS A GUY WHO ESCAPED A CAMBODIAN WORK CAMP
AT THE AGE OF EIGHT.
A SPRAINED ANKLE IS NOT GONNA SLOW THIS MAN DOWN.
- YOU DON'T THINK HE UNDERSTANDS
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE TOUGH?
- LOOK AT THAT! AMAZING!
PUTS HIS FULL WEIGHT ON THE ANKLE
DESPITE THE PAIN.
- WELL, IF THAT ANKLE IS HURTING,
WE'LL REALLY SEE IT BE TESTED HERE ON THE MINI ***.
AND I'M NOT SURE HE'S EVEN GONNA BE ABLE TO GO FOR IT.
- THE CARGO NET HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK ANOTHER FOOT
SINCE QUALIFYING, MAKING IT A 9 1/2-FOOT GAP
FROM THE PLATFORM TO THE NET.
SAM IS GONNA NEED TO HIT THAT MINI ***
WITH ALL THE FORCE HIS ANKLE CAN HANDLE
TO GET THE BOOST HE NEEDS.
UNBELIEVABLE! JUST REMARKABLE!
[cheering]
RE-INJURED IT ON THE QUINTUPLE STEPS.
NOW ON HIS WAY TO GETTING THROUGH
THE FOURTH OBSTACLE WITH A BADLY SPRAINED ANKLE.
- WHILE I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT,
I REALLY HAVE FAITH THAT SAM SANN CAN MAKE IT
THROUGH THE GRIP HANG.
THE WARPED WALL IS GONNA BE HIS BIGGEST CHALLENGE.
- HIS RESOLVE IS-- IT'S TRULY AWE-INSPIRING.
AND REMEMBER, BACK IN QUALIFYING,
HE ALMOST FELL OFF THIS TWICE.
AND NOW THE DISTANCE HAS INCREASED
FROM 36 TO 40 INCHES.
- AND HE'S DONE IT.
MY GOODNESS, WHAT A PERFORMANCE BY SAM SANN.
- A BIG SWING TO COMPENSATE THE INCREASED DISTANCE
BETWEEN RAIL SETS.
OH, MISSES WITH THE LEFT HAND BUT DOESN'T LET GO.
- WE'VE SEEN THAT BEFORE! WE'VE SEEN THAT BEFORE!
- SAM SANN, TRULY REMARKABLE.
LET'S SEE IF HE CAN MAKE THIS LANDING.
GONNA FAVOR THAT RIGHT FOOT.
NOW, NO HIDING THE ANKLE-- THE WARPED WALL.
THE CROWD CHEERING HIM ON.
THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SEEING HERE.
THIS IS A PERFORMANCE FOR THE AGES.
LOOK AT THE GRIMACE ON HIS FACE.
BUT HE REFUSES TO TAP OUT.
- IF SAM SANN MAKES IT UP THIS WARPED WALL,
I MIGHT JUMP OUT OF THE BOOTH
AND PICK HIM UP OVER MY HEAD.
FORGET ABOUT IT. - OH, MY GOSH!
GOT HIS RIGHT HAND UP BUT COULDN'T HOLD ON.
AND YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH THAT LEFT ANKLE IS HURTING HIM.
LOOK, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND
HOW HE GOT TO THE TOP OF THE WARPED WALL
WITH NO LEFT ANKLE.
I AM SO INSPIRED BY SAM SANN.
- OH! OH, OH, MAN! - TOUGH FALL.
- SOMETIMES YOU WONDER,
IS DISCRETION THE BETTER PART OF VALOR?
YOU DON'T WANT HIM TO DO ANY PERMANENT DAMAGE.
BUT THERE IS NO QUIT IN THIS COMPETITOR.
crowd: [chanting] SAM! SAM! SAM! SAM...
- FINAL ATTEMPT ON THE WARPED WALL.
YES! SAM SANN DOES IT!
- BY THE FINGERTIPS.
AND HE BOWS DOWN, KISSES THE TOP OF THE WARPED WALL.
THE CROWD ERUPTING.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T CARE
WHAT THE SCOREBOARD SAYS.
IN MY BOOK, SAM SANN IS A WINNER.
