1 00:00:05,005 --> 00:00:07,107 - One, two, ready, go. 2 00:00:07,140 --> 00:00:10,110 [flowing classical music] 3 00:00:10,977 --> 00:00:12,045 - Whoo! - Nice. 4 00:00:12,078 --> 00:00:13,613 [laughter] 5 00:00:13,646 --> 00:00:16,416 - Every day, all across the country... 6 00:00:16,449 --> 00:00:17,717 - Nice. Nice. 7 00:00:17,751 --> 00:00:20,020 - Aspiring ninjas are working together... 8 00:00:20,053 --> 00:00:22,522 - They push me to achieve things 9 00:00:22,555 --> 00:00:25,325 that I wouldn't achieve training by myself. 10 00:00:25,358 --> 00:00:27,460 - Yay, team. - Yay! 11 00:00:27,494 --> 00:00:30,063 - My training partner Adam Rayl right here. 12 00:00:30,096 --> 00:00:32,065 - If you want to go fast, go alone. 13 00:00:32,098 --> 00:00:35,335 If you want to go far, go together, have a team. 14 00:00:35,368 --> 00:00:36,803 - Inspiring one another 15 00:00:36,836 --> 00:00:40,106 and pushing each other to incredible heights. 16 00:00:40,140 --> 00:00:42,075 - What's up, "Ninja Warrior"? We push each other. 17 00:00:42,108 --> 00:00:44,044 We train a lot. And... - Yeah. 18 00:00:44,077 --> 00:00:45,412 - I think we're gonna both do really well. 19 00:00:45,445 --> 00:00:48,081 - Tonight, on "American Ninja Warrior," 20 00:00:48,114 --> 00:00:49,816 the power of partnership. 21 00:00:49,849 --> 00:00:51,518 - Make sure you go left hand here. 22 00:00:51,551 --> 00:00:54,220 we've been working towards this since we were 11 years old. 23 00:00:54,254 --> 00:00:55,922 Tonight, that buzzer is ours. 24 00:00:55,955 --> 00:00:57,791 [dramatic energetic music] 25 00:00:57,824 --> 00:00:59,325 - [chuckles] Oh! 26 00:00:59,359 --> 00:01:02,062 - That's the spirit of ninja, supporting each other 27 00:01:02,062 --> 00:01:04,564 on the year-long journey that culminates here, 28 00:01:04,597 --> 00:01:08,702 in the Tacoma Dome, on "American Ninja Warrior." 29 00:01:08,735 --> 00:01:09,936 Hello, everyone, and thanks for being with us. 30 00:01:09,969 --> 00:01:12,505 I'm Matt Iseman. - And I'm Akbar Gbajabiamila. 31 00:01:12,539 --> 00:01:15,875 Matt, the ninja world has been turned upside down this season, 32 00:01:15,909 --> 00:01:17,577 and it could get crazy again tonight. 33 00:01:17,610 --> 00:01:19,946 - Absolutely, big man. Veterans are falling. 34 00:01:19,979 --> 00:01:21,314 The teenagers are rising. 35 00:01:21,348 --> 00:01:23,083 We knew these kids were gonna be good. 36 00:01:23,116 --> 00:01:25,585 We just didn't know they were gonna be this good. 37 00:01:25,618 --> 00:01:28,855 - Yeah, last week, we had four teenage finishers, 38 00:01:28,888 --> 00:01:31,424 including one, Vance Walker, 39 00:01:31,458 --> 00:01:34,394 who conquered the 18-foot Mega Wall. 40 00:01:34,427 --> 00:01:36,496 [buzzer blares] 41 00:01:36,529 --> 00:01:39,499 But I expect the veterans to come back strong this week. 42 00:01:39,532 --> 00:01:40,767 we've got some of the greats, 43 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:43,269 like the Wildman Jake Murray... 44 00:01:43,303 --> 00:01:44,938 - Whoo! 45 00:01:44,971 --> 00:01:46,272 - And the Papal Ninja, 46 00:01:46,306 --> 00:01:48,274 Catholic Church worker Sean Bryan. 47 00:01:48,308 --> 00:01:50,110 [cheers and applause] 48 00:01:50,110 --> 00:01:52,245 Plus, the reigning women's champion, 49 00:01:52,278 --> 00:01:55,281 the rock climber and model, Meagan Martin. 