Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>> THE EPIC QUEST BEGAN MONTHS
AGO, AS THOUSANDS OF HOPEFULS
FROM SIX REGIONS ACROSS THE
UNITED STATES...
>> I WILL BE THE FIRST.
>> I WILL BE THE FIRST.
>> I'LL BE THE FIRST.
>> I'LL BE THE FIRST...
>> AMERICAN...
>> NINJA...
>> WARRIOR.
>> EACH FOUGHT THROUGH PAIN...
[crowd screaming]
>> EXHAUSTION...
>> AAH!
>> AND THE COMPETITION...
>> [shouts]
>> TO EARN A SHOT AT THIS--THE
MOST BRUTAL OBSTACLE COURSE ON
THE PLANET, MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
AND NOW, AMERICA'S TOP 100
ATHLETES FROM MAINE TO MIAMI,
FROM ARIZONA TO ALASKA, AND ALL
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HAVE
TRAVELED TO LAS VEGAS TO TAKE ON
THE GREATEST ATHLETIC CHALLENGE
OF THEIR LIVES--THE FOUR
GRUELING STAGES OF MOUNT
MIDORIYAMA.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH HAS ARRIVED.
CAN ANY OF THESE FIERCE
COMPETITORS BEAT THE ODDS AND DO
WHAT NO AMERICAN HAS EVER DONE?
WHO WILL BECOME THE FIRST
AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR?
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
>> THIS IS MOUNT MIDORIYAMA, THE
WORLD'S TOUGHEST OBSTACLE
COURSE, WITH ITS FOUR GRUELING
STAGES.
THIS LEGENDARY BEAST HAS MOVED
FROM JAPAN TO AMERICA.
THIS ISN'T A KNOCKOFF.
THIS IS THE REAL DEAL.
I'M MATT ISEMAN, ALONGSIDE
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST JONNY
MOSELEY, AND WHAT BEGAN MONTHS
AGO WITH NEARLY 1,000
COMPETITORS FROM ALL CORNERS OF
THE U.S. ALL CULMINATES TONIGHT.
WE'VE ALREADY COMPLETED ACTION
IN THE FIRST OF FOUR STAGES, AND
NOW THE ATHLETES WHO HAVE
SURVIVED WILL TACKLE STAGE TWO,
WITH HOPES OF MOVING ONE STEP
CLOSER TO TOTAL VICTORY.
>> WELL, THE FASTEST AMERICAN TO
COMPLETE ALL FOUR STAGES WINS
MAJOR BRAGGING RIGHTS, MAKES
HISTORY, AND LEAVES VEGAS $1/2
MILLION RICHER.
>> WELL, BEFORE WE KICK THINGS
OFF, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE
STRUGGLE THESE ATHLETES ENDURED
TO GET TO THIS MOMENT.
100 ATHLETES ARRIVED HERE, EACH
WITH A UNIQUE SET OF ATHLETIC
SKILLS.
ALL SHARED THE SAME DREAM--TO
MAKE HISTORY AT MOUNT
MIDORIYAMA.
BUT AS THEY STEPPED TO THE
STARTING LINE IN STAGE ONE, THE
DREAM FOR MOST FELL VICTIM TO
REALITY.
WITH EIGHT OBSTACLES TO
CHALLENGE EVERY PHYSICAL SKILL,
STAGE ONE TOOK OUT 76 OF THE 100
FINALISTS, INCLUDING SOME OF THE
BIGGEST NAMES IN AMERICAN NINJA
WARRIOR HISTORY.
AW, DAVID CAMPBELL WENT OUT ON
THE SPINNING BRIDGE.
AW, JAKE SMITH CAN'T GET UP THE
WARPED WALL.
TIM SHIEFF, THE WORLD'S
FREE-RUNNING CHAMPION GOES DOWN.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
THE TWO DOZEN WHO SURVIVED THE
GRUELING GAUNTLET OF OBSTACLES
TO ADVANCE TO STAGE TWO INCLUDES
VETERANS AND ROOKIES, LIKE DEREK
NAKAMOTO, A 21-YEAR-OLD
ENGINEERING STUDENT WHO SHOCKED
EVERYONE WITH THE FASTEST TIME
IN STAGE ONE, LETTING THE WORLD
KNOW HE IS A FORCE TO CONTEND
WITH.
>> DEREK NAKAMOTO JUST PUT THE
REST OF THE FIELD ON NOTICE.
>> AND CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ACROBAT
REMI BAKKAR, WHO QUIT HIS JOB TO
COMPETE HERE, HOPING TO WIN THE
$1/2 MILLION TO SECURE A BETTER
FUTURE FOR HIS WIFE AND
DAUGHTER.
REMI BAKKAR EARNS THE RIGHT TO
MOVE ON TO STAGE TWO.
JAMES MCGRATH, THE STUDENT AND
ICE CREAM VENDOR FROM SEATTLE
WHO DOMINATED STAGE TWO LAST
YEAR, AND LOOKS TO BE ON TRACK
FOR ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE RUN HERE.
[cheering]
>> AND MOUNT MIDORIYAMA VETERAN
BRENT STEFFENSEN, BOLSTERED BY
THE 70-PLUS FAMILY MEMBERS WHO
TRAVELED HERE FROM ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY TO WIN THIS STAGE
PERFORMANCE.
>> TEAM BRENT!
TEAM BRENT!
>> THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS,
RIGHT HERE.
WELL, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.
ALMOST, ALMOST.
WHEN I GET TO THE TOP OF THE
FOURTH STAGE...
[cheering]
>> THOSE FOUR JOIN 20 OTHERS WHO
MOVE ON TO FACE STAGE TWO, A
GROUP THAT REPRESENTS EVERY PART
OF THE COUNTRY AND EVERY WALK OF
LIFE--24 ATHLETES IN ALL, EACH
WITH UNIQUE ATHLETIC SKILLS.
EACH FOUGHT THROUGH TWO ROUNDS
OF COMPETITION IN THEIR
REGIONALS, EACH SURVIVED THE
BRUTAL STAGE ONE HERE IN LAS
VEGAS, AND TONIGHT, THEY ALL AIM
TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP TOWARD
TOTAL VICTORY AT MOUNT
MIDORIYAMA.
AND IF THEY THOUGHT THE FIRST
STEP WAS HARD, WAIT UNTIL THEY
FACE THE NEXT ONE.
LET'S GO TO ANGELA SUN, WHO'S
STANDING BY TO TAKE US THROUGH
THE OBSTACLES IN STAGE TWO.
>> THANKS, MATT.
STAGE TWO IS BATHED IN DRAMATIC
LIGHT, BUT DON'T LET ITS BEAUTY
FOOL YOU.
UNDERNEATH ITS SHIMMERING
EXTERIOR LIES A MONSTROUS
COURSE.
THERE ARE SIX OBSTACLES IN ALL,
THE ENTIRE COURSE IS BUILT OVER
WATER, AND THEY HAVE 1:45 TO GET
TO THE FINISH LINE.
FIRST UP IN STAGE TWO IS THE
SLIDER DROP.
THEY MUST RIDE THE BAR 35 FEET
DOWN THE TRACK, SURVIVE A
14-INCH DROP, AND KEEP THE BAR
FROM SLIDING OFF THE RAILS.
NEXT, IT'S THE DOUBLE SALMON
LADDER.
TECHNIQUE HERE IS CRITICAL.
THEY MUST HOP THE BAR UP ONE
LADDER, THEN JUMP THE BAR ACROSS
TO THE OTHER SIDE AND CLIMB TO
THE TOP OF A SECOND LADDER.
FROM THERE, IT'S ON TO THE
UNSTABLE BRIDGE, A HAND-TRAVERSE
OVER TWO BOARDS.
THE FIRST IS SECURED ON ALL FOUR
CORNERS, BUT THE SECOND BY ONLY
TWO POINTS IN THE MIDDLE, SO IT
PIVOTS SIDE TO SIDE.
NEXT, THEY MUST STAY UPRIGHT ON
THE BALANCE TANK AS IT ROLLS 16
FEET DOWN THE TRACK.
THEN, IT'S A LEAP AND A GRAB AT
THE METAL SPIN, FOUR CHAINS
HANGING FROM A CIRCLE THAT
SPINS.
THEY NOT ONLY HAVE TO LEAP TO
GRAB A CHAIN.
THEY'LL NEED ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO
GET TO THE PLATFORM ON THE OTHER
SIDE.
AND STAGE TWO FINISHES WITH THE
WALL LIFT.
EACH OF THESE THREE WALLS IS
HEAVIER THAN THE LAST--66, 88,
AND 110 POUNDS.
IF THEY CAN SURVIVE THESE SIX
OBSTACLES AND GET IT ALL DONE IN
LESS THAN 1:45, THEY WILL HAVE
COMPLETED STAGE TWO AND MOVE ON
TO STAGE THREE.
GUYS?
>> THANKS, ANGELA.
WELL, NO SURPRISE, STAGE TWO
LOOKS TO BE INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT.
IN FACT, OF THE 2,700 PEOPLE
WHO'VE EVER ATTEMPTED MOUNT
MIDORIYAMA, ONLY 5% HAVE
SURVIVED LONG ENOUGH TO TAKE ON
STAGE THREE, AND ONLY THREE
ATHLETES HAVE EVER COMPLETED ALL
FOUR STAGES, SO THE ODDS ARE
CERTAINLY STACKED AGAINST THE
COMPETITORS TONIGHT.
>> STAGE ONE WAS ALL ABOUT
SPEED.
STAGE TWO IS STILL A RACE
AGAINST THE CLOCK, BUT BY THE
TIME THEY GET TO THE BALANCE
TANK, THEIR ARMS, SHOULDERS, AND
BACKS ARE GONNA BE ON FIRE, AND
THAT'S JUST AFTER THE FIRST
THREE OBSTACLES.
>> SO, IT'S TIME TO KICK OFF THE
ACTION ON STAGE TWO, 24 ATHLETES
ALL HOPING TO BE THE ONE--THE
FIRST EVER AMERICAN NINJA
WARRIOR.
OUR RUNNER TONIGHT INCLUDES
CHRIS WILCZEWSKI, A RETURNING
AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR VETERAN
WHO WAS A POWERHOUSE IN THE
NORTHEAST REGION,
EVAN "THE ROCKET" DOLLARD, BACK
FOR HIS SECOND SHOT,
PAUL KASEMIR, WHO MADE IT TO
STAGE THREE THE PAST TWO YEARS.
THERE'S THREE-TIME MOUNT
MIDORIYAMA VETERAN BRENT
STEFFENSEN.
HE'S HOPING TO MAKE HISTORY IN
FRONT OF HIS ENTIRE FAMILY.
AND OUR LAST COMPETITOR IS OUR
TOP SEED, THE MAN WHO SHOCKED
THE WORLD WITH THE FASTEST TIME
IN STAGE ONE, DEREK NAKAMOTO.
AND IT ALL BEGINS RIGHT NOW.
THE FIRST MAN AT THE STARTING
LINE TO SET THE BAR FOR THE REST
WAS THE FIRST TO COMPLETE STAGE
ONE.
IT'S 27-YEAR-OLD NATHANIEL
SPENCER, A FORMER PRO GOLFER
FROM LAWRENCE, KANSAS.
>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD
HAVE PREDICTED A GOLFER WOULD BE
THE FIRST TO COMPLETE STAGE ONE,
BUT HE HAD BEEN TRAINING HEAVILY
IN GYMNASTICS FOR SOMETHING FAR
TOUGHER THAN AMERICAN NINJA
WARRIOR.
>> I WAS THINKING ABOUT GOING
INTO SPECIAL OPERATIONS FOR THE
MILITARY, ENDED UP JUST TAKING
SOME TIME OFF, AND I'VE ALWAYS
WATCHED CLIPS OF AMERICAN NINJA
WARRIOR, AND I'VE ALWAYS
THOUGHT I'VE BEEN CAPABLE OF
DOING IT, SO SOME OF MY FRIENDS
TOLD ME TO DO NINJA WARRIOR, SO
I JUST DECIDED NOW'S THE BEST
TIME TO DO IT.
>> NOW, THERE'S NO COMBAT
TRAINING NECESSARY FOR AMERICAN
NINJA WARRIOR, BUT FIGHTING
THROUGH THIS COURSE CAN BE ONE
TOUGH BATTLE.
>> AND THE BATTLE STARTS NOW FOR
NATHANIEL SPENCER.
>> THE FIRST OBSTACLE IS THE
SLIDER DROP.
HE'S GOT TO KEEP THAT BAR FROM
MOVING SIDEWAYS AS HE APPROACHES
THE DROP-OFF.
THAT'S THE MOVE THAT'S SO
CRITICAL.
>> GOOD BODY CONTROL.
NICE DROP.
NOW THE DOUBLE SALMON LADDER.
THIS IS SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT
THAN THE SINGLE SALMON LADDER WE
SAW DURING QUALIFYING.
>> WELL, NOT ONLY ARE THE
DISTANCE BETWEEN THE RUNGS
GREATER, BUT YOU HAVE TO TURN
AROUND AND DO A TRANSFER.
BUT, MAN, HE'S MAKING QUICK WORK
OF IT.
>> OH! HE WAS FLYING UP!
EASILY HAD THOSE FIRST THREE
RUNGS, AND THEN JUST CAME UP
SHORT, JONNY.
>> WATCH IT AGAIN.
HE WAS PERFECT FOR THE FIRST FEW
RUNGS, BUT NOTICE HOW HE'S
LOOKING TO THE RIGHT ON HIS LAST
JUMP AND LETS HIS LEFT HAND SLIP
DOWN JUST ENOUGH TO WHERE THE
BAR DIDN'T CLEAR THE RUNG ON
THAT SIDE.
>> IT'S SO UNFORGIVING.
CLEARLY HAD THE SKILLS TO
EXECUTE THAT OBSTACLE, BUT
WASN'T ABLE TO GET THROUGH IT.
AND--AND THAT'S WHAT IT COMES
DOWN TO--EXECUTING UNDER
PRESSURE.
>> WELL, NATHANIEL KNOWS ALL
ABOUT THAT FROM HIS DAYS AS A
PRO GOLFER.
PUTTING ON THE PRACTICE GREEN IS
JUST NOT THE SAME AS PUTTING TO
WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP.
PRESSURE CHANGES EVERYTHING.
>> WELL, LET'S SEE IF OUR NEXT
COMPETITOR CAN EXECUTE WHAT
NATHANIEL DIDN'T.
FROM THE NORTHEAST REGION, IT'S
CHRIS WILCZEWSKI.