- SAM HAS SO MUCH HEART.
HIS ANKLE'S INJURED, BUT THE NEXT THREE OBSTACLES
ARE ALL UPPER BODY, SO HE MIGHT ACTUALLY
BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE BUZZER.
- OH! - OH!
- WELL, SAM SANN GOES OUT ON THE SALMON LADDER,
BUT AGAIN, ONE OF THE MOST COURAGEOUS,
GUTTIEST PERFORMANCES I'VE SEEN IN THE HISTORY
OF AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
- UP NEXT, LOOKING TO BE THE FIRST TO HIT THE BUZZER,
A 35-YEAR-OLD FORMER PROFESSIONAL ROCK CLIMBER,
BRIAN ARNOLD.
WHEN BRIAN ARNOLD WALKED AWAY FROM PROFESSIONAL ROCK CLIMBING
TWO YEARS AGO, HE KNEW HE WANTED A JOB
THAT WOULD MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM.
SO WHEN A POSITION OPENED UP AT THE LOCAL NURSING HOME,
HE JUMPED AT IT.
- I'M IN CHARGE OF THE WHOLE FACILITY HERE.
I'VE BEEN WORKING HERE ALMOST TWO YEARS,
AND I LOVE IT.
MY GRANDPARENTS ARE DEAD, SO IT'S LIKE I HAVE
A NEW SET OF GRANDPARENTS.
NOW I JUST DON'T HAVE ONE, I HAVE, LIKE, 100.
AND THEY'RE JUST FUN TO TALK WITH AND GET TO KNOW.
- AND ALTHOUGH ROCK CLIMBING IS NO LONGER HIS CAREER,
BRIAN STILL TAKES HIS TRAINING SERIOUSLY.
- WHEN I'M IN REAL TRAINING MODE,
I'LL GO AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK.
- BECAUSE THERE'S STILL ONE MOUNTAIN
HE WOULD LIKE TO SUMMIT-- MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
- I'M GONNA BE THE FIRST AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR
BECAUSE OF MY PHYSICAL PROWESS,
AND BECAUSE I'M MENTALLY STRONG.
- COME ON. YOU GOT THIS.
AND THERE'S HIS PREGNANT WIFE AND STEP-KIDS,
CORBIN AND FANTASIA.
- BOUNDS THROUGH THE QUINTUPLE STEPS.
BRIAN JUST A SWEETHEART OF A GUY,
BUT DON'T LET HIS HUMBLE PERSONALITY FOOL YOU.
HE MADE IT TO MOUNT MIDORIYAMA LAST YEAR
AND HAS BEEN TRAINING TO BEAT IT EVER SINCE.
- COME ON, BRIAN!
- YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE BRIAN PUT ON SOME MUSCLE MASS
SINCE LAST YEAR.
HE'S BEEN TRAINING HARD,
GETTING OUT ROCK CLIMBING.
AND THE ROTATING BRIDGE, NO PROBLEM FOR THE VETERAN.
- NOW THE JUMP HANG KAI,
THE CARGO NET 9 1/2 FEET AWAY FROM THAT MINI ***.
SO HE'S GONNA NEED A BIG BOOST.
HE FLIES LIKE SUPERMAN AND GRABS A HOLD
OF THE CARGO NET.
BUT THIS IS WHERE THE EXTRA MASS
COULD START TO SLOW HIM DOWN.
- THE CARGO NET A DECEPTIVELY DIFFICULT OBSTACLE.
ROBS YOU OF YOUR FOREARM STRENGTH PRETTY QUICKLY.
AND THERE'S HIS FAMILY GIVING SUPPORT FROM THE SIDELINES.
- HE'S ON TO THE GRIP HANG.
NOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT A CLIMBER SHOULD
BE ABLE TO DO.
- ABSOLUTELY, AND AT 35 YEARS OLD,
BRIAN IS ONE OF THE ELDER STATESMEN
IN OUR FINALS GROUP.
YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT, THOUGH-- LOOK AT HIM FLY
THROUGH THE GRIP HANG.
GOT A BIG SWING GOING. THIS IS A CALCULATED RUN.