50 00:01:55,315 --> 00:01:58,585 Meagan Martin takes the title! 51 00:01:58,618 --> 00:02:01,654 And our ninjas tonight will face a brand-new obstacle 52 00:02:01,688 --> 00:02:03,523 and another big choice. 53 00:02:03,556 --> 00:02:05,358 For more on that, let's go down to Zuri Hall. 54 00:02:05,392 --> 00:02:07,927 - Yeah, guys. At Split Decision tonight, 55 00:02:07,961 --> 00:02:10,597 our athletes will have to face two balance obstacles 56 00:02:10,630 --> 00:02:12,065 that give ninjas nightmares. 57 00:02:12,065 --> 00:02:14,801 On one side, it's the notorious 58 00:02:14,834 --> 00:02:17,370 ninja obstacle, the Log Runner, 59 00:02:17,404 --> 00:02:19,939 which knocked out 36 competitors 60 00:02:19,973 --> 00:02:21,541 in one night in season eight. 61 00:02:21,574 --> 00:02:23,076 - Oh! 62 00:02:23,076 --> 00:02:25,078 - Or they can choose another balance obstacle 63 00:02:25,078 --> 00:02:27,380 that's caused nightmares for ninjas, 64 00:02:27,414 --> 00:02:29,849 the always brutal Block Run. 65 00:02:29,883 --> 00:02:33,787 - Isaac Caldiero splashes down! 66 00:02:33,820 --> 00:02:36,256 - Let's go ahead and get things rolling. Guys? 67 00:02:36,289 --> 00:02:38,658 - We're gonna start things off in a big way, 68 00:02:38,692 --> 00:02:41,094 with the night's tallest competitor. 69 00:02:41,094 --> 00:02:44,364 This is 6'5" Stephen Edwards. 70 00:02:44,397 --> 00:02:46,533 He's a 40-year-old with four kids, 71 00:02:46,566 --> 00:02:48,768 but fatherhood hasn't slowed him down. 72 00:02:48,802 --> 00:02:51,104 [tires squealing] 73 00:02:51,104 --> 00:02:52,706 [upbeat music] 74 00:02:52,739 --> 00:02:55,942 - The first time I ever raced a car, I was hooked. 75 00:02:55,975 --> 00:03:00,113 It's just nonstop, right on that edge the entire time. 76 00:03:00,146 --> 00:03:03,917 At that point, I had a legit fast sports car. 77 00:03:03,950 --> 00:03:05,318 [laughter] 78 00:03:05,352 --> 00:03:06,653 Thank you, guys. 79 00:03:06,686 --> 00:03:09,923 Now, I have four kids, and I drive a minivan. 80 00:03:09,956 --> 00:03:12,592 That's what happens when there's a morning with Daddy. 81 00:03:12,625 --> 00:03:13,693 Just because I got the minivan 82 00:03:13,727 --> 00:03:15,195 didn't mean I stopped having fun. 83 00:03:15,228 --> 00:03:17,430 Today, we're gonna autocross the van. 84 00:03:17,464 --> 00:03:19,899 You can make any car go fast if you know what you're doing. 85 00:03:19,933 --> 00:03:21,634 I'm gonna angle the tires inward, 86 00:03:21,668 --> 00:03:23,603 so that they want to turn all the time. 87 00:03:23,636 --> 00:03:26,406 I ended up giving the minivan a little bit of tweaks 88 00:03:26,439 --> 00:03:27,674 here and there where I could. 89 00:03:27,707 --> 00:03:29,409 There you go. Wheels on. 90 00:03:29,442 --> 00:03:30,810 And then took it racing. 91 00:03:30,844 --> 00:03:33,346 - We are underway. Course is hot. 92 00:03:33,380 --> 00:03:36,116 - Racing in the minivan is a huge adrenaline rush. 93 00:03:36,149 --> 00:03:42,989 * * 94 00:03:43,089 --> 00:03:46,226 Yeah, yeah! 95 00:03:46,259 --> 00:03:48,261 But everyone says, 96 00:03:48,294 --> 00:03:49,929 "So why'd you bring your wife's car?" 97 00:03:49,963 --> 00:03:52,899 And while the minivan isn't breaking any records... 98 00:03:52,932 --> 00:03:55,402 [cheering] - Nice time for the minivan. 