IT TOOK HIM THREE YEARS TO GET
TO MOUNT MIDORIYAMA, BUT HE
NEVER GAVE UP, AND HE CREDITS
THAT EFFORT WITH TURNING HIS
LIFE AROUND.
>> LOOKING BACK ON MY LIFE AND
WHERE I WAS VERSUS WHERE I'M AT
NOW IS JUST NOTHING SHORT OF
AMAZING.
OCTOBER 10TH, 2010, I TOOK MY
LAST DRINK.
SINCE THEN, I'VE NEVER LOOKED
BACK.
I'VE JUST BEEN MOVING FORWARD.
IT'S REALLY KIND OF SAD HOW BAD
IT GOT.
I LITERALLY STOPPED GOING TO
CLASS, STOPPED DOING
ASSIGNMENTS.
I REALLY WASN'T DOING ANYTHING
RIGHT.
>> I WOULDN'T SAY I EVER LOST
FAITH IN MY BROTHER, BUT I WAS
STRONGLY CONCERNED.
I WENT TO VISIT HIM AT COLLEGE
ONCE, AND HE WAS SO, LIKE,
HUNG-OVER FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE
THAT HE COULDN'T MOVE.
>> I STARTED TO BEGIN TO REALIZE
THAT I HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM,
DRINKING, BUT I DIDN'T REALLY
START TO MAKE THE CHANGES UNTIL
I REALIZED I NEEDED TO WANT
THIS.
>> CHRIS KNEW HE WANTED TO
CHANGE, AND HIS BROTHER HELPED
HIM TAKE THE FIRST STEP.
>> BRIAN SAID, "LOOK, YOU'RE AN
AMAZING ATHLETE.
YOU'RE FANTASTIC AT THIS STUFF.
WHY DON'T YOU TRY OUT FOR
AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR?"
AND BEING ON THE SHOW AND BEING
ABLE TO SEE DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN
A DIFFERENT LIGHT KIND OF HELPED
SHOW ME ALL THE GOOD IN THE
WORLD AND THAT I ACTUALLY DO
HAVE A PURPOSE IN LIFE.
I THINK I'VE COME SUCH A LONG
WAY.
I COULD HAVE NEVER DREAMT THIS.
>> SO THE NEW CHRIS WILCZEWSKI'S
READY TO FACE STAGE TWO AND WILL
START OUT WITH THE SLIDER DROP.
>> DIDN'T GET MUCH FORWARD
MOMENTUM THERE.
YOU SEE HIM SWINGING HIS LEGS,
TRYING TO GET HIMSELF LINED--
>> OH!
>> MAN, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED.
HE'S OUT.
I'M STUNNED.
>> SO DISAPPOINTING.
THAT IS SHOCKING, JONNY.
>> IT SURE IS.
WELL, IT STARTED OUT GREAT, AND
HE WAS FIGHTING HARD TO CONTROL
THE BAR LATERALLY, WHICH HE DID
SUCCESSFULLY, BUT THE IMPACT OF
THE DROP SEEMED TO CATCH HIM BY
SURPRISE AND HE COULDN'T HANG
ON.
EVERY ATHLETE WHO'S EVER
ACHIEVED GREATNESS HAS FACED
A MOMENT LIKE THIS.
YOU CAN EITHER FOLD UP THE TENT
OR REDEDICATE YOURSELF, AND
KNOWING CHRIS, I EXPECT HIM TO
BE BACK HERE NEXT YEAR, STRONGER
THAN EVER.
>> NEXT ATHLETE TO WALK THROUGH
THE GATES TO THE STARTING LINE
IS A ROOKIE THIS SEASON.
FROM THE NORTHWEST REGION, IT'S
27-YEAR-OLD SEAN NOBLE, A MARINE
BIOLOGIST FROM SOQUEL,
CALIFORNIA.
>> THERE'S JUST SO MUCH THAT WE
DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE OCEAN, AND
OUR ABILITY TO CHANGE IT HAS
OUTPACED OUR ABILITY TO STUDY
IT.
I STUDIED MARINE BIOLOGY, AND I
SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING IN
WILDLIFE REHAB, AND THAT'S VERY
SMALL-SCALE.
YOU'RE JUST FOCUSED ON ONE
ANIMAL AT A TIME, AND I'D LIKE
TO EXPAND MY INFLUENCE AND WORK
ON A LARGER SCALE.
IF I WON THE MONEY, I'VE BEEN
KICKING AROUND THE IDEA OF
STARTING A NON-PROFIT, AND
$500,000 WOULD JUST GO SO FAR.
YOU LOOK AROUND A PLACE LIKE
THIS, AND YOU JUST SEE AN
ABUNDANCE OF BEAUTY.
A LOT OF PLACES, IT'S GOING
AWAY, AND I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO
PRESERVE THAT.
[cheers and applause]
>> SEAN TOLD US HE FELT HE WAS
UNDERESTIMATED IN THE REGIONALS
BUT, AS AN ACTIVE ROCK CLIMBER,
HE FEELS HE HAS THE SKILLS TO GO
ALL THE WAY HERE.
>> WELL, SEAN'S PARENTS ARE
HERE.
THEY MADE THE TRIP FROM NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA TO WATCH THEIR SON
COMPETE.
>> HAVING THAT ROCK CLIMBING
BACKGROUND IS GONNA BE A HUGE
BENEFIT, BECAUSE THERE'S JUST A
LOT OF UPPER BODY STUFF ON THIS
ONE.
>> MAKING PRETTY GOOD PROGRESS.
REALLY TRYING TO CONTROL THE BAR
ON THE DROP.
>> NICE WORK.
>> NICELY DONE.
HE STICKS IT.
>> YEAH!
>> NOW ON TO THE DOUBLE SALMON
LADDER.
A ROCK CLIMBER HAS GREAT UPPER
BODY STRENGTH, BUT AGAIN, THERE
IS A TECHNIQUE TO THE SALMON
LADDER.
>> EXACTLY.
SO MUCH OF IT IS TIMING AND
WAITING AS YOU JUMP THE BAR,
BUT HERE COMES THE TRICKY PART.
HE'S GOT TO JUMP THE BAR OVER TO
THE OTHER SIDE.
OH, NICE TRANSFER.
>> AND NOW, THAT TOP RUNG IS TWO
INCHES HIGHER THAN THE REST.
RIGHT UP IT.
AND SEAN NOBLE IS THE FIRST
ATHLETE TO GET PAST THE DOUBLE
SALMON LADDER, AND NOW HE IS THE
FIRST TO ATTEMPT THE UNSTABLE
BRIDGE.
>> YEAH, AND HE'S GOT TO MAKE
THAT JUMP TO THE SECOND BOARD.
IT PIVOTS BY TWO CHAINS IN THE
CENTER.
REALLY GOT TO GET A GOOD SWING.
OH!
>> BY THE FINGERTIPS.
>> WHOO!
>> GREAT GRIP STRENGTH.
>> HE DIDN'T EVEN GET ON THE
SIDES OF THE BOARD.
HE WAS SO LUCKY THAT THEY DID
NOT TILT.
BUT YOU CAN'T OVERLOOK THE
DISMOUNT HERE.
>> WELL, THIS IS IT.
THE CRITICAL MOMENT.
OH!
OH, MY GOODNESS!
JONNY, YOU SAID IT.
HE NEEDED TO FOCUS ON THAT
DISMOUNT.
HE HAD DONE IT.
HE JUST HAD TO STICK THE
LANDING.
COULDN'T DO IT.
>> WELL, HAVE YOU EVER SAT ON A
SWING AND TRIED TO GET IT GOING
WITHOUT PUSHING OFF FROM THE
GROUND?
THIS DISMOUNT IS JUST LIKE THAT.
YOU SEE HIM PULLING HIMSELF UP,
TRYING TO BUILD MORE MOMENTUM,
BUT IT'S HARD TO GET THE SWING
GOING.
YOU NEED TO USE YOUR CORE TO GET
IT STARTED AND REALLY BE
PATIENT.
YOU JUST CAN'T RUSH THIS
DISMOUNT.
[air horn blows]
>> DIDN'T SWING FAR ENOUGH.
HAD TO GO FOR A SWIM.
>> OUR NEXT COMPETITOR IS HOPING
TO AVOID THAT SAME FATE.
AT THE STARTING GATE, SPORTING
THE MIDSOUTH ORANGE, IT'S BRIAN
ARNOLD.
>> WELL, STAGE TWO DEFINITELY
SUITS SOMEONE LIKE BRIAN,
BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT STRENGTH AND
ENDURANCE, SOMETHING HE HAS A
LOT OF FROM HIS YEARS AS A ROCK
CLIMBER.
>> I'VE BEEN CLIMBING A LONG
TIME, SO I'VE BEEN COMPETING FOR
A WHILE AND I'VE PLACED FIRST IN
A LOT OF ROCK CLIMBING
COMPETITIONS.
IN 2006, I WON AN EARTH CLIMBER
OF THE YEAR FROM URBAN CLIMBER
MAGAZINE.
>> WELL, WITH ALL THAT CLIMBING,
HE'S BUILT UP TREMENDOUS ARM AND
GRIP STRENGTH.
THAT IS SO IMPORTANT HERE ON
STAGE TWO.
>> I'M NOT USED TO JUMPING WITH
BARS AND, UM, JUST SOME WEIRD
OBSTACLES, BUT OVERALL, I THINK
IT DOES GIVE ME AN ADVANTAGE.
[cheering]
>> WE'LL SEE IF THOSE CLIMBING
SKILLS CAN GET HIM FARTHER THAN
ANYONE ELSE HAS GONE--ALL THE
WAY TO THE FINISH LINE.
>> YEAH, BUT YOU SEE THAT BRACE
ON HIS RIGHT CALF?
HE TWEAKED IT IN TRAINING LAST
WEEK, BUT MADE IT THROUGH STAGE
ONE.
I'M SURE HE'S HOPING IT WON'T BE
A PROBLEM HERE.
>> BRIAN ARNOLD ON THE SLIDER
DROP.
GETS PAST IT.
BUT NOW, THE DOUBLE SALMON
LADDER.
>> WELL, THAT WAS VERY SMOOTH.
NOW, EXPECT HIM TO HAVE SOME
REALLY GOOD COORDINATION AND
POWER WITH HIS UPPER BODY ON THE
DOUBLE SALMON LADDER.
HE HANDLED THE SINGLE SALMON
LADDER IN THE REGIONALS, BUT
THIS ONE TAKES TWICE THE EFFORT.
OH!
>> AND LOOK AT IT.
HE'S ALREADY ASKEW.
AND YOU CAN SEE, THE REAL GOOD
COMPETITORS POP UP.
THEY TRY TO MINIMIZE THE TIME
HANGING ON THERE.
AND BRIAN ARNOLD LOOKS LIKE HE'S
HAVING TO CALM HIS BODY IN
BETWEEN EACH ONE, AND ASKEW
AGAIN, JONNY.
>> WELL, EVERY TIME HE SEEMS TO
GO FOR IT, HE, UH, YOU KNOW,
WITHOUT THE REST IN BETWEEN, YOU
USE THE MOMENTUM, AND IT'S
GETTING HIM IN TROUBLE.
THIS IS KEY TO GET A HUGE SWING
HERE, A LOT MORE THAN YOU THINK,
TO MAKE THE TRANSFERS.
>> ABOUT A FOUR-FOOT GAP, AND HE
IS ACROSS.
[cheering]
>> HE'S LOOKING PRETTY TIRED
RIGHT NOW.
HE'S REALLY GOT TO POWER UP.
>> ONLY ONE RUNG LEFT, BUT IT'S
HIGHER THAN THE OTHERS.
TAKES A BIG EFFORT.
AND HE'S DONE IT!
HE'S DONE IT, BUT NO REST RIGHT
NOW.
INTO THE UNSTABLE BRIDGE.
NICE TRANSITION.
AS A ROCK CLIMBER, GREAT UPPER
BODY STRENGTH, GOOD CONTROL.
THE TRANSITION BETWEEN THESE
PLANKS SO DIFFICULT.
>> OH, BEAUTIFUL JOB.
>> AND HE'S DONE IT!
>> CLOCK IS TICKING, THOUGH.
>> HE'S GOT IT!
HE IS THE FIRST THROUGH THE
UNSTABLE BRIDGE AND NOW WILL BE
THE FIRST TO TEST THE BALANCE
TANK.
OH!
BRIAN ARNOLD ON TRACK FOR A
FANTASTIC RUN, AND IT LOOKS LIKE
HE JUST RUSHED TOO QUICKLY INTO
THE BALANCE TANK.
[applause]
>> WELL, AT THE VERY LEAST, IT'S
SO IMPORTANT TO STAY FORWARD ON
THE BALANCE TANK TO KEEP YOUR
CENTER OF GRAVITY OVER IT, SO IF
YOU DO HAVE TO BAIL OUT, AT
LEAST YOU HAVE A SHOT OF DIVING
FOR THE ROPE ON THE PLATFORM.
BUT, AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE,
BRIAN LET THE CYLINDER GET AHEAD
OF HIM RIGHT AWAY, AND ONCE THAT
HAPPENED, HE HAD NO OPTIONS.
>> HE MAY HAVE LOOKED PAST THIS
OBSTACLE, ALREADY THINKING ABOUT
THE NEXT ONE, THE METAL SPIN.
IN ANY EVENT, BRIAN ARNOLD IS
OUT.
NOW ON STAGE TWO, THE
30-YEAR-OLD FORMER AMERICAN
GLADIATOR, EVAN "THE ROCKET"
DOLLARD.
>> WELL, HE'S NO STRANGER TO
MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
HE'S BEEN HERE BEFORE, BUT HE'S
ALSO NO STRANGER TO
DISAPPOINTMENT HERE.
HIS ENTIRE FOCUS THIS SEASON HAS
BEEN ABOUT REDEMPTION.
>> EVAN DOLLARD HAS ALWAYS BEEN
A CONTENDER HERE AT AMERICAN
NINJA WARRIOR, BUT AT TIMES,
HE'S ALSO BEEN HIS OWN WORST
ENEMY.
>> I ALWAYS GET NERVOUS AT
STUPID, LITTLE OBSTACLES.
LIKE, IN THE QUALIFYING ROUND, I
FELL ON THE SPINNING LOG.
[crowd ohs]
I THOUGHT MAYBE I DIDN'T HAVE
WHAT IT TAKES TO TAKE IT TO THE
NEXT LEVEL TO GET TO MOUNT
MIDORIYAMA AGAIN.