YOU KNOW, TAKING HIS TIME IS A GOOD MOVE FOR THE VETERAN.
FINISHING THE COURSE IS ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS RIGHT NOW.
COMPLETED THE GRIP HANG, AND NOW ON TO THE WARPED WALL.
HE MADE IT UP THE WARPED WALL ON THE FIRST TRY IN QUALIFYING.
- LISTEN TO THE CROWD.
THEY ARE DEFINITELY ON BRIAN'S SIDE.
crowd: BEAT THE WALL! BEAT THE WALL!
- ARNOLD GEARING UP.
AND HE'S GOT IT.
RIGHT UP THE WARPED WALL, AND HE'S MOVING ON
TO THE EXTENDED PART OF THE FINALS COURSE.
WE'VE SEEN SO MANY SOLID COMPETITORS
GO OUT ON THIS OBSTACLE TONIGHT.
JUST TAKES SO MUCH UPPER-BODY STRENGTH
TO GET THROUGH IT.
AND SMART TO GIVE THAT MINI *** A LITTLE TEST BOUNCE.
SIMPLE MISTAKES CAN SPELL THE END OF THE RUN.
- MATT, JUST LOOK AT HIS ARMS.
KEEPING THEM BENT AT 90 DEGREES.
NOW, THIS IS THE TECHNIQUE WE WANT TO SEE
ON THE SALMON LADDER.
HE JUST LOOKS BIG TIME.
UPPER BODY STRENGTH COMING INTO PLAY HERE.
AND LOOK AT HOW FAST.
HE'S FLYING THROUGH THE FLOATING STAIRS.
TALK ABOUT PURE ROCK-CLIMBING STRENGTH.
ALREADY THROUGH THE FLOATING STAIRS.
ONLY THE SECOND COMPETITOR TONIGHT.
AND HE MADE IT LOOK EASY.
BUT NOW IT'S THE POLE GRASPER.
WE'VE SEEN ONLY CASEY FINLEY ATTEMPT THIS.
BUT WITH BRIAN ARNOLD'S FREE-CLIMBING BACKGROUND,
WE MAY SEE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH.
- YOU KNOW, CLIMBERS REALLY HAVE THE ABILITY
TO USE THEIR HANDS AND FEET TO PRODUCE GREAT RESULTS.
- OH, WOW, BARELY ON THE FIRST POLE
BEFORE ALREADY REACHING OUT FOR THE SECOND.
HE IS NOTHING SHORT OF GRACEFUL.
HE IS NOT STOPPING.
HE IS JUST SWINGING THROUGH THESE POLES LIKE TARZAN.
THREE POINTS OF CONTACT BEFORE REACHING OUT EACH TIME.
AND QUICKLY MAKES IT THROUGH.
HE IS OUR FIRST ATHLETE
TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE POLE GRASPER.
AND BRIAN ARNOLD ONE OBSTACLE AWAY
FROM PUNCHING HIS TICKET TO THE NATIONAL FINALS.
all: GO, NINJA, GO, NINJA, GO! GO, NINJA...
- HE LOOKS COLD AS ICE,
BUT YOU CAN SEE THE EXCITEMENT IN HIS FAMILY'S FACES.
- A LITTLE SLIP ON THE MOUNT, BUT FINDING HIS STABILITY.
- DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE SPIDER CLIMB.
TWO ATHLETES FELL ON THIS IN THE VENICE FINALS.
- WELL, HE'S GOING, BUT HAS AN AWKWARD POSITION.
I DON'T THINK HE GOT HIS HIPS IN THE RIGHT SPOT
BEFORE LOCKING HIS LEGS, BUT HE'S MAKING IT.
AWKWARD OR NOT, HE'S ALMOST THERE.
HIS TONGUE IS OUT.
A LITTLE CALLBACK TO MICHAEL JORDAN.
AND HE'S DONE IT! [victory horn blares]
BRIAN ARNOLD IS GOING TO LAS VEGAS.
AN INCREDIBLY SOLID RUN.
- WHAT AN EXCEPTIONAL RUN. HE HAS NOW SET
A NEW BAR FOR CONSISTENCY ON THIS COURSE.