99 00:03:55,435 --> 00:03:56,970 - I'm not coming in last. 100 00:03:57,003 --> 00:03:58,405 Good job. 101 00:03:58,438 --> 00:04:00,707 I'm always telling my kids to set their goals high, 102 00:04:00,740 --> 00:04:02,709 and I will not let my kids down. 103 00:04:02,742 --> 00:04:04,377 * * 104 00:04:04,411 --> 00:04:05,912 [horn honks] 105 00:04:05,945 --> 00:04:07,781 [cheers and applause] 106 00:04:07,814 --> 00:04:09,115 Oh, my gosh! 107 00:04:09,149 --> 00:04:10,817 - There's that big family of his 108 00:04:10,850 --> 00:04:12,752 watching back in Pennsylvania. 109 00:04:12,786 --> 00:04:14,721 [cheers and applause] 110 00:04:14,754 --> 00:04:16,289 - Seatbelts. Buckle up. 111 00:04:16,322 --> 00:04:18,725 - Oh, okay. Oh, the family's buckling up too! 112 00:04:18,758 --> 00:04:20,827 - What a cool dad! 113 00:04:20,860 --> 00:04:23,663 [countdown clock beeping] 114 00:04:23,697 --> 00:04:25,198 - Oh, put it in gear. - Oh, okay. He's in gear. 115 00:04:25,231 --> 00:04:26,666 Okay. Well, go then. 116 00:04:26,700 --> 00:04:28,501 Zero to 60. - Looking smooth. 117 00:04:28,535 --> 00:04:30,937 - He's got Long Levers down, Matt. 118 00:04:30,970 --> 00:04:33,840 - Brand-new obstacle here, Akbar, Double Down. 119 00:04:33,873 --> 00:04:35,075 - All right. 120 00:04:35,075 --> 00:04:36,910 - You have to crank it up here. 121 00:04:36,943 --> 00:04:38,345 - Oh! 122 00:04:38,378 --> 00:04:41,848 - Now has to ride the bar down. 123 00:04:41,881 --> 00:04:44,417 And you can see right there it slides back and forth. 124 00:04:44,451 --> 00:04:48,121 Now has to swing over to the next bar. 125 00:04:48,154 --> 00:04:50,657 - Well, he's got long arms, and that should help him out. 126 00:04:50,690 --> 00:04:51,925 That's nice. 127 00:04:51,958 --> 00:04:53,093 - He's got to crank it up once more 128 00:04:53,093 --> 00:04:54,561 and then slide down again. 129 00:04:54,594 --> 00:04:58,264 - Keep them L's coming down fast, now. Nice. 130 00:04:58,298 --> 00:05:00,133 - Couple extra swings. Good. 131 00:05:00,166 --> 00:05:01,234 He's through. 132 00:05:01,267 --> 00:05:03,036 But here it is, Split Decision. 133 00:05:03,069 --> 00:05:05,572 On the inside, Block Run, the outside, Log Runner. 134 00:05:05,605 --> 00:05:08,575 No good choices on these balance obstacles. 135 00:05:08,608 --> 00:05:09,909 - No, he's thinking. 136 00:05:09,943 --> 00:05:12,412 He's looking through his rearview mirror. 137 00:05:12,445 --> 00:05:16,149 He's like, "Nah." Yeah. Yeah, put the blinkers on. 138 00:05:16,182 --> 00:05:17,450 - His kids are cheering him on. 139 00:05:17,484 --> 00:05:18,918 They love it. 140 00:05:18,952 --> 00:05:20,487 - He put the blinkers. He's going to the outside. 141 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:22,088 - He's nailing it. 142 00:05:22,122 --> 00:05:25,291 - On the Log Runner. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh! 143 00:05:25,325 --> 00:05:26,960 - Oh boy. Here we go. 144 00:05:27,060 --> 00:05:31,064 - He can't just slide across. He's gotta stand up first. 145 00:05:31,064 --> 00:05:32,332 - Talk about speed cars. 146 00:05:32,365 --> 00:05:35,068 He's having to be a four-wheel drive here. 147 00:05:35,101 --> 00:05:36,403 - He's stuck in the dirt. 148 00:05:36,436 --> 00:05:37,804 - You have to stand up. You can't advance-- 149 00:05:37,837 --> 00:05:39,072 - Ooh. 150 00:05:39,072 --> 00:05:41,341 Oh, parked that baby right there. 