IT--IT REALLY TAUGHT ME THAT
THERE'S A TIME FOR TIMIDITY AND
THERE'S A TIME JUST TO GO AFTER
IT.
>> THERE WAS NOTHING TIMID ABOUT
EVAN AS HE SECURED A FIRST-PLACE
FINISH IN THE SOUTHWEST
REGIONAL...
[cheering]
AND AGAIN, HERE IN LAS VEGAS,
WHERE HE EASILY COMPLETED STAGE
ONE, LOOKING EVERY BIT THE TOP
CONTENDER.
AND HE'S DONE IT.
THE ROCKET IS MOVING ON TO STAGE
TWO.
>> PEOPLE AREN'T GONNA
REMEMBER WHO FINISHED SECOND.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA REMEMBER THE--
THE PERSON THAT FELL IN STAGE
ONE OR STAGE TWO.
THE ULTIMATE PERSON THEY'RE
GONNA ASPIRE TO BE IS THE GUY
THAT MAKES IT TO THE TOP OF
MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
THAT'S WHO PEOPLE ARE GONNA
REMEMBER.
THAT'S WHO I WANT TO BE.
[cheering]
>> EVAN REALLY STEPPED UP HIS
TRAINING REGIMEN AFTER THE
REGIONAL COMPETITION, AND THAT
PREPARATION SHOWED IN STAGE ONE,
AS DID HIS CONFIDENCE.
YOU CAN SEE HIS GIRLFRIEND
RACHEL.
SHE CHEERED HIM ON AT THE
REGIONALS, AND SHE'S BACK AGAIN
AT MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
>> GO ALL THE WAY, EVAN!
[beeps]
>> ONTO THE SLIDER DROP.
GREAT BODY CONTROL.
>> OH, NICE.
>> YOU COULD JUST SEE HIM
FIGHTING THAT TORSION, THE LEGS
GOING EVERY WHICH WAY.
>> YEAH, TRYING TO BALANCE SIDE
TO SIDE.
THAT WAS EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT
MANEUVERING.
>> EVAN, FOR ALL THAT MASS,
ACTUALLY TREMENDOUS UPPER BODY
STRENGTH.
PHENOMENAL ON THE ROPES.
A LOT OF EXPERIENCE ON THE--
ON THE DOUBLE SALMON LADDER
HERE.
>> SO MUCH TIMING INVOLVED, AND
THE SALMON LADDER IS REALLY ALL
ABOUT YOUR LOWER BODY.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE TIMING YOU
GET WITH YOUR HIPS AND YOUR
LEGS.
>> OH! BAR'S ASKEW.
>> WHAT A SAVE!
LET'S SEE IF HE CAN KEEP IT
GOING NOW.
REMEMBER, WHEN HE GETS TO THE
TOP RUNG, IT'S A--OH!
>> AND EVEN THE ROCKET CANNOT
GET THAT TOP RUNG.
IT IS INSANELY HIGH, INSANELY
DIFFICULT.
>> BUT THE TROUBLE STARTED FOR
HIM BEFORE THAT.
WHEN HE MADE THE JUMP FROM ONE
SIDE TO THE OTHER, INSTEAD OF
JUMPING STRAIGHT ACROSS, HE
JUMPED UP A RUNG AS WELL, AND
THAT LEFT HIM HANGING BY ONE
HAND.
ALL THAT ENERGY HE USED TO
CORRECT THE MISTAKE JUST LEFT
HIM WITH NOTHING FOR THE FINAL
RUNG.
>> IT TOOK A LOT OF ENERGY TO
HANG ON, ONE HAND, FOR A SECOND
THERE, SO I WAS TRYING TO SHOUT
AT MYSELF TO GET AS MUCH MUSCLE
INTO THAT LAST--LAST, UH, BEAM
THERE, AND I JUST DIDN'T--
COULDN'T CONNECT.
SO, AT THIS POINT, NO ONE HAS
COMPLETED STAGE TWO.
WHAT ARE THE COMPETITORS
THINKING, JONNY?
>> WELL, THEY ARE PROBABLY
THINKING, I BETTER, UH, PAY
ATTENTION HERE, REEVALUATE MY
STRATEGY A LITTLE BIT, AND I
HAVE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN
MYSELF.
>> WELL, LET'S HOPE THEY LEARN
FROM THE SEVEN WHO ALREADY WENT
OUT AND DON'T REPEAT THEIR SAME
MISTAKES.
WELL, THE NEXT MAN TO ATTEMPT
STAGE TWO KNOWS ALL ABOUT
LEARNING BECAUSE HE JUST
GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
COLORADO.
FROM THE MIDSOUTH REGION, IT'S
PARKOUR COACH BRANDON DOUGLASS.
>> I GRADUATED LAST MAY FROM CU.
BASICALLY, THE LATTER HALF OF MY
TENURE THERE WAS REALLY GETTING
INTO THIS PARKOUR THING, BECAUSE
IT WAS SOMETHING I JUST
CONNECTED WITH.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE CONNECTING
WITH THE ENVIRONMENT WHEN YOU'RE
DOING YOUR PARKOUR THERE.
YOU CAN SEE LINES AND DEPTHS,
JUMPS THAT YOU WANT TO GET, AND
YOU CAN JUST SEE, IN YOUR MIND,
ALL THESE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS.
THE ARCHITECTURE, LIKE, COMES
ALIVE.
AS SOON AS I STARTED TRAINING,
THE WORLD JUST TOTALLY--IT JUST
LOOKS DIFFERENT.
>> AND NOW, SO DOES BRANDON,
BECAUSE JUST BEFORE HE WALKED
OVER TO STAGE TWO, HIS FELLOW
PARKOUR ATHLETES FROM BOULDER
GAVE HIM A DIFFERENT HAIRSTYLE.
IT'S THE NEW CLEAN LOOK, MORE
AERODYNAMIC TO HELP HIS PARKOUR
MOVES.
>> I'M SO BALD.
>> AWESOME, MAN.
>> BRANDON DOUGLASS NOW, WITH
THE MOHAWK.
FRESHLY SHORN TOO.
IT LOOKS LIKE HE TIED IT UP THE
SIDEWALLS THERE, READY TO TAKE
HIS SHOT.
>> LOOK GOOD, COMPETE GOOD.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S MY--MY PHILOSOPHY.
THE SLIDER DROP, THOUGH--EVERY
ONE OF THESE OBSTACLES CAN TRIP
YOU UP SO EASILY.
>> HE'S GOT TO BE PRETTY
NERVOUS.
>> ON THE SLIDER DROP, WHICH
ALREADY TOOK OUT CHRIS
WILCZEWSKI.
GOOD JOB CONTROLLING THE BAR.
BRANDON DOUGLASS THROUGH IT, AND
MOVING ON TO THE DOUBLE SALMON
LADDER.
>> WELL, AND HE JUST SAW EVAN
DOLLARD UNEXPECTEDLY GO OUT ON
THIS OBSTACLE.
>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE TREMENDOUS--
TREMENDOUS UPPER BODY STRENGTH.
MISSES THE JUMP.
>> OOH, HE IS LUCKY HE WAS ABLE
TO HANG ON THERE.
>> AND CAN'T GET UP IT, AND THIS
HAS TO BE SO TAXING ON THE UPPER
BODY.
>> UHH!
HE'S GOT THE BAR COCKEYED.
>> ABLE TO RECOVER THOUGH, BUT
EATING UP TIME.
>> AND HIS FOREARMS ARE STARTING
TO DIE ALREADY BUT, REMEMBER,
THEY HAVE TO FINISH IN 1:45.
>> AND HE POPPED UP A RUNG
THERE.
BRANDON DOUGLASS LOOKED LIKE HE
WAS REACHING THE END, BUT NOW,
ONE MORE RUNG ON THE DOUBLE
SALMON LADDER, BUT IT'S THE MOST
INSIDIOUS.
AND IT'S UP.
HE LOST HIS HAND GRIP.
CLIMBING UP.
HE'S GONNA TRY TO MAKE THE
TRANSITION.
NOW, HIS ARMS HAVE TO BE
BURNING.
>> YES, THEY DO, BUT HE MADE A
VERY NICE TRANSITION TO THE
UNSTABLE BRIDGE.
[cheering]
>> BUT THE CLOCK CONTINUES TO
TICK.
JUST UNDER 40 SECONDS LEFT AS HE
HAS TO MAKE THIS TRANSITION.
>> both: OH!
>> IT LOOKED LIKE HE JUST DIDN'T
HAVE THE ENERGY TO MAKE A GOOD
LEAP ACROSS.
>> WELL, ONCE AGAIN, THESE
COMPETITORS ARE HAVING A REALLY
HARD TIME GETTING A GOOD SWING
GOING, AND THE ONES WHO REALLY
DO THE UNSTABLE BRIDGE WELL,
THEY GET A HUGE SWING GOING.
THEY GET THEMSELVES GOING SO
THEY CAN GET A NICE KIP SO THEY
HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET A REALLY
NICE HAND-HOLD, AND BRANDON
DIDN'T DO THAT.
>> BRANDON CLEARLY DISAPPOINTED,
AND STAGE TWO REMAINS
UNDEFEATED, TAKING OUT ALL EIGHT
COMPETITORS WHO HAVE ATTEMPTED
IT.
>> BUT OUR FASTEST AND STRONGEST
COMPETITORS HAVEN'T GONE YET,
AND I THINK ONCE THEY START TO
RUN, WE'LL SEE MUCH BETTER
RESULTS.
THERE ARE STILL GUYS LIKE REMI
BAKKAR, WHO'S WARMING UP FOR HIS
RUN THERE.
HE WAS ONE OF THE FASTEST IN THE
SOUTHWEST REGION AND ON STAGE
ONE HERE IN LAS VEGAS.
[cheers and applause]
>> UP NEXT IS A 37-YEAR-OLD
FATHER OF THREE AND A
STOCKBROKER OUT OF FRANKLIN,
TENNESSEE, TRAVIS ROSEN.
>> TRAVIS IS A MOUNT MIDORIYAMA
VETERAN.
WITH A WIFE AND THREE KIDS AT
HOME, HE'S BACK FOR ANOTHER SHOT
AT A LIFE-CHANGING $1/2 MILLION.
>> IT'S ALWAYS HARD WHEN YOU'RE
A PARENT TO HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR
KIDS, LEAVE YOUR FAMILY...
[baby cooing]
BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY UNDERSTAND,
AND HOPEFULLY I CAN COME BACK
WITH, UH, SOMETHING TO--TO PROVE
THAT IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.
>> AND HIS PARENTS ARE HERE
TONIGHT TO WATCH HIM, JUST AS
THEY DID WHEN HE WAS AN
ALL-AMERICAN GYMNAST AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.
>> COME ON, TRAV.
[beeps]
[cheering]
>> NICE. SMOOTH.
>> MASTERFUL.
MADE IT TO THE METAL SPIN LAST
YEAR ON STAGE TWO.
YOU KNOW HE'S LOOKING TO GO
FARTHER THIS TIME AROUND.
ON TO THE DOUBLE SALMON LADDER.
>> HE HAS TREMENDOUS UPPER BODY
STRENGTH.
>> AND HE IS FLYING UP.
AN IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE BY
TRAVIS ROSEN.
>> OKAY, HERE'S THE CRITICAL
MOMENT, THE TRANSITION.
>> OH, NOT ONLY DOES HE MAKE IT
OVER, HE MADE IT UP A RUNG TOO.
>> HE IS MOVING VERY QUICKLY,
SAVING VALUABLE TIME AND ENERGY.
>> WELL, AGAIN, THE DEEPER WE
GET INTO THE COMPETITION, THE
BETTER THE COMPETITORS, AND
RIGHT NOW, TRAVIS ROSEN LOOKING
VERY STRONG, BUT THIS TRANSITION
ON THE UNSTABLE BRIDGE SO
DIFFICULT.
>> NICE, SMOOTH.
>> STICKS IT.
[cheering]
LET'S SEE IF HE CAN GET ALL THE
WAY TO THE PLATFORM, THOUGH.
THIS TOOK OUT SEAN NOBLE.
GOOD BODY CONTROL OUT OF THE
FORMER GYMNAST.
AND RIGHT DOWN, ONTO THE BALANCE
TANK.
IT ROLLS VERY FAST.
YOU NEED TREMENDOUS FOOTWORK
HERE.
>> OH, HE'S BACK!
>> BACK!
UNBELIEVABLE!
TRAVIS ROSEN OUT ON THE BALANCE
TANK.
JONNY, WHAT HAPPENED?
>> WELL, JUST THE FIRST STEP WAS
THE WRONG STEP.
YOU KNOW, IT HAS A LITTLE NOTCH
THAT YOU WANT TO GET IT KICKED
OFF, AND THAT STARTS THE ROLL,
BUT THEN, IMMEDIATELY, YOU WANT
TO GET FORWARD SO THAT, IF YOU
NEED TO, YOU CAN LEAP FOR THE
ROPE.
AND HE JUST PUSHED IT OFF AND
STAYED BACK, AND THAT WAS IT.
SO, AFTER A PHENOMENAL
PERFORMANCE BY OUR FINALISTS IN
STAGE ONE THAT SAW 24 OF THEM
COMPLETE IT, STAGE TWO HAS BEEN
ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING.
TEN HAVE ATTEMPTED, AND TEN HAVE
FAILED, JONNY.
>> WELL, AS DIFFICULT AS IT HAS
BEEN, MATT, THAT IS THE ALLURE
OF MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
YOU COME IN HERE, KNOWING HOW
DIFFICULT IT WILL BE, AND IT
JUST GETS MORE DIFFICULT WITH
EACH STAGE THAT YOU CLEAR.
STAGE TWO IS JUST HUMBLING.
>> BUT ANOTHER ONE IS ABOUT TO
STEP TO THE STARTING LINE.
OUT OF LONGMONT, COLORADO, ONE
OF THE MOST CONSISTENT
PERFORMERS WE HAVE IN AMERICAN
NINJA WARRIOR, 26-YEAR-OLD PAUL
KASEMIR.
>> WELL, LAST YEAR, AN EMOTIONAL
PERFORMANCE.
HE MADE IT TO STAGE THREE JUST
TWO WEEKS AFTER THE TRAGIC DEATH
OF HIS GIRLFRIEND.
NOW HE'S BACK AGAIN, HOPING TO
MOVE FORWARD IN LIFE AND AT
MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
>> LAST YEAR IN JAPAN WAS REALLY
TOUGH FOR ME, BECAUSE TWO WEEKS
BEFORE, I JUST HEARD THAT MY
GIRLFRIEND MAKANA HAD DIED.