HE WAS FLAWLESS ON EVERY SINGLE OBSTACLE
AND IS DESERVEDLY THE FIRST TO RESERVE
HIS GUARANTEED SPOT IN THE VEGAS FINALS.
- LET'S GO DOWN TO JENN, WHO'S WITH BRIAN ARNOLD NOW.
- THANKS, MATT. CONGRATULATIONS, BRIAN.
WHAT'S IT LIKE? I JUST SAW YOU HUG YOUR WIFE
AND YOUR KIDS.
WHAT'S IT LIKE BEING ABLE TO COMPETE HERE
IN FRONT OF THEM, AND DO SO WELL.
- OH, IT'S AMAZING.
LAST YEAR I RAN, AND THEY WEREN'T THERE.
AND IT JUST MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO HAVE THEM THERE
AND HAVE THAT SUPPORT.
AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, LOVE 'EM TO DEATH.
SO TO HAVE THEM HERE TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCE IS--
IT'S AMAZING.
- WELL, YOU ARE GOING BACK TO VEGAS.
HOW DOES THAT FEEL?
- MAN, I'M JUST EXCITED.
- [chuckles] I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT.
CONGRATULATIONS.
UP NEXT, FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS,
IT'S 27-YEAR-OLD MOUNT MIDORIYAMA VETERAN
TREMAYNE DORTCH.
FOR TREMAYNE, AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR IS
THE LOGICAL CULMINATION OF A LIFETIME OF FITNESS.
FROM FOOTBALL TO BOXING TO PERSONAL TRAINING...
- LIFT THE KNEES AND DRIVE.
- TREMAYNE HAS ALWAYS PRIDED HIMSELF ON HIS PHYSICAL ABILITY.
BUT LAST YEAR AT MOUNT MIDORIYAMA,
HE WAS STUNNED BY A DISAPPOINTING EARLY FALL.
[air horn blares]
- I'M SUCH A COMPETITOR,
AND I LOVE TO GO 100% EVERY TIME,
SO I PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON MYSELF.
SO TO FALL AT THAT POINT, KNOWING THAT I FELT LIKE
I COULD DO MORE, HIT ME KIND OF HARD.
BUT IT'S JUST--IT JUST PUMPED ME UP FOR IT THIS YEAR.
- HIS WIFE AND BABY COULDN'T MAKE THE TRIP TO THE COURSE,
BUT THE OTHER WOMAN IN HIS LIFE IS SCREAMING FOR HIM
FROM THE SIDELINES.
TREMAYNE'S MOM IS FIRED UP AND READY
TO WATCH HIM COMPETE.
PERSONAL TRAINER, 5'9", 160.
OBVIOUSLY IN GREAT PHYSICAL SHAPE.
FORMER GOLDEN GLOVES BOXER AND COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER.
SO GOOD ATHLETIC BACKGROUND FOR DORTCH.
BUT HE'S LACKING EXPERIENCE IN TWO OF THE SPORTS
WE COMMONLY SEE OUT HERE, PARKOUR AND ROCK CLIMBING.
HE'S REPRESENTING THE "OTHERS," AS YOU MIGHT SAY.
- THAT'S A BIG CATEGORY.
REPRESENTING THE OTHER SPORTS.
- DORTCH DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS A BEAST
- THIS LEAP IS A LOT FURTHER THAN IT WAS IN QUALIFYING.
- THE ADDITIONAL FOOT THERE ON THE JUMP HANG KAI,
AND DORTCH...
BODY ALMOST PERFECTLY HORIZONTAL THERE ON THE LEAP.
- YOU KNOW, THAT SLACK CAN MAKE IT SO TAXING ON THE BODY.
- IT LOOKS EASY ON THE CARGO NET,
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT IS EXHAUSTING.
- HE'S A PERSONAL TRAINER, AND YOU CAN TELL.
HE IS ABSOLUTELY SHREDDED.
A NICE BIG SWING FOR THE FIRST GAP.
- GOOD TRANSITION THERE OUT OF DORTCH.
LOOKING COMFORTABLE-- THE ARMS AT 90 DEGREES.