YOU KNOW, I HAD NO IDEA HOW I
WAS GOING TO REACT.
>> IT HAS BEEN AN UNBELIEVABLY
INSPIRING STORY.
PAUL KASEMIR BRAVELY COMPETING
IN THE FACE OF PERSONAL TRAGEDY
WITH THE RECENT LOSS OF HIS
GIRLFRIEND.
OH!
BUT HIS RUN HAS COME TO AN END.
>> I'M VERY HAPPY WITH WHAT I
DID AND, YOU KNOW, NOW I'VE HAD
TIME TO COME TO TERMS WITH IT
AND, UH, I THINK I CAN FOCUS.
I CAN BRING MYSELF TO THE "A"
GAME AND--AND REALLY GO FOR THE
GOLD HERE.
>> RIGHT UP THE WARPED WALL.
PAUL KASEMIR IS MOVING ON TO
STAGE TWO.
>> THIS IS REALLY AGAINST
MYSELF, REALLY, AND THE COURSE.
YOU KNOW, THE COURSE IS A TEST
OF MY ABILITY TO DO WELL.
I THINK THE OUTCOME OF THIS YEAR
IS GONNA BE GREAT.
FOR ME, I'VE NEVER FELT BETTER.
I'VE DONE GREAT SO FAR.
I THINK I CAN MAKE IT ALL THE
WAY TO END OF STAGE FOUR AND WIN
THIS THING.
[cheers and applause]
>> PAUL HAS MADE IT TO STAGE
THREE THE LAST TWO YEARS.
HE WANTS TO KEEP THAT RECORD
INTACT, BUT THIS STAGE JUST
CHEWING UP VETERANS LEFT AND
RIGHT.
>> AND THAT'S GOT TO BE GETTING
IN HIS HEAD A LITTLE BIT AT SOME
POINT.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT EVAN DOLLARD,
TRAVIS ROSEN--GUYS WHO ARE SO
GOOD, AND YET THEY'RE FAILING,
SO HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT?
>> KASEMIR UP ON THE SLIDER
DROP.
JUST GREAT BODY CONTROL.
THAT BAR DIDN'T EVEN WOBBLE.
DOUBLE SALMON LADDER.
A LOT OF EXPERIENCE ON THIS
OBSTACLE.
SO STRONG.
PAUL, UNASSUMING AND QUIET.
AND THE BAR ASKEW!
A RARE MISCUE OUT OF PAUL
KASEMIR.
>> WELL, HE WAS KEEPING HIS EYE
AND HIS FOCUS ON THE LEFT SIDE
OF THE LADDER, AND THE RIGHT
SIDE JUST GOT AWAY A LITTLE BIT.
>> BUT HE'S BUILDING MOMENTUM
NOW.
[applause and shouts]
HAS TO MAKE THIS TRANSITION.
LOOKING A LITTLE WINDED.
GOES UP A RUNG, THOUGH.
THAT'S THE PAUL KASEMIR WE KNOW.
>> OUTSTANDING.
>> ONE RUN LEFT, THOUGH.
>> AND IT'S AN EXTRA HIGH RUNG.
>> PAUL IS LOOKING EXHAUSTED.
I GOTTA TELL YOU, JONNY, I'M
SURPRISED.
>> OH, NICE MOVE.
>> HE GETS RIGHT UP.
>> YOU KNOW, I GOTTA SAY, THAT
WAS A SMART MOVE, THOUGH, TO
TAKE A LITTLE REST THERE.
>> ON TO THE UNSTABLE BRIDGE.
>> THIS ONE IS SO DIFFICULT.
THAT FIRST BOARD IS SUSPENDED ON
ALL FOUR CORNERS, BUT THE NEXT
ONE ONLY BY TWO CHAINS SECURED
IN THE MIDDLE, SO IT TILTS SIDE
TO SIDE.
YOU'VE GOT TO GRAB IT WITH BOTH
HANDS AT THE SAME TIME.
>> HERE IT IS, THE LEAP, AND HE
DOES IT.
BUT THERE IS A TIME LIMIT HERE,
1:45, TO GET THROUGH ALL SIX OF
THESE OBSTACLES.
30 SECONDS LEFT NOW, AS HE LEAPS
DOWN, ONTO THE BALANCE TANK.
THAT CLOCK TICKING DOWN
DANGEROUSLY LOW.
A LITTLE STUMBLE.
>> HE'S TO THE OTHER SIDE.
>> HE NAILS IT!
A GREAT RECOVERY FROM A NEAR
DISASTER, BUT THE CLOCK DOWN TO
JUST 16 SECONDS.
GOT TO LEAP AND GRAB THE CHAIN
ON THE METAL SPIN.
NO!
>> OH!
>> DID NOT GET A GOOD JUMP.
BARELY GOT ONTO THE ROPE
AND COULD NOT HANG ON.
PAUL KASEMIR OUT ON THE METAL
SPIN.
>> WELL, I GOTTA THINK HE WAS
JUST SO TAXED ON THE EXTRA
TIME HE SPENT ON THE DOUBLE
SALMON LADDER THAT HIS GRIP
STRENGTH WASN'T ENOUGH TO HANG
ONTO THE METAL SPIN.
[cheers and applause]
>> I WAS SPENT.
I, UH, I WAS CLOSE, THOUGH.
JUST A LITTLE MORE STRENGTH, AND
I WOULD HAVE HAD IT.
I'LL BE BACK NEXT YEAR.
>> PAUL KASEMIR WAS SO CLOSE.
YOU COULD SEE HE JUST DIDN'T GET
A GOOD ENOUGH LEAP, AND THE
CHAIN SLIPPED RIGHT THROUGH HIS
HAND.
BUT, MATT, THIS SHOULD GIVE THE
REMAINING ATHLETES A TON OF
HOPE, 'CAUSE PAUL DID GET ONE
STEP CLOSER TO COMPLETING STAGE
TWO.
WHILE YOU WERE AWAY, TWO MORE
ATHLETES ATTEMPTED STAGE TWO--
BEN SNEAD, A ROCK CLIMBER FROM
THE NORTHWEST REGION, WAS THE
LATEST VICTIM OF THE DOUBLE
SALMON LADDER.
[air horn blows]
AND ELET HALL FROM THE NORTHEAST
REGION COULDN'T COMPLETE THE
UNSTABLE BRIDGE--THE FOURTH MAN
TO FAIL ON THAT OBSTACLE.
WELL, UP NEXT IN THE STARTING
BLOCK IS 25-YEAR-OLD JAMES
MCGRATH, OUT OF THE NORTHWEST
REGION.
HE'S THE ICE CREAM SCOOPER FROM
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.
HIS NICKNAME IS "THE BEAST."
AND COMING INTO THIS
COMPETITION, JAMES MCGRATH WAS
MY PICK TO BECOME THE FIRST-EVER
AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
>> LAST YEAR, I WENT TO JAPAN,
MOUNT MIDORIYAMA, AND I MADE IT
TO THE THIRD STAGE AND ENDED UP
FAILING ON THE ULTIMATE
CLIFFHANGER.
>> JAMES MCGRATH FROM SEATTLE,
WASHINGTON.
OH!
AND HE DOES NOT MAKE IT.
>> I STARTED ROCK CLIMBING AND
DOING THINGS FOR MY GRIP JUST TO
PREPARE FOR THE CLIFFHANGER,
'CAUSE IT'S SUCH A DIFFICULT
OBSTACLE.
>> THIS HUMBLE ICE CREAM MAN HAS
BEEN AMONG OUR BEST ATHLETES IN
AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR, BUT THE
TRAIL THAT LED HIM HERE WAS
CARVED BY ADVERSITY.
>> WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I
JUST TORE ALL THE LIGAMENTS,
TENDONS, AND CARTILAGE IN MY
ANKLE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY
LIFE-CHANGING, BECAUSE I, YOU
KNOW, I ASSUMED I'D BE GETTING A
SCHOLARSHIP FOR TRACK AND, YOU
KNOW, ALL OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
WENT AWAY.
YOU KNOW, LIFE GOES ON.
I STARTED WATCHING NINJA
WARRIOR, AND I WAS--I WAS
HOOKED EVER SINCE THE FIRST TIME
I WATCHED IT.
I LOVE THIS SO MUCH.
I LIKE WORKING TO ACHIEVE
SOMETHING THAT SO MANY PEOPLE
CONSIDER TO BE IMPOSSIBLE.
IF I WIN THE $500,000, IT'S SAFE
TO ASSUME I WON'T BE SCOOPING
ICE CREAM ANYMORE.
>> I LIKE THE WAY HE THINKS
ABOUT THE COURSE.
OBVIOUSLY, HE'S ONE OF THE FEW
GUYS TO HAVE MADE IT THROUGH
STAGE TWO LAST YEAR AT MOUNT
MIDORIYAMA.
>> EXPERIENCE SHOULD SERVE HIM
WELL, BUT YOU CAN'T OVERLOOK ANY
OBSTACLE.
WE'VE SEEN THAT TIME AND AGAIN
ON THIS STAGE.
OF COURSE, NO ONE HAS MADE IT
PAST THE BALANCE TANK, SO--
>> NOW--NOW WATCH ME EAT ALL OF
MY WORDS.
>> [laughs] OKAY.
>> both: OH!
>> HE MISSED THE DROP!
UNBELIEVABLE!
ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED NINJAS
GOES OUT ON THE FIRST OBSTACLE
OF STAGE TWO.
>> THIS IS STUNNING.
JONNY, WHAT WENT WRONG?
>> YOU KNOW, HE JUST WAS DOING
EVERYTHING HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
DOING.
I LIKE HIS APPROACH, INCLUDING
THIS KIP HE DOES RIGHT BEFORE
THE DROP-OFF, BUT HE JUST KIPPED
THE BAR TOO MUCH, AND AS HE DID,
HE SHIFTED HIS BODY OVER EVER SO
SLIGHTLY TO HIS RIGHT, AND THE
BAR MISSES THE RAIL ON THE LEFT
WHEN HE COMES DOWN.
[air horn blows]
>> UM, I REALLY THOUGHT I HAD
IT.
[sighs]
>> SO, ONE OF THE STRONGEST
ATHLETES IN THE ENTIRE
COMPETITION IS OUT, AND THAT HAS
TO BE DISCONCERTING FOR OUR NEXT
COMPETITOR.
UP NEXT, WE ARE IN HIS HOMETOWN.
HE'S A 24-YEAR-OLD ACROBAT OUT
OF LAS VEGAS, REMI BAKKAR.
AND IN A TOWN KNOWN FOR
GAMBLING, NO ONE'S PUT MORE ON
THE LINE THAN HIM.
HE'S ALL-IN FOR $1/2 MILLION.
IN STAGE ONE, REMI BAKKAR WAS
COOL AND CALM ON THE COURSE, BUT
HIS WIFE ELENA WAS A TOTAL WRECK
ON THE SIDELINES.
>> OH, IT'S SMOOTH THE SECOND
TIME AROUND, AND HIS WIFE IS
LOSING IT RIGHT NOW.
>> SHE'S GOING CRAZY.
I GUESS THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
YOUR HUSBAND LEAVES HIS JOB FOR
A SHOT AT $1/2 MILLION.
>> EXACTLY.
>> THE STRESS WASN'T JUST FROM
WATCHING HIM ON STAGE ONE.
IT WAS KNOWING THAT HE QUIT HIS
JOB TO DO IT.
REMI COULDN'T GET TIME OFF FROM
HIS DAY JOB WITH CIRQUE DU
SOLEIL TO COMPETE HERE SO,
TRYING TO SECURE A BETTER FUTURE
FOR HIS FAMILY, HE QUIT.
IS THERE ANYONE IN VEGAS WHO'S
RISKED MORE?
>> IF I COULD WIN $1/2 MILLION,
UH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I COULD PAY ALL OUR DEBT.
I TRY NOT TO THINK TOO MUCH
ABOUT IT, BUT THAT WOULD BE
REALLY LIFE-CHANGING.
>> SO, REMI WON THE FIRST HAND,
BEATING THE HOUSE TO COMPLETE
STAGE ONE.
BUT NOW, WITH THE ODDS AGAINST
HIM EVEN GREATER, HE SAYS HE'LL
TRY TO BLOCK IT ALL OUT WHEN
IT'S TIME TO SHOW HIS CARDS
AGAIN.
>> WHEN I WILL STEP TO THE START
LINE, I THINK NOTHING, BECAUSE
MY MIND--I WILL JUST GO AND DO
WHAT I CAN.
>> BUT HE'LL BE THINKING ABOUT
ONE THING--THE FAMILY HE'S
COMPETING FOR.
>> I'M PRAYING.
HE'S A WINNER FOR ME ALREADY, SO
HE CAN DO HIS BEST, AND WE'RE
ALL HERE FOR HIM.
>> HE'S THE BEST, AND HE CAN WIN
IT.
[cheering]
>> SO REMI BAKKAR THE ACROBAT IS
BETTING HIS SKILLS AGAINST THE
HOUSE.
>> AND THERE'S HIS WIFE AND
DAUGHTER AND ALL THEIR FRIENDS,
BACK AGAIN TO CHEER HIM ON.
I THOUGHT SHE WAS GONNA HAVE A
HEART ATTACK WHEN HE RAN STAGE
ONE.
NOW SHE'S GOTTA DO IT ALL OVER
AGAIN.
>> WELL, HE WAS AN UNKNOWN AT
THE SOUTHWEST REGIONALS BUT MADE
A NAME FOR HIMSELF THERE AND
AGAIN HERE IN VEGAS ON STAGE
ONE.
LET'S SEE IF HE CAN TACKLE STAGE
TWO.
>> HE'S VERY QUIET.
HE'S VERY DELIBERATE.
>> RIGHT UP ON THE SLIDER DROP.
EXCELLENT BODY CONTROL.
[laughter]
WOW.
>> WHOO!
>> GOOD RECOVERY THERE.
>> MAKING HIS WIFE NERVOUS ONCE
AGAIN ALREADY.
>> ON TO THE DOUBLE SALMON
LADDER.
AND THE BAR'S ASKEW.
GOOD RECOVERY OUT OF BAKKAR.
[cheering]
VERY FAST ON THE FIRST HALF OF
THE DOUBLE SALMON LADDER.
WELL DONE.
THE TRANSITION SO DIFFICULT.
>> OH!
>> OH!
THE BAR IS OFF AND HE'S BARELY
HOLDING ON.
>> OH, HE JUST CAN'T SEEM TO GET
IT BACK ON TRACK.