LOOKS IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF HIS BODY.
VERY COMFORTABLE ON THE GRIP HANG.
- TREMAYNE IS AN ALL-AROUND ATHLETE.
YOU KNOW, A GUY THAT CAN DO A LITTLE BIT OF FOOTBALL,
A LITTLE BIT OF BOXING.
AND NOW A LITTLE BIT OF AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
- WELL, THIS IS A GUY WHO MADE IT TO LAS VEGAS LAST YEAR.
A PHENOMENAL PERFORMANCE IN HIS ROOKIE SEASON.
OH!
MOM'S CERTAINLY HAPPY HE MADE IT TO THE EXTENDED COURSE.
- LET ME TELL YOU, I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH
HOW HARD THIS IS ON THE UPPER BODY.
- A GOOD MOUNT THERE ONTO THE BAR.
STOPS THAT BODY FROM SWAYING.
GOOD KIP OUT OF THE BODY.
- LOOK AT HIS LATS.
160 POUNDS, AND NONE OF THAT FAT.
THIS GUY IS BUILT LIKE A COMIC BOOK SUPERHERO.
LOOK AT THIS. THIS IS TREMENDOUS.
NOT A ROCK CLIMBER, BUT THE ARMS AT 90 DEGREES.
- LOOK AT THAT! - GREAT UPPER-BODY STRENGTH.
GREAT FORM.
- YOU CAN SEE EVERY FIBER IN HIS MUSCLE.
- WOW. I AM TRULY IMPRESSED.
DORTCH IS A BEAST. A FANTASTIC RUN THERE.
MATT, HE DID IT.
TREMAYNE IS ONLY THE THIRD COMPETITOR TONIGHT
TO BEST THE FLOATING STAIRS.
- DORTCH HAVING TO TAKE ON THE POLE GRASPER
WITH VERY LITTLE FRAME OF REFERENCE.
I DOUBT HE'S SEEN ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS BEFORE.
- THIS IS A TOUGH ONE, MATT.
YOU NEED GRIP, UPPER-BODY STRENGTH,
FLEXIBILITY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
A SOLID PLAN TO MAKE IT TO THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE POLE GRASPER.
HE LOOKS A LITTLE LOST OUT THERE, AND I DON'T BLAME HIM.
SEVEN VERTICAL POLES SPACED DIFFERENTLY.
IT'S DEFINITELY CONFUSING.
I WONDER IF HE'S FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO MAKE THE REACH.
- THE POLE HAS SOME FLEXIBILITY THERE, WILL SWAY.
AND HE'S REACHING WITH HIS FOOT FIRST.
I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, AKBAR.
HE MAY LACK THE FLEXIBILITY.
TREMAYNE NEEDS A PLAN.
HE IS WASTING VALUABLE ENERGY RIGHT NOW.
- I WOULD USE THE HOPPING TECHNIQUE.
HOP FROM ONE POLE TO THE NEXT.
- WELL, YOU CAN SEE HE JUST CAN'T MAINTAIN
THE GRIP STRENGTH-- HE'S SLIDING DOWN.
I THINK DORTCH IS IN TROUBLE HERE.
- YEAH, HE'S IN TROUBLE.
HE CAN TRY TO HOP TO THE NEXT POLE,
WHICH MIGHT BE POSSIBLE,
BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT IDEAL.
OHH!
- LOOKS LIKE HE JUST DIDN'T HAVE
THE RIGHT ANGLE ON THE HOP.
- A VALIANT EFFORT BY TREMAYNE DORTCH,
BUT NOT ENOUGH TO AVOID BEING THE LATEST VICTIM
OF THIS EPIC FINALS COURSE.
ON THE STARTING BLOCKS NOW, LOOKING TO END THIS NIGHT
ON A HIGH NOTE, SOFTWARE ENGINEER
AND THREE-TIME MOUNT MIDORIYAMA VETERAN,
PAUL KASEMIR.
ONE ATHLETE WHO CAN'T BE DEFINED
BY ANY ONE STEREOTYPE IS PAUL KASEMIR.
I'M KIND OF A DOUBLE PERSONALITY.