HE'S GOT TO MOVE QUICKLY NOW.
HE IS WASTING TONS OF ENERGY
HERE.
[cheers and applause]
>> OH, AND THERE IT IS.
REMI BAKKAR IS OUT.
HIS LITTLE GIRL IS HEARTBROKEN.
HER HERO JUST FELL.
>> SHE'S GONNA MAKE ME CRY, MAN.
POOR THING.
HE'S OKAY.
HE'S JUST A LITTLE WET.
>> JONNY, WHAT WENT WRONG?
>> MATT, THIS IS A GUY WITH
TREMENDOUS ATHLETICISM, BUT THE
TECHNIQUE REQUIRED ON THE DOUBLE
SALMON LADDER, IT'S JUST TOUGH
TO MASTER YOUR FIRST TIME OUT.
>> LET'S GO TO ANGELA, WHO'S
STANDING BY REMI RIGHT NOW.
>> GUYS, ANOTHER CASUALTY OF THE
DOUBLE SALMON LADDER.
REMY, WHAT HAPPENED?
>> IT TOOK ME ALL MY ENERGY, AND
THEN, THE LAST ONE WAS SUPER
HIGH, SO I GUESS I DIDN'T JUMP
HIGH ENOUGH, SO I FELL, YOU
KNOW.
>> I KNOW YOU'RE DISAPPOINTED,
BUT WHAT'S IT LIKE, HAVING YOUR
HOMETOWN CROWD OUT HERE,
SUPPORTING YOU?
>> IT WAS AMAZING, YOU KNOW.
UH, YEAH, I'M SAD I--I'M SAD I
FAILED, YOU KNOW, BUT IT WAS
AMAZING ACTUALLY JUST HAVING
THEM HERE, CHEERING ME ON.
>> REMI!
OUR NEXT ATHLETE TO TAKE ON
STAGE TWO IS FROM THE SOUTHEAST
REGION.
HE'S THE 23-YEAR-OLD USED CAR
MARKETING MANAGER.
DREW DRECHSEL.
THIS LAST YEAR HAS BEEN A
ROLLER COASTER FOR DREW,
BOTH PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.
LAST YEAR AT MOUNT MIDORIYAMA,
HE WAS CARTED OFF ON A STRETCHER
WITH A DEVASTATING KNEE INJURY.
THEY'RE CARRYING DREW TO THE
MEDICAL TENT.
HE'S STILL IN CONSIDERABLE PAIN.
AFTER SURGERY, HE WENT INTO
INTENSE PHYSICAL REHAB.
BUT AS HE REGAINED THE STRENGTH
IN HIS KNEE, HE THEN SUFFERED
A TRAGIC PERSONAL LOSS.
>> MY BEST FRIEND KOREY SARVAS--
HE ACTUALLY PASSED AWAY IN
DECEMBER.
>> HIS FRIEND KOREY DIED IN A
DROWNING ACCIDENT.
BUT HIS MEMORY LIVES ON WITH
DREW.
>> HE GOT ME ACTUALLY INTO
PARKOUR AND GOT ME INTO FREE
RUNNING.
SO I'M REALLY DOING THIS TO, UH,
SHOW HOW HARD WE TRAINED
TOGETHER AND THAT HE HAD WHAT
IT TAKES TOO.
I GOT A LITTLE EXTRA MOTIVATION,
A LITTLE GUARDIAN ANGEL WATCHING
OUT FOR ME, MAKING SURE THAT I'M
GONNA BE THE FIRST AMERICAN
NINJA WARRIOR.
I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES.
>> SO DREW DRECHSEL ABOUT TO
FACE STAGE TWO FOR HIMSELF
AND FOR HIS FRIEND KOREY.
HE'S ALREADY WATCHED 15 ATHLETES
FAIL HERE ON STAGE TWO, BUT HE
STILL BELIEVES HE HAS THE RIGHT
STUFF.
AND JONNY, IF YOU'RE TAKING ON
A NEAR-IMPOSSIBLE TASK, YOU HAVE
TO BELIEVE SOMETHING SETS YOU
APART.
AND HERE HE IS ON THE SLIDER
DROP.
SOLID SO FAR OUT OF DREW.
>> WHOO! I LOVE IT.
>> GOOD AIR THERE ON THE
LANDING.
>> YEAH.
WELL, THIS IS A GUY WHO HAS A
LOT OF EXPERIENCE ON A SALMON
LADDER.
NOT NECESSARILY THIS ONE.
>> AT BOOT CAMP, THOUGH, LAST
YEAR, TREMENDOUS UPPER-BODY
STRENGTH.
WHAT CONTROL ON THE BAR THERE
OUT OF DREW DRECHSEL.
HE POPS UP A RUNG AND HE DOES!
DREW DRECHSEL'S SO STRONG.
>> BAM! REMEMBER THE DISTANCE
TO THE TOP RUNG IS TWO INCHES
HIGHER THAN THE REST.
OH! MAN, HE JUST SLAMMED HIS
RIGHT HAND INTO THE BOARD.
>> AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S
HURTING.
>> DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S
AFFECTING HIS GRIP THOUGH.
>> FINALLY MAKE THE TRANSITION
TO THE SECOND ONE.
FULLY UNSTABLE, BUT DRECHSEL
DOES IT.
GOTTA STICK THE DISMOUNT HERE
THOUGH.
OH!
DREW DRECHSEL IS OUT, FALLING ON
THE LANDING AT THE UNSTABLE
BRIDGE.
HE'D COMPLETED THE OBSTACLE FOR
ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES.
SO UNLIKE DREW TO MAKE A SIMPLE
MISTAKE LIKE THAT, JONNY.
>> DEFINITELY, BUT WE SAW A
SIMILAR THING HAPPEN EARLIER
TONIGHT WITH SEAN NOBLE.
YOU NEED A HUGE SWING FOR A
SAFE LANDING, CAN BE VERY
DECEIVING.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU JUST NEED
TO GET TO THE EDGE OF THE
PLATFORM.
BUT ACTUALLY, YOU NEED TO GET
LIKE A FOOT AND A HALF IN.
SHOCK TO HIM, I'M SURE.
>> I'M NOT EVEN TIRED.
>> DREW DRECHSEL UNDERSTANDABLY
FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW.
>> IF YOU STILL CAN DO THAT, WHY
CAN'T YOU FINISH THAT?
>> ANOTHER CAUTIONARY TALE FOR
THE ATHLETE'S STILL TO RUN,
INCLUDING BRENT STEFFENSEN FROM
UTAH AND THE NUMBER ONE SEED
TONIGHT, THE FASTEST MAN FROM
STAGE ONE--THE ROOKIE DEREK
NAKAMOTO.
THEY'LL EACH TRY TO SURVIVE
STAGE TWO A LITTLE LATER.
BUT RIGHT NOW, ONE OF THE MOST
INSPIRING STORIES WE'VE HEARD
IN THIS COMPETITION.
HE'S A 21-YEAR-OLD OUT OF
AUSTIN, TEXAS--AHMED TOURE.
>> HE IS A REMARKABLE YOUNG MAN.
HIS PARENTS ARE BOTH ORIGINALLY
FROM GUINEA, WEST AFRICA.
HE WALKED AWAY FROM WEST POINT
BECAUSE FAMILY WAS MORE
IMPORTANT.
>> I WAS AT WEST POINT FOR, UH,
A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR.
THIS IS WHAT I GOT WHEN I GOT
MY APPOINTMENT TO THE UNITED
STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.
CONGRESSMAN KENNY MARCHANT
GAVE IT TO ME, AND, UM, IT'S
JUST BEEN WITH ME EVER SINCE.
>> EARNING AN APPOINTMENT TO THE
U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY WAS
AHMED'S DREAM.
BUT HIS FATHER WAS FORCED TO
RETURN TO GUINEA FOR AN EXTENDED
PERIOD FOR BUSINESS AND HIS
MOTHER WAS STRICKEN WITH BREAST
CANCER.
SO AHMED MADE A DIFFICULT
CHOICE.
HE LEFT THE ACADEMY TO HELP HIS
MOTHER CARE FOR HIS FOUR
SIBLINGS.
>> I THINK I MADE THE RIGHT
DECISION.
>> IN DALLAS, AHMED IMPRESSED US
WITH HIS PERFORMANCE.
BUT HIS DAD SURPRISED US WITH
HIS APPEARANCE, FLYING BACK FROM
GUINEA THE DAY BEFORE TO WATCH
HIS SON COMPETE.
>> SEEING MY DAD--IT WAS A REAL
SURPRISE.
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT HE WAS
THERE.
HE'S PRETTY EXCITED FOR ME, AND
I KNOW HE'S THINKING OF ME.
$1/2 MILLION WOULD CHANGE MY
LIFE PRETTY DRASTICALLY.
I MEAN, FIRST THINGS, OBVIOUSLY,
PAY FOR COLLEGE FOR ME AND MY
SIBLINGS, THAT WOULD BE DONE.
I'M GONNA BE THE FIRST AMERICAN
NINJA WARRIOR.
>> WELL, 21 YEARS OLD, BUT A LOT
OF MATURITY.
GREAT POISE OUT OF THIS YOUNG
MAN.
HE'S ON TO THE SLIDER DROP.
LOOKING VERY STABLE, GREAT
CONTROL.
>> AND SUCH A SMOOTH RUN ON THAT
SLIDER DROP.
HE HAD A NICE WIDE GRIP AND HE
WAS REALLY ABLE TO KEEP THE BAR
STRAIGHT.
>> ON TO THE DOUBLE SALMON
LADDER.
THIS OBVIOUSLY A NEW OBSTACLE
FOR HIM, SO A SALMON LADDER
IN QUALIFYING FOR THIS ROUND
SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.
THE GAPS BIGGER.
NOW THE JUMP TO THE SECOND
SALMON LADDER.
CAN HE FIGURE THIS OUT?
>> OH, AND HE SKIPPED--
GOING FOR IT.
>> WOW!
>> NO PROBLEM GETTING TO THE
HIGH PART.
>> INCREDIBLY STRONG.
AHMED TOURE RIGHT NOW BLOWING
THROUGH THIS COURSE.
STILL OVER A MINUTE LEFT AS HE'S
ON THE UNSTABLE BRIDGE, MAKING
THE TRANSITION.
>> SEEMS TO BE A GOOD SWING.
WOW. GREAT, GREAT BOOST ONTO
THE SECOND PART OF THE UNSTABLE
BRIDGE.
>> GOTTA STICK THIS LANDING
THOUGH, AND HE DOES IT.
ON TO THE BALANCE TANK.
THIS HAS TRIPPED UP SO MANY
STRONG COMPETITORS.
45 SECONDS LEFT THOUGH.
DOESN'T WANNA RUSH IT.
DON'T MAKE A SILLY MISTAKE.
HE'S ALL OVER THE PLACE!
AND HE IS OUT ON THE BALANCE
TANK.
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
AGAIN, THESE GUYS' BALANCE IS
ONE OF THE BEST TRAITS THAT THEY
HAVE, AND THIS IS TRIPPING
PEOPLE UP.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
>> IF HE'D ONLY FALLEN FORWARD
RATHER THAN BACKWARDS, HE
COULD'VE LUNGED AND REACHED THAT
ROPE AND COMPLETED THE OBSTACLE.
WHAT A SHAME FOR AHMED.
HE WAS SO CLOSE TO COMPLETING
THE BALANCE TANK.
>> SO AHMED TOURE IS THE 17TH
ATHLETE WHO'S FAILED TO GET TO
THE FINISH LINE.
BUT OUR TOP COMPETITORS HAVE YET
TO RUN, AND THEIR COMBINED
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE
MORE THAN ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE
CHALLENGE.
AND WHILE YOU WERE AWAY, DANNY
JOHNSON FROM PITTSBURGH WAS
THE LATEST VICTIM.
>> WELL, DANNY AT 6'5" HAS A
GREAT REACH ADVANTAGE.
BUT YOU NEED MORE THAN LONG ARMS
ON THE DOUBLE SALMON LADDER,
AND DANNY STRUGGLED AND RAN OUT
OF ENERGY BEFORE HE COULD
COMPLETE IT.
>> AS WE GET SET FOR OUR NEXT
COMPETITOR, YOU CAN ALREADY HEAR
THE CHANTS BEGINNING TO BUILD.
>> THEY ARE HERE FOR ONE OF THE
MOST ANTICIPATED RUNNERS OF THE
NIGHT, THE STUNTMAN FROM SANDY,
UTAH, BRENT STEFFENSEN.
>> AND LISTEN TO THEM NOW AS
HE CLIMBS THE STAIRS.
THEY'RE ALL MEMBERS OF THE
STEFFENSEN FAMILY.
OVER 70 IN ALL.
THEY'VE COME TO WITNESS HIS
EFFORTS HERE, AND THE REST OF
THE CROWD IS FIRED UP AS WELL.
AND BRENT'S SHOWING OFF A LITTLE
HERE AT THE STARTING LINE.
>> YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA MISS
JAPAN.
I LOVED GOING TO JAPAN AND
EVERYTHING.
BUT I THINK THE BEST PART ABOUT
THE FINALS BEING IN VEGAS
IS THAT MY WHOLE FAMILY CAN COME
OUT.
>> GO, BRENT!
>> IN STAGE ONE, THEY DID.
WHEN BRENT WAS IN JAPAN THE LAST
TWO YEARS, THEY COULD ONLY WATCH
HIM ON TELEVISION.
BUT THIS YEAR, MORE THAN 70
FAMILY MEMBERS FILLED THE
BLEACHERS FOR STAGE ONE HERE
IN LAS VEGAS TO SEE HIM IN
PERSON.
>> IT KINDA SHOCKED ME WHEN
WE DID THE HEAD COUNT.
I THINK THEY'RE GONNA NEED THEIR
OWN SET OF BLEACHERS ACTUALLY.
>> AFTER HE COMPLETED THE STAGE
INSTEAD OF HAVING TO LOOK INTO
THE CAMERA FOR THE CLICHE
"HI, MOM," BRENT GOT TO GIVE HER
A HUG.
>> all: TEAM BRENT!
TEAM BRENT!
TEAM BRENT!
[cheering]
>> FAMILY HAS ALWAYS COME FIRST
FOR BRENT STEFFENSEN.
THAT WAS EVIDENT WHEN WE VISITED
WITH HIM AT THE FAMILY HOME
IN SANDY UTAH.
>> all: BRENT IS GOING TO BE THE
FIRST AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR!
YEAH!
>> MY WHOLE FAMILY--EVERYBODY'S
JUST BEEN SUPER SUPPORTIVE.
>> I THINK HE'S GONNA GO ALL THE
WAY.
>> AND TONIGHT, THEY'LL SUPPORT
HIM ONCE AGAIN IN HIS THIRD
ATTEMPT AT MOUNT MIDORIYAMA,
HE DEFINITELY HAS THE HOME FIELD
ADVANTAGE.
>> OH, THAT'S GONNA BE HUGE JUST
HAVING EVERYBODY YOU LOVE
SITTING THERE, CHEERING YOU ON
RIGHT THERE.
IT'S GONNA A HUGE FEEL.
I THINK I'VE GOT MOUNT
MIDORIYAMA CONQUERED THIS TIME
AROUND, SO THIRD TIME'S A CHARM.
>> CAN BRENT BE THE FIRST TO GET
THROUGH STAGE TWO?
SLIDER DROP, GOTTA HAVE GOOD
BODY CONTROL.
WIDE GRIP.
>> YES! EXCELLENT WORK.
>> TREMENDOUS UPPER-BODY
STRENGTH.
SHOULD DO VERY WELL ON THE
DOUBLE SALMON LADDER.
>> HE CERTAINLY HAD SOME
EXPERIENCE ON IT, WHICH IS VERY
HELPFUL.
>> LOOK AT HIM FLYING RIGHT UP,
KEEPING THE ARMS AT 90 DEGREES.
GREAT BODY CONTROL.
GOING FOR THE TRANSITION.
I'LL BET HE'S GONNA KICK UP A
RUNG HERE.
>> OH, YEAH!
>> AND HE DOES.
>> BEAUTIFUL.
YOU CAN HEAR HIS FAMILY.
HE'S GOT A LOT OF 'EM HERE
CHEERING HIM ON.
OVER 70 IN ALL WHO HAVE COME
HERE FROM ACROSS THE NATION.
>> A LITTLE FALSE START THERE.
>> JUST TRYING TO FIGURE
SOMETHING ELSE OUT HERE.
I THINK HE WAS TRYING TO TAKE
A LOOK AND SEE HOW HIGH THE
ACTUALLY RUNG WAS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> VERY SMART MANEUVER.
>> ON TO THE UNSTABLE BRIDGE.
>> GOD, HE'S JUST MAKING GREAT
TIME RIGHT NOW, JUST A REALLY
SMOOTH PACE.
GREAT SWING, PROBABLY THE BEST
SWING WE'VE SEEN OUT OF ANYONE.
>> GREAT JOB OUT OF STEFFENSEN.
NOW GOTTA STICK THIS LANDING.
BUT HE DOES IT!
ONTO THE BALANCE TANK.
PROVEN SO TRICKY TONIGHT.
ALREADY TAKEN OUT THREE
COMPETITORS.
A CAUTIOUS APPROACH.
LOOKS LIKE HE'S REALLY TRYING TO
CONTROL THAT TANK.
>> OH, BEAUTIFUL TECHNIQUE
THAT FAR AND ACTUALLY GETS
ON THE ROPE!
AND NOW HERE COMES THE OBSTACLE
THAT TOOK HIM OUT LAST YEAR.
HE HAD TO CLEAR SUCH A HUGE
DISTANCE.
>> 25 SECONDS LEFT--NOT A LOT OF
TIME.
>> HE'S TAKING TOO MUCH TIME.
HE'S GOTTA GET GOING HERE.
HE NEEDS TO KEEP MOVING.
>> PRECIOUS SECONDS WASTING
AWAY.
AND HE'S GOT IT!
COME ON!
I THOUGHT HE WAS FALLING!
TIME RUNNING OUT!
NINE SECONDS.
THIS IS GONNA BE CLOSE.
SIX SECONDS LEFT!
>> 88 POUNDS.
GO, GO, GO!
>> HE'S GOING TOO SLOW!
>> 110 POUNDS!
COME ON, TIME!
>> HE MADE IT!
>> HE MADE IT.
STEFFENSEN IS IN!
WHOO!
>> AND THE STREAK IS BROKEN.
THE FIRST AMERICAN HAS COMPLETED
STAGE TWO.
WOW!
>> YEAH!
>> HE GOT THERE JUST BEFORE
THE CLOCK STRUCK ZERO.
I GOTTA TELL YA, I WAS STARTING
TO FEEL THE IMPENETRABILITY,
THE INSURMOUNTABILITY OF
MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
BUT BRENT STEFFENSEN HAS
CHANGED ALL THAT.
HE HAS GIVEN US HOPE THAT THERE
WILL STILL BE AN AMERICAN NINJA
WARRIOR.
AND WHILE HIS FAMILY CELEBRATES
IN THE STANDS, BRENT'S FELLOW
COMPETITORS ARE CONGRATULATING
HIM AS WELL ON MAKING IT THROUGH
STAGE TWO.
LET'S GO TO ANGELA WHO'S MAKING
HER WAY OVER TO BRENT RIGHT NOW.
>> BRENT, WOW!
OH, MY GOODNESS.
>> WHOA, HOLY--
>> THAT PERFORMANCE GAVE ME
GOOSEBUMPS, AND I'M SURE A LOT
OF OTHER PEOPLE.
YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON TO
COMPLETE STAGE TWO.
WHAT EMOTIONS ARE GOING ON RIGHT
NOW?
>> HOLY--JUST AS HIGH AS CAN BE
RIGHT NOW.
BUT REALLY GOOD TO REDEEM MYSELF
ON THE METAL SPIN.
I THOUGHT I WAS--HAD A LOT OF
TIME.
I WAS GOING THROUGH THOSE--
THE DOORS AT THE END.
AND THEN I THOUGHT I HEARD THE
SIRENS GOING OFF.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME
I HAD, BUT...I MADE IT!
>> BRENT, CONGRATULATIONS.
WE WILL SEE YOU IN STAGE THREE.
>> DEFINITELY. THANK YOU.
>> GUYS?
>> WHOO.
>> SO THE CELEBRATION CONTINUES
IN THE STANDS AS WELL AS BRENT
MAKES HIS WAY OVER.
THE ENTIRE STEFFENSEN FAMILY--
INCLUDING HIS FATHER AND
STEPMOTHER--ARE JUST ELATED.
THEY WERE HERE FOR STAGE ONE
AND STAGE TWO.
AND NOW, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO
STICK AROUND FOR STAGE THREE.
WATCH THE LAST 15 SECONDS OF HIS
RUN AND WATCH THE CLOCK CLOSELY.
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
HE NEARLY LOST IT ON THE METAL
SPIN LANDING.
AND NOW, THE TEN-SECOND WARNING
STARTS TO SOUND.
OKAY, HOLD ON.
STOP THE TAPE RIGHT HERE.
HE'S GOT JUST OVER A SECOND
LEFT.
HE STILL HAS TO GET UNDER THAT
110-POUND WALL AND GET TO THE
BUTTON.
AND HE SLAPS THE BUTTON JUST IN
TIME WITH THREE ONE-HUNDREDTHS
OF A SECOND.
HOW'S THAT FOR DRAMA?
>> AND THAT WAS WHEN 70-PLUS
MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY ERUPTED
IN JOY.
AND IT MEANS WE WILL HAVE A
STAGE THREE.
NOW THE QUESTION IS...
WILL ANYONE ELSE JOIN BRENT
THERE?
WHILE BRENT'S FAMILY WAS
CELEBRATING, ANOTHER COMPETITOR
FELL SHORT OF HIS GOAL.
COAL STEVENS, THE NAVY FIREARMS
INSTRUCTOR FROM THE SOUTHWEST
REGION LOST THE BATTLE OF STAGE
TWO WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT.
HE FELL ON THE FIRST OBSTACLE,
THE SLIDER DROP.
NOW, THERE ARE ONLY FOUR
ATHLETES LEFT TO TAKE ON STAGE
TWO, AND THE NEXT MAN UP IS FROM
MIAMI, FLORIDA.
IT'S DAVID "FLIP" RODRIGUEZ.
>> WELL, THE MAN IN THE MASK
IS BACK.
HE STARTED WEARING THE MASK
AS A FREE RUNNER A FEW YEARS
AGO WHEN HE WAS HAVING SOME
ISSUES WITH HIS DAD AT HOME.
HE SAYS HE WANTED TO HIDE
HIS FEELINGS.
NOW THINGS ARE MUCH BETTER AT
HOME, BUT HE'S KEPT THE MASK.
ONE THING HE CAN'T HIDE IS HIS
TALENT.
HE WAS THE FASTEST OVERALL
QUALIFIER OF ALL SIX REGIONAL
COMPETITIONS, AND HE POWERED
THROUGH STAGE ONE HERE AT
MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
AND HE'S HOPING FOR REDEMPTION
BECAUSE LAST YEAR HE WENT OUT ON
STAGE TWO ON THE VERY FIRST
OBSTACLE, FAILING ON THE SLIDER
DROP.
>> I'LL JUST TRY TO KEEP MY MIND
CLEAR AND KILL IT.
>> AND FLIP'S MOM AND STEPDAD
ARE HERE TONIGHT WAITING TO SEE
IF HE CAN CONTINUE THE
IMPRESSIVE RUN HE'S MADE SO FAR
THROUGH THE COMPETITION.
BUT RIGHT NOW, HE'S ABOUT TO
FACE THE OBSTACLE THAT TOOK HIM
OUT LAST YEAR, THE SLIDER DROP.
AND HERE WE GO.
HE'S UP.
>> VERY SMOOTH.
REALLY CONTROLLING THAT BAR.
>> SO HE SURVIVES IT.
HE MOVES ON TO THE DOUBLE SALMON
LADDER.
AND A STRONG START.
AND THE BAR IS ASKEW.
GOOD RECOVERY, JONNY.
>> OOH, YOU KNOW, HE'S MOVING
VERY QUICKLY, WHICH...
YOU KNOW, IS GOOD, BUT HE'S
GOTTA KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL
HERE.
>> NICE TRANSITION.
TOUGH TO READ THE EXPRESSION
BEHIND THAT MASK, BUT YOU KNOW
HE IS FOCUSED.
ON TO THE UNSTABLE BRIDGE.
>> HIS MASK TONIGHT IS ALL
WHITE, SYMBOLIC OF THE MORE
POSITIVE ATTITUDE THAT HE'S
RUNNING FOR STAGE TWO.
>> WORKING THE TRANSITION HERE
TO THAT SECOND BOARD.
NICELY DONE!
GREAT BODY CONTROL OUT OF FLIP
RODRIGUEZ.
THIS LANDING CAN BE SO TRICKY
THOUGH.
>> WE'VE SEEN GUYS GO OUT JUST
ON THIS EXIT.
>> AND HE'S DONE IT.
BUT NOW THE BALANCE TANK,
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE
SURPRISINGLY DIFFICULT
OBSTACLES.
>> OH!
>> FLIP IS OUT!
THE BALANCE TANK TRIPS HIM UP!
SO DEVASTATING, JONNY.
>> THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IN A
ROW HE'S GONE OUT IN STAGE TWO.
I KNOW HE'S DISAPPOINTED.
BUT HE DID GET FARTHER THAN HE
DID LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S A STEP
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>> WELL, YOU CAN JUST SEE THE
FRUSTRATION IN HIS BODY
LANGUAGE AS FLIP CLIMBS OUT OF
THE WATER.
BUT THE CROWD RALLYING BEHIND
HIM AND NOW HE'S GOT THE MASK
OFF.
JONNY, WHAT WENT WRONG ON THE
BALANCE TANK?
>> THIS BALANCE TANK IS MUCH
TOUGHER THAN IT LOOKS, AND ONCE
IT GETS MOVING, IT'S SO
DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE SPEED.
FLIP STOOD STRAIGHT UP.
HE NEEDED TO KEEP HIS UPPER BODY
BENT FORWARD TO KEEP HIS CENTER
OF GRAVITY OVER THE CYLINDER.
AND ONCE IT BEGAN PICKING UP
SPEED, HE HAD NO CHANCE TO
RECOVER.
>> I'M AT STAGE TWO.
TIME TO HAVE SOME FUN.
>> THERE'S THE NEXT MAN ABOUT TO
GIVE IT A GO.
FROM THE SOUTHWEST REGION, IT'S
STUNTMAN PAUL DARNELL.
THIS IS HIS SECOND TRIP TO MOUNT
MIDORIYAMA.
THREE YEARS AGO, HE WENT OUT ON
STAGE ONE.
>> THEN TWO YEARS AGO, HE
SHOCKED EVERYONE BY FAILING TO
COMPLETE THE QUALIFYING COURSE
FOR MOUNT MIDORIYAMA,
A LESSON HE REMEMBERS QUITE
WELL.
>> I WAS REAL EXCITED.
I HAD A CONFIDENCE THAT I'VE
DONE IT ONCE BEFORE, I CAN DO IT
AGAIN.
SO BRIDGE OF BLADES WAS THERE.
I DIDN'T GIVE IT THAT MUCH
THOUGHT, AND...
STEPPED TOO *** ONE OF THE
BLADES AND IT JUST TOOK ME OUT.
>> crowd: OH!
>> OH, AND HE IS DOWN ON THE
BRIDGE OF BLADES!
>> IT WAS A SHOCKER FOR ME.
UM, BUT A REALIZATION THAT
YOU CAN'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.
EACH OBSTACLE IS ALWAYS
DIFFERENT, HARDER, NEWER.
UM, AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO JUST
GO FOR IT AND FOCUS ON EACH ONE.
I THINK I'M A BETTER ATHLETE
THAN I WAS THE FIRST TIME--
ALWAYS TRAINING AND TRYING TO
IMPROVE.
SO THIS YEAR, I FEEL REALLY
STRONG ABOUT IT.
>> YEA!
>> MY FIANCEE WILL BE OUT HERE
WATCHING.
I'M GETTING MARRIED IN TWO
WEEKS.
I GOT REALLY LUCKY THAT IT JUST
FELL INTO PLACE.
UM, THE TRYOUTS HAPPENED,
AND I WENT ON MY BACHELOR PARTY.
NOW THE COURSE IS HAPPENING,
AND NOW I GET TO GO GET MARRIED.
SO IT ACTUALLY--IT ALL WORKED
OUT, SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO MISS
OUT ON ANYTHING.
>> PAUL DARNELL--HE'S STRIPPING
DOWN.
HE IS GETTING SERIOUS.
THE TIGHTY-WHITIES--
TIGHTY-YELLOWIES ACTUALLY.
WELL, HE'S NOT WEARING A LOT OF
YELLOW, BUT STILL ENOUGH TO LET
US KNOW HE IS FROM THE SOUTHWEST
REGION.