I HAVE MY 9:00-5:00 JOB, GO TO WORK, WORK IN A LAB,
AND HACKING AWAY AT A COMPUTER WRITING SOURCE CODE
FOR EIGHT HOURS A DAY.
BUT OUTSIDE OF WORK, I GO AND PRACTICE CLIMBING
AND PARKOUR, LIKE, EVERY DAY.
- PAUL HAS TAKEN THE SKILLS HE'S LEARNED IN BOTH SPORTS
AND APPLIED THEM TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST
CONSISTENT ATHLETES IN AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR HISTORY.
- AND HE'S DONE IT!
AND HE IS GOING BACK TO MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
- BUT AFTER THREE TRIPS TO MOUNT MIDORIYAMA,
PAUL HAS A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THE COURSE.
- KNOWING THAT IT'S NOW BETWEEN ME AND THE COURSE,
NOT ME AND ALL THAT OTHER COMPETITORS--
THIS IS ME AGAINST MYSELF, REALLY.
THE COURSE IS A TEST OF MY ABILITY TO DO WELL.
- THIS TIME, MAKING IT TO THE NATIONAL FINALS
ISN'T ENOUGH.
THIS YEAR, IT'S ABOUT TOTAL VICTORY.
- I'VE BEEN WORKING AT THIS FOR FOUR YEARS,
AND IT'S RIGHT IN MY GRASP.
I CAN GRAB IT, BUT IT KEEPS GETTING AWAY,
SO I WANT TO GET IT THIS YEAR.
- AND THERE'S PAUL'S FAMILY ON THE SIDELINES.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE EVER SEEN HIM COMPETE
IN PERSON.
BOUNCING THROUGH THE QUINTUPLE STEPS LIKE A VETERAN
AND GOING RIGHT INTO THE ROLLING LOG.
KNOWN FOR HIS CONSISTENCY, HE WAS THE FIFTH FASTEST
IN QUALIFYING, AND SEEMS TO BE GUNNING
FOR A TOP TIME ONCE AGAIN.
RIGHT ACROSS THE ROTATING BRIDGE.
- OH HO! GREAT LEAP BY KASEMIR.
- HE'S NOT SLOWING DOWN OUT THERE.
QUICK WORK OF THE CARGO NET.
HOW LONG CAN HE KEEP UP THIS PACE?
THE THING I LOVE ABOUT KASEMIR IS THAT,
AS FAST AS HE EVER GOES,
I ALWAYS SEE THIS MAN IN CONTROL.
EXCELLENT BODY CONTROL, EXCELLENT STRENGTH,
AND EXCELLENT SKILLS.
HE IS THE TOTAL PACKAGE.
- LOOKING TO MAKE THIS EXTENDED TRANSITION.
AND HE'S DONE IT.
- QUIET CONSISTENCY-- THAT'S THE HALLMARK
OF PAUL KASEMIR.
[cheering] - THERE WE GO, SON!
- NOW THE WARPED WALL.
PAUL HAD NO PROBLEMS HERE IN QUALIFYING.
- OH, SO EASY UP THE WARPED WALL.
- LET'S SEE HOW HE DOES HERE.
SALMON LADDER I DON'T THINK WILL POSE A PROBLEM.
THE FLOATING STAIRS, THOUGH, THAT'S ANOTHER MATTER.
KASEMIR'S SUCCESS ON AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR
HAS MADE HIM SOMETHING OF A CELEBRITY.
HE ACTUALLY TOURS THE COUNTRY DOING DEMONSTRATIONS,
AND THE CROWD LOVES TO WATCH HIM PERFORM.
SO SOFT-SPOKEN, MAY NOT GET
THE RECOGNITION HE DESERVES,
BUT I THINK HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
LOOK AT THAT FORM. SUCH STRENGTH.
[crowd cheering]
YOU KNOW, IT LOOKED LIKE HIS GAS TANK WAS EMPTY,
BUT HE PUSHES THROUGH IT.
HE IS MAKING QUICK WORK OF THIS COURSE SO FAR.
HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE FLAWLESS
IF HE WANTS TO CLAIM THE TOP TIME.
- WHOA! TWO SPINS BEFORE SETTLING DOWN.