>> WELL, PAUL'S WARDROBE, OR
LACK THEREOF, IS A NOD TO A
FELLOW ATHLETE FROM THE
SOUTHWEST--HIS FRIEND DAN MAST
WHO RAN STAGE ONE IN HIS FAMOUS
TUXEDO SPEEDO.
SO DAN, THIS ONE'S FOR YOU,
BUDDY, AND FOR ALL THE LADIES IN
THE HOUSE AS WELL.
>> WELL, HE'S PROUD TO BE IN
HIS SKIVVIES AND HE'S HAVING A
GREAT TIME.
I LIKE IT.
HE'S NOT GONNA LET THE FAILURE
OF THOSE BEFORE HIM SHAKE HIM
OFF HIS GAME.
[Jonny giggling]
WHOO!
>> HERE HE IS ON THE SLIDER
DROP.
THAT IS A REVEALING OUTFIT.
DARNELL THOUGH BULKED UP
SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE WE LAST
SAW HIM ON AMERICAN NINJA
WARRIOR.
HE'S A STUNTMAN.
ACTUALLY DOUBLED FOR HENRY
CAVILL WHO'S PLAYING SUPERMAN
IN THE NEW MOVIE NEXT YEAR.
GOING RIGHT UP THE DOUBLE SALMON
LADDER.
>> GUY'S A SPECIMEN.
GOT THE BAR A LITTLE ASKEW
THOUGH.
>> OH, NO!
>> AND DARNELL HAS BEEN CARRYING
A LOT OF MASS, AND THAT CAN BE
A NEGATIVE ON THE DOUBLE SALMON
LADDER.
>> DEFINITELY, FOR SURE.
BUT HE'S PRETTY LEAN AND
OBVIOUSLY HAS A LOT OF PRACTICE.
ONE OF THE OWNERS OF A FREE
RUNNING PARKOUR GYM.
>> AND HE WENT UP A RUNG THERE.
>> GOES UP.
>> WELL, CERTAINLY NOT WEIGHED
DOWN BY HIS OUTFIT.
AND HE IS UP TO THE TOP RUNG.
NOW THE TRANSITION TO THE
UNSTABLE BRIDGE.
AND THE SECONDS KEEP TICKING
DOWN.
AGAIN, DARNELL CARRYING A LOT OF
MASS.
THAT CAN ADD UP ON THESE
UPPER-BODY OBSTACLES.
>> DEFINITELY AN UNORTHODOX
TECHNIQUE FOR GETTING ACROSS
THE UNSTABLE BRIDGE.
MOST GUYS SKIP BOTH HANDS AT THE
SAME TIME.
HE WAS WALKING HIS HANDS ALONG.
OH!
>> AND THAT WAS IT, JUST LOST
HIS GRIP.
DIDN'T EVEN MAKE THE ATTEMPT,
JONNY.
>> HE JUST LOOKED VERY
UNFAMILIAR ON THOSE UNSTABLE
BRIDGES.
FIRST OF ALL, HIS STRUGGLES ON
THE DOUBLE SALMON LADDER TOOK
A HEAVY TOLL I THINK.
THEN HE'S NEVER BEEN ON THE
UNSTABLE BRIDGE BEFORE AND SPENT
A LONG TIME TRYING TO FIGURE IT
OUT, HOW TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION
FROM ONE BOARD TO THE NEXT,
AND SIMPLY LOST HIS GRIP.
>> LET'S GO TO ANGELA WHO'S
STANDING BY WITH PAUL RIGHT NOW.
>> PAUL, IT LOOKED LIKE THE
SALMON LADDER ZAPPED YOUR
STRENGTH.
AND THEN YOU WERE ON THAT
UNSTABLE BRIDGE AND SO CLOSE.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED?
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
UH, SALMON LADDER, THAT LITTLE
BOBBLE?
THAT JUST TOOK IT ALL OUT OF ME.
I DIDN'T WANNA FALL...
AND I USED ALL MY STRENGTH TO
GET TO THE HANGING BRIDGE.
AND JUST--I HAD NOTHING LEFT.
HE WAS OUR FASTEST FINISHER IN
STAGE ONE.
A SENIOR ENGINEERING STUDENT
FROM WALNUT, CALIFORNIA
WHO'S LIVING OUT HIS DREAM HERE
AT MOUNT MIDORIYAMA, IT'S DEREK
NAKAMOTO.
>> TAIKO IS TRADITIONAL JAPANESE
DRUMMING.
IT STARTED AT LIKE KABUKI,
BUT IT'S SLOWLY GROWING INTO
LIKE NOW A NEW ART.
MY MOM IS CHINESE, MY DAD IS
JAPANESE, AND THEY WERE BOTH
BORN HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
TAIKO HAS HELPED ME A LOT TO
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MY CULTURE.
WITHOUT THAT, I WOULDN'T REALLY
KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
JAPANESE AMERICAN.
>> WHILE HE KEEPS IN TOUCH WITH
HIS FAMILY'S ASIAN PAST,
DEREK NAKAMOTO ALSO LOOKS TO THE
FUTURE.
HIS LIFE MOVE AT AN EVEN FASTER
BEAT THAN THE DRUMS, BALANCING
STUDIES AS A SENIOR ENGINEERING
STUDENT AT CAL POLY POMONA
AND A FULL-TIME JOB.
>> HE'S IN COLLEGE, HE'S A
TRAINER, HE WORKS, HE MAKES HIS
CAR PAYMENT, HE'S RESPONSIBLE.
HE'S A GOOD KID.
>> AS IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH,
DEREK STARTED TRAINING FOR
AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR THREE
YEARS AGO WHEN HE SAW THE SHOW
AS AN 18-YEAR-OLD.
>> WHEN NINJA WARRIOR CAME ON
TV AND I SAW THAT, I WAS LIKE
WOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I
WOULD LOVE TO DO, LOVE TO TRY IT
OUT.
>> HE GOT ALL BUMMED OUT,
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, HE SAID
"OH, YOU GOTTA BE 21.
SO THE LAST THREE YEARS, HE'S
BEEN WORKING REAL HARD.
SO THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE
RIGHT NOW.
>> DEREK THOUGHT HE WAS DREAMING
WHEN HE POSTED THE FASTEST TIME
ON STAGE ONE.
>> IT'S AN INSPIRATION TO KNOW
THAT ALL THIS PREPARATION I'VE
BEEN DOING AND ALL THIS TRAINING
HAS PAID OFF.
MY GOAL IS TO BECOME THE FIRST
AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR.
BUT WILL IT?
I DON'T KNOW, I JUST HAVE TO
FIND OUT.
>> CENTERING HIMSELF AT THE
BEGINNING.
PRETTY AMAZING FOR A 21-YEAR-OLD
ROOKIE TO HAVE THE FASTEST TIME
IN STAGE ONE.
HE SAYS HE'S IN AWE JUST BEING
HERE AT MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
>> HIS FAMILY'S HERE AGAIN
TONIGHT--BOTH MOM AND DAD, AS
WELL AS HIS GRANDFATHER.
AND HERE WE GO.
ON THE SLIDER DROP.
GOOD CONTROL OF THE BAR.
>> NICE.
BEAUTIFUL.
>> NOW THE DOUBLE SALMON LADDER.
>> ONLY THING HE DOES NOT HAVE
GOING FOR HIM IS EXPERIENCE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> YEAH.
>> FLIES RIGHT UP, NOT WASTING
ANY TIME.
OH! THE BAR ASKEW, BUT WHAT A
CORRECTION.
WOW, LOOKS LIKE HE'S ON WIRES
THE WAY HE'S GOING UP IT.
>> I MEAN, HE IS OBVIOUSLY
RIDICULOUSLY STRONG.
IT'S A QUESTION OF HIM KEEPING
HIS HEAD TOGETHER.
HE NEEDS TO MOVE QUICKLY THOUGH
AS WE SAW WITH STEFFENSEN JUST
BARELY SQUEAKING IN THE TIME
ALLOTTED.
LOOK AT HIM GO TO THE TOP OF
THAT DOUBLE SALMON LADDER.
NICE TRANSFER TO THE UNSTABLE
BRIDGE.
>> WOW, GREAT BODY CONTROL.
>> REMEMBER HOW MUCH SWING
STEFFENSEN HAD GETTING TO THIS
TRANSFER MODE.
>> AND HIS HANDS NOT OFF THE--
WOW!
LOOKED LIKE HE COULD'VE GONE
A LITTLE MORE FORWARD THERE.
CUT IT CLOSE.
>> HE JUST MUSCLED THAT.
>> THIS LANDING, ANYTHING BUT A
GIVEN.
ON TO THE BALANCE TANK THOUGH.
SO TRICKY THIS YEAR, THIS
OBSTACLE.
HE'S BACK, A LITTLE OFF-KILTER.
JUMPS TO THE ROPE--A LONG JUMP!
>> DID YOU SEE THE DISTANCE HE
CLEARED?
>> WHOA!
>> WHOO!
PLENTY OF TIME TOO.
>> TRUSTING HIS LEAPING ABILITY
OVER HIS BALANCE.
36 SECONDS LEFT ON TO THE METAL
SPIN.
>> both: OH!
>> DEREK NAKAMOTO GOES OUT ON
THE METAL SPIN, A BRILLIANT RUN
TO THAT POINT, BUT HE IS DONE.
>> MAN, HE HAD THE TIME TO REST
A LITTLE LONGER, BUT HE JUST
CHOSE TO GO.
GOT A PRETTY GOOD LEAP, BUT
ACTUALLY GRABBED THE BUNGEE
CHAIN FAIRLY HIGH.
BUT YOU SEE HOW HIS LOWER BODY
SWUNG AHEAD OF HIM AND ALL THAT
TORQUE WAS JUST TOO MUCH,
AND HE COULDN'T MAINTAIN HIS
GRIP.
>> NICE SALUTE TO HIS FAMILY
AND THE FANS HERE TONIGHT AS
DEREK NAKAMOTO COMES UP SHORT
ON STAGE TWO.
>> GOT ON THERE, GOT A LITTLE
SWEATY PALM...
AND JUST COULDN'T HOLD ON TO
THAT GRIP, BUT...
I MEAN, IT HAPPENS.
>> AND NO EXCUSES FROM DEREK.
A GRACIOUS EXIT BY A YOUNG MAN
WHO SEEMINGLY HAS THE POTENTIAL
TO DOMINATE THIS COMPETITION
IN THE COMING YEARS.
SO STAGE TWO IS OVER, BUT THE
COMPETITION CONTINUES BECAUSE
THE LONE SURVIVOR BRENT
STEFFENSEN, THE LAST MAN
STANDING, NOW MOVES ON TO STAGE
THREE.
>> AND FOR BRENT, THIS
COMPETITION TONIGHT IS WHAT HE'S
FOCUSED ON FOR THE LAST THREE
YEARS.
THIS IS HIS SHOT TO BECOME THE
FIRST-EVER AMERICAN NINJA
WARRIOR.
>> LET'S GO TO ANGELA SUN WHO'S
STANDING BY AT THE START TO TAKE
US THROUGH THE OBSTACLES
BRENT IS ABOUT TO FACE.
>> IT GLOWS WITH WHITE LIGHT
AND IT'S BUILT ENTIRELY OVER
WATER.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CREATURE WITH
A DEADLY BITE.
NO AMERICAN HAS EVER COMPLETED
STAGE THREE AT MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
STAGE THREE FEATURES EIGHT
OBSTACLES SO TAXING THAT THE
OFFICIALS HAVE DEEMED THE CLOCK
UNNECESSARY.
FIRST UP IS THE ROULETTE
CYLINDER.
BRENT WILL HAVE TO GRAB THE
SPOKES OF THE CYLINDER AND ROLL
ALONG THE TRACK, WHICH HAS TWO
JARRING DROPS.
NEXT, IT'S THE DOOR ***
GRASPER WHERE BRENT WILL NEED
TO SWING ACROSS THE FOUR KNOBS
WHICH ROTATE BOTH WAYS SO YOU'RE
JUST AS LIKELY TO SWING
BACKWARDS AS FORWARDS.
FROM THERE, IT'S ON TO THE
FLOATING BOARDS.
THEY'RE SIX FEET TALL, 42 INCHES
WIDE, AND JUST OVER TWO INCHES
THICK.
SO THERE'S NOTHING MUCH TO GRAB
HOLD OF, AND THEY'RE TOO WIDE
TO PUT HIS ARMS AROUND.
HE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT SOME
WAY TO GET ACROSS ALL FOUR.
NEXT, IT'S THE OBSTACLE NO
AMERICAN HAS EVER MASTERED--
THE ULTIMATE CLIFFHANGER.
BRENT MUST WORK HIS WAY ACROSS
THE 32-FOOT SPAN USING ONLY HIS
FINGERTIPS ON LEDGES THAT ARE
BARELY OVER AN INCH DEEP.
THEN HE'LL MOVE ONTO THE BUNGEE
ROPE CLIMB.
THREE SEPARATE ROPES, SPACED
FIVE AND HALF FEET APART,
EACH DIFFERENT IN LENGTH.
FROM THERE, IT'S THE HANG CLIMB.
THAT'S AN INVERTED ROCK CLIMBING
WALL WITH THE HAND HOLDS
REVERSED.
SO HE'LL HAVE TO FACE BACKWARDS
AS HE CLIMBS.
AND HE'LL HAVE TO MAKE THE
TRANSITION TO THE NEXT OBSTACLE
UPSIDE DOWN.
AT THE SPIDER FLIP, HE MUST
CRAWL ALONG THE BOTTOM USING
JUST HIS FINGERS AND TOES,
PULL HIMSELF VERTICALLY TO THE
LEDGE, JUMP ACROSS TO THE OTHER
SIDE, AND THEN CRAWL BACK DOWN
AND ACROSS AGAIN TO COMPLETE IT.
AND THE FINAL OBSTACLE OF STAGE
THREE IS THE FLYING BAR.
BRENT MUST JUMP THE BAR THROUGH
FOUR SETS OF 12-INCH LANDING
PLATFORMS FIVE FEET APART
UNTIL HE REACHES THE FINISH
LINE.
EIGHT OBSTACLES--EACH ONE
TESTING EVERY OUNCE OF GRIP,
HAND, SHOULDER, AND ARM
STRENGTH.
NO AMERICAN HAS EVER GOTTEN
TO THE END.
>> THANKS, ANGELA.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S EVER BEEN
A TOUGHER COMBINATION OF
OBSTACLES ON STAGE THREE THAN
WHAT BRENT IS ABOUT TO FACE
TONIGHT.