KASEMIR ADDING A LITTLE EXTRA FLAIR TO THE POLE GRASPER.
- HE'S USING THE SAME TECHNIQUE WE SAW
OTHER CLIMBERS USE-- THREE POINTS OF CONTACT,
LEADING WITH HIS FEET.
- HE'S BEEN STUDYING THE TANGO,
AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S DANCING HIS WAY
THROUGH THESE POLES.
- I'D LIKE FOR PAUL TO GET A LITTLE HIGHER ON THE POLES,
SO HE DOESN'T MAKE THAT ERROR AND SLIP.
- I JUST LOVE HIS ABILITY TO ADAPT TO NEW OBSTACLES.
LOOK AT THIS. AH, PAUL KASEMIR'S DONE IT!
ONE OBSTACLE BETWEEN HIM AND COMPLETING THIS FINALS COURSE.
- I DON'T THINK PAUL KASEMIR IS EVEN FATIGUED.
- EVEN IF HE IS FEELING FATIGUED,
HE MANAGES TO CONTROL IT.
DOESN'T LET IT IMPACT HIM AS NEGATIVELY
AS IT HAS OTHER ATHLETES.
- WELL, THE GREAT ATHLETES KNOW HOW TO BLOCK OUT PAIN,
KNOW HOW TO BLOCK OUT FATIGUE.
- AND HE'S GOING RIGHT UP THE SPIDER CLIMB.
NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN.
PAUL KASEMIR. HAS DONE IT AGAIN.
COMPLETED THIS FINALS COURSE,
AND HE'S GOING BACK TO MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
- AT NO POINT WAS I EVER WORRIED ABOUT PAUL KASEMIR.
YOU KNOW THAT THIS GUY IS AN EXTREME
AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR PRO.
- RIGHT NOW, LET'S GO TO JENN,
WHO'S STANDING BY WITH PAUL KASEMIR.
- THANKS, GUYS. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.
MAKING IT BACK TO MOUNT MIDORIYAMA
FOR THE FOURTH SEASON.
BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE HAD YOUR FAMILY HERE.
YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY HOMETOWN.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE HAVING THEM HERE WATCH YOU?
- OH, IT WAS GREAT HAVING THE SUPPORT.
AND IT DIDN'T DISTRACT ME TOO MUCH, SO THAT'S GOOD.
- GOOD, NO DISTRACTIONS.
NOW, YOU MADE IT TO STAGE TWO IN VEGAS.
WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON REDEMPTION FOR THIS SEASON?
- TRAIN HARDER AND DO BETTER.
- ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU COMPETE.
GREAT JOB TONIGHT. - THANK YOU.
- GUYS, BACK TO YOU.
- THANKS, JENN.
THAT THRILLING FINISH FROM PAUL KASEMIR
BRINGS THE DENVER CITY FINALS AND OUR NATIONWIDE SEARCH
TO A FITTING CLOSE.
- AFTER A RECORD-SETTING QUALIFYING ROUND,
THIS DENVER FINALS COURSE PROVES TO BE MUCH TOUGHER.
OUT OF THE 48 ATHLETES WHO COMPETED,
ONLY FIVE FOUND THEIR WAY TO THE TOP OF THE SPIDER CLIMB.
PAUL KASEMIR TAKES THE HONOR OF THE TOP SPOT
WITH FELLOW COLORADAN BRIAN ARNOLD
FINISHING IN THIRD.
THE REST OF THE TOP 15 IS FILLED OUT
BY THOSE ATHLETES WHO WENT THE FARTHEST THE FASTEST.
- NEXT WEEK, IT'S THE MOMENT WE'VE BEEN BUILDING TOWARD
ALL YEAR LONG.
JOIN US SUNDAY ON G4
AND MONDAY HERE ON NBC
FOR THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE,
WHEN THE BEST OF THE BEST FROM ALL FOUR CITIES
CONVERGE ON LAS VEGAS TO TACKLE MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
IT'S GOING TO BE EPIC.
FOR JENN BROWN AND AKBAR GBAJA-BIAMILA,
I'M MATT ISEMAN, AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME
ON AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.