>> I AGREE.
EVERY OBSTACLE HERE IS
DIFFICULT.
THE FLOATING BOARDS ARE NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE.
AND THE ULTIMATE CLIFFHANGER
HAS BEEN THE DEMISE OF SO MANY
IN THE PAST.
AND AFTER THAT, IT JUST GETS
TOUGHER.
THE HANG CLIMB AND THE SPIDER
FLIP ARE GOING TO PUT HIS GRIP
STRENGTH TO THE ULTIMATE TEST
AND THAT'S AFTER GETTING THROUGH
THE FIRST FIVE GRIP-INTENSIVE
OBSTACLES.
>> WELL, BRENT SAYS HE'S MORE
PREPARED THAN EVER.
WE WILL SEE.
LET'S GO TO ANGELA AGAIN WHO'S
STANDING BY WITH BRENT.
>> BRENT, 100 PEOPLE CAME TO
VEGAS TO COMPETE IN THE FINALS
AND YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE LEFT
STANDING LOOKING AT STAGE THREE.
WHAT KIND OF PRESSURE DOES THAT
PUT ON YOU?
>> IT'S TREMENDOUS.
BUT I HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MY
FAMILY.
THEY'VE KEPT ME GOING.
IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY,
AND THEY'RE STILL CHEERING ME
ON.
SO IF THEY HAVE ENERGY, I HAVE
ENERGY TOO.
>> LOOKING AT THE COURSE RIGHT
NOW, WHAT OBSTACLE IS GONNA BE
YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
>> UH, I'M GONNA SAY PROBABLY
THIS LAST ONE HERE, JUMPING THE
BAR TO THESE LITTLE PLATFORMS.
JUST THERE'S A LOTTA ROOM FOR
ERROR.
AND I'VE NEVER TRAINED IT
BEFORE, SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT
GOES.
>> ALL EYES ARE ON YOU, SO GOOD
LUCK.
>> THAT'S TRUE, THAT'S TRUE.
THANK YOU.
>> GUYS?
>> AND AS HE TOLD US BEFORE,
HAVING HIS FAMILY HERE IS A HUGE
BOOST.
OVER 70 MEMBERS OF THE
STEFFENSEN CLAN GATHERED HERE
AT STAGE THREE NOW.
NEXT TO HIS DAD, THAT'S BRENT'S
AUNT ON THE PHONE.
SHE'S READY TO GIVE THE
PLAY-BY-PLAY TO HIS MOM WHO'S
BACK HOME.
>> LET'S GO, BRENT!
>> AND HIS FELLOW ATHLETES ARE
ALSO HERE HOPING THEY WILL
WITNESS HISTORY.
>> HERE WE GO, THE LAST MAN
STANDING.
CAN HE BE THE FIRST AMERICAN
TO COMPLETE STAGE THREE?
REMEMBER, THERE IS NO CLOCK.
ALL HE HAS TO DO IS SURVIVE.
BRENT STEFFENSEN STARTING ON THE
ROULETTE CYLINDER.
AND HE'S UP.
HE'S GOT TO ROLL THAT CYLINDER
BY GRABBING THE SPINES AND
TURNING IT TO MOVE DOWN THE
TRACK.
>> I DON'T THINK THIS'LL TRIP
HIM UP, BUT HE WANTS TO GET
THROUGH IT QUICKLY BECAUSE IT
TAKES SO MUCH GRIP STRENGTH THAT
HE'LL DESPERATELY NEED LATER.
>> THIS ENTIRE STAGE IS ALL
ABOUT GRIP, ARM, AND UPPER-BODY
STRENGTH.
FOREARMS HAVE TO BE BURNING
ALREADY, JONNY.
>> OH, DEFINITELY.
ESPECIALLY AFTER ALREADY
COMPLETING STAGE TWO, AND NO
OPPORTUNITY TO REST HERE LIKE
YOU SEE IN THE OTHER STAGES.
USUALLY HAVE A BREAK BETWEEN
DIFFERENT OBSTACLES.
HE HAS TO GO STRAIGHT INTO THE
DOOR *** GRASPER.
>> AND THOSE DOOR KNOBS SPIN.
THEY ROTATE AS YOU'RE HOLDING
ONTO THEM.
SO HARD TO GET GOOD PURCHASE ON
THEM.
STEFFENSEN DOING A GOOD JOB.
AND HE SKIPS THE LAST DOOR ***.
HE'S THROUGH THE FIRST TWO
OBSTACLES.
AND NEXT UP THE FLOATING BOARDS.
NOTHING TO REALLY SINK YOUR
FINGERS INTO.
>> YEAH, HE'S GOTTA USE THIS
GRIP HIS FEET, HIS LEGS, HIS
FEET--ANYTHING TO HANG ON AND
MAKE HIS WAY ACROSS.
>> HE'S UP!
TO THE SECOND BOARD AND WOW!
LOOK AT THAT TECHNIQUE.
THAT'S WHY STEFFENSEN IS ONE OF
THE STRONGEST COMPETITORS OUT
HERE.
PHENOMENAL TECHNIQUE, FLYING
THROUGH THE FLOATING BOARDS.
NOW TRYING TO BUILD UP SOME
MOMENTUM.
KEEP IN MIND, THOSE ARE
FREE-FLOATING BOARDS.
HE KNOWS IF HE DROPS DOWN,
HE COULD LOSE THE MOMENTUM.
>> THERE WE GO, NICE ONE.
>> HE'S DONE IT!
AND NOW HE'S ABOUT TO FACE
THE OBSTACLE THAT HAS STOPPED
EVERY AMERICAN ATHLETE WHO'S
EVER ATTEMPTED IT--THE ULTIMATE
CLIFFHANGER.
STEFFENSEN TAKING HIS SHOES OFF.
DOESN'T NEED THE SHOES FROM HERE
ON OUT.
IT'S ALL HANGS.
UH-OH. THE SHIRT IS COMING OFF.
STEFFENSEN IS GETTING SERIOUS.
AND HERE IT IS.
BRENT STEFFENSEN ON THE ULTIMATE
CLIFFHANGER.
LOOKING TO BECOME THE FIRST
AMERICAN EVER TO DEFEAT IT.
TWO YEARS AGO, IT TOOK HIM OUT.
>> THESE LEDGES ARE BARELY OVER
AN INCH IN DEPTH.
HE'S WORKING WITH NOTHING BUT
HIS FINGERTIPS.
>> AND THE TRANSITIONS ARE
SO DIFFICULT.
AND HE'S MADE THE FIRST ONE.
>> NEXT IS EVEN TOUGHER.
OH!
>> AND HE'S GOT IT!
ONE TRANSITION LEFT.
>> MADE IT.
[cheers and applause]
HE'S NOT THERE YET.
HE'S GOT IT!
BRENT STEFFENSEN HAS DONE IT!
THE FIRST AMERICAN EVER TO
DEFEAT THE ULTIMATE CLIFFHANGER.
HE HAS JUST MADE HISTORY.
AND LOOK AT HIM CELEBRATING.
HE KNOWS IT.
>> HE CAN FEEL THE CROWD
LIGHTING HIM UP.
>> AND THE FELLOW COMPETITORS
KNOW THEY'RE WATCHING THE BEST
PERFORMANCE EVER BY AN AMERICAN.
>> AND WHAT A RELIEF TO GET
THROUGH THE ULTIMATE CLIFFHANGER
BUT HE'S STILL ONLY HALFWAY
THROUGH THIS STAGE.
IT'S JUST CRUEL.
>> NOW MOVING ON TO THE BUNGEE
ROPE CLIMB.
HE'S GOT TO SWING FROM ROPE TO
ROPE TO ROPE, AND THEY'RE ALL
DIFFERING LENGTHS.
THIS IS UNCHARTED TERRITORY FOR
AMERICANS.
>> THESE ARE OBSTACLES HE'S
NEVER TRIED BEFORE.
>> BRENT STEFFENSEN FEELING
GOOD.
>> REMEMBER THERE'S NO TIME
LIMIT.
>> GOOD FORM.
RIGHT INTO THE HANG CLIMB.
LOOK AT HIM GO.
>> IT'S SO BRUTAL ON THE
FOREARMS BECAUSE AT THAT ANGLE,
IT'S REALLY HARD TO UTILIZE YOUR
LEGS.
OH, GOOD, HE'S GOT HIS LEGS
INVOLVED.
>> GOT HIS FEET IN THERE.
LOOK AT THAT--UPSIDE DOWN,
INVERTED, KNOWING THAT YOU'RE
CLIMBING UP.
TRYING TO MAKE HIS WAY TO THE
SPIDER FLIP.
>> HE'S MAKING ME NERVOUS RIGHT
NOW.
HE'S SPENDING A LOT OF TIME.
>> HIS FINGERS SEEM TO BE GIVING
OUT.
>> YOU ONLY HAVE SO MUCH TIME.
JUST HIS FINGERTIPS IS ALL HE
HAS TO USE TO HANG ONTO.
MAN.
>> IT'S TAKING ITS TOLL.
SUCH A SMALL GRIP.
>> both: OH!
>> AND HE'S OUT!
BRENT STEFFENSEN GOES OUT ON
THE HANG CLIMB--A CRUSHING FALL.
HE WANTED IT SO BADLY.
JONNY, WHAT DO YOU TAKE AWAY
FROM BRENT'S PERFORMANCE
TONIGHT?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, AS THE
ONLY COMPETITOR, WITH ALL EYES
ON HIM, THAT WAS SOME SERIOUS
PRESSURE.
I'VE BEEN IN THAT SITUATION.
AND YOU CAN'T BELIEVE HOW HARD
IT IS TO STAY COMPLETELY
FOCUSED, BUT HE LOOKS SO STRONG.
AND THEN TO MAKE HISTORY
GETTING PAST THE ULTIMATE
CLIFFHANGER WAS REMARKABLE.
BUT WHEN HE GOT TO THE HANG
CLIMB, MATT, HE JUST RAN OUT OF
GAS.
THIS STAGE IS JUST SUCH A
DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.
YOU WANNA BE CAREFUL AND TAKE
YOUR TIME, BUT EVERY EXTRA
SECOND IS A KILLER ON YOUR BODY.
[crowd chanting "Brent"]
>> [groans]
>> AND THE CROWD NOW ON THEIR
FEET.
EVERYBODY HERE STANDING TO HONOR
THE MAN WHO'S NOW GONE FARTHER
THAN ANY AMERICAN EVER AT MOUNT
MIDORIYAMA.
HE COULDN'T GET TO THE END OF
STAGE THREE, BUT RIGHT NOW
IT MUST CERTAINLY FEEL LIKE
A VICTORY CELEBRATION FOR BRENT
STEFFENSEN.
A DESERVED ROUND OF APPLAUSE
FOR BRENT STEFFENSEN, AN
AMERICAN WHO JUST MADE HISTORY.
MADE IT FARTHER THAN ANY
AMERICAN HAS EVER DONE HERE AT
MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
LET'S GO TO ANGELA WHO'S
STANDING BY WITH BRENT RIGHT
NOW.
>> BRENT, I KNOW IT WASN'T
THE OBSTACLE THAT YOU THOUGHT
WAS GONNA GIVE YOU THE TROUBLE,
BUT THE HANG CLIMB.
WHAT WENT WRONG?
>> JUST...PUMPED OUT COMPLETELY.
YOU KNOW, THE ENDURANCE JUST
WASN'T QUITE THERE.
THAT'S--THAT'S A LOT OF, UH,
UPPER-BODY, FINGER STRENGTH
OBSTACLES RIGHT IN A ROW.
I SHOULD'VE JUST KEPT MOVING.
IF I WOULD'VE KEPT MOVING,
I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT I
WOULD'VE AT LEAST GOT ONTO THE
NEXT OBSTACLE.
>> BUT HEY, REGARDLESS OF THE
OUTCOME, YOU STILL MADE HISTORY
AS THE FIRST AMERICAN TO CLEAR
THE ULTIMATE CLIFFHANGER.
THAT'S GOTTA FEEL GOOD, RIGHT?
>> OH, IT'S AMAZING.
YOU KNOW, LIKE, NO AMERICAN'S
DONE IT AND IT'S JUST A HUGE
PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO BE THE
FIRST ONE TO DO IT, AND IT JUST
FEELS AWESOME.
>> WELL, A TREMENDOUS EFFORT
HERE IN STAGE THREE.
WE'LL LET YOU GET TO YOUR
FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
>> SWEET.
SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.
>> GUYS?
>> THANKS, ANGELA.
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO--WHOA!
HOLD ON!
BRENT STEFFENSEN ENDS THE NIGHT
IN STYLE--A VICTORY FLIP INTO
THE WATER.
I CAN SENSE THE PRIDE HE'S
FEELING, HAVING MADE IT SO FAR
IN THIS COMPETITION.
AND NOW BEING MOBBED BY HIS
FAMILY.
YOU KNOW, JONNY, THIS YOUNG MAN
HAS IMPRESSED US WITH HIS
CHARACTER OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS, AND NOW WE KNOW WHY.
THE FAMILY SUPPORT HAS BEEN
THERE FROM DAY ONE, AND IT WAS
THERE IN FORCE AGAIN TONIGHT.
JUST A TREMENDOUS OUTBURST OF
JOY FROM EVERYONE HERE AS BRENT
STEFFENSEN DOES COME UP SHORT
BUT STILL MANAGES TO MAKE
HISTORY.
SO A COMPETITION MONTHS IN THE
MAKING...
WITH NEARLY 1,000 ATHLETES, SIX
REGIONAL EVENTS.
AND IN THE END, 100 FINALISTS
HERE AT MOUNT MIDORIYAMA IN
LAS VEGAS.
BUT TOTAL VICTORY AGAIN PROVES
ELUSIVE, JONNY.
>> AH, YES, MATT, BUT THE QUEST
IS STILL ALIVE, AND BRENT
STEFFENSEN'S PERFORMANCE
EPITOMIZED THAT.
HE PUSHED ON THROUGH AND GOT US
ONE STEP CLOSER TO ACHIEVING
TOTAL VICTORY.
>> SO THAT'S IT FOR THIS YEAR,
BUT THE SEARCH CONTINUES FOR
AN AMERICAN WITH THE STRENGTH,
AGILITY, AND HEART TO DEFEAT
MOUNT MIDORIYAMA.
FOR JONNY MOSELEY AND ANGELA
SUN, I'M MATT ISEMAN AND WE'LL
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR ON AMERICAN
NINJA WARRIOR.