151 00:05:41,374 --> 00:05:43,777 - Turned out his car was a submarine. 152 00:05:43,810 --> 00:05:46,179 - Good thing he put on his seatbelt at the start 153 00:05:46,212 --> 00:05:48,114 so he was ready for that crash. 154 00:05:48,148 --> 00:05:52,452 The racer just went too slow, and he got wet. 155 00:05:52,485 --> 00:05:56,089 - Still a cool dad, though. - We still love you! 156 00:05:56,089 --> 00:05:58,725 - We still love you, Daddy! 157 00:05:58,758 --> 00:06:00,193 - Well, our next competitor 158 00:06:00,226 --> 00:06:01,795 isn't even old enough to drive. 159 00:06:01,828 --> 00:06:04,030 This is tonight's youngest athlete, 160 00:06:04,064 --> 00:06:06,399 15-year-old Addy Herman, 161 00:06:06,433 --> 00:06:09,602 a high school sophomore from Pembroke, Massachusetts. 162 00:06:09,636 --> 00:06:12,038 She's the first of many we'll see tonight who got here 163 00:06:12,038 --> 00:06:13,640 with the help of a good training partner. 164 00:06:13,673 --> 00:06:15,775 - You can do this, Addy! 165 00:06:15,809 --> 00:06:17,243 * * 166 00:06:17,277 --> 00:06:19,612 - I met Taylor Johnson last spring 167 00:06:19,646 --> 00:06:21,181 doing a local competition, 168 00:06:21,214 --> 00:06:24,784 and we since then have become, like, best friends. 169 00:06:24,818 --> 00:06:26,286 [laughter] 170 00:06:26,319 --> 00:06:28,321 We travel together, train together. 171 00:06:28,355 --> 00:06:29,823 She's super close with my family, too. 172 00:06:29,856 --> 00:06:32,292 So she's pretty much like family now. 173 00:06:32,325 --> 00:06:35,061 - We have those, like, fun times where we're together, 174 00:06:35,095 --> 00:06:36,930 but then we'll, like, argue with each other too. 175 00:06:36,963 --> 00:06:38,465 Her mom laughs about it too. 176 00:06:38,498 --> 00:06:39,566 She's like, "You guys really are-- 177 00:06:39,599 --> 00:06:40,967 like, you act like siblings." 178 00:06:41,067 --> 00:06:44,237 - This is what happens when you try to take a photo. 179 00:06:44,270 --> 00:06:45,872 - People comment about it too. They're just like, 180 00:06:45,905 --> 00:06:47,307 "You've really, like, taken a corner here." 181 00:06:47,340 --> 00:06:49,642 And I'm like, "It's training with Addy." 182 00:06:49,676 --> 00:06:51,544 * * 183 00:06:51,578 --> 00:06:53,680 I never would have thought a 15-year-old would be the one 184 00:06:53,713 --> 00:06:57,117 that would be amping up my training as much as I have. 185 00:06:57,150 --> 00:06:59,085 * * 186 00:06:59,085 --> 00:07:01,788 - Besides school, I'm not doing anything else but ninja. 187 00:07:01,821 --> 00:07:04,491 I'll go to different gyms. I'll do it at my house. 188 00:07:04,524 --> 00:07:08,595 I'll crosstrain. Like, that's everything I do. 189 00:07:08,628 --> 00:07:11,064 I have been dreaming about this for so long 190 00:07:11,097 --> 00:07:12,866 and I can't believe it's actually happening. 191 00:07:12,899 --> 00:07:17,170 * * 192 00:07:17,203 --> 00:07:19,372 - Come on! - Come on, Addy! Let's go! 193 00:07:19,406 --> 00:07:21,574 - And Taylor's gonna be screaming on the sidelines 194 00:07:21,608 --> 00:07:23,410 right next to Addy's mom. 195 00:07:23,443 --> 00:07:25,345 And watching back in Massachusetts, 196 00:07:25,378 --> 00:07:26,913 she's got lots of family, 197 00:07:26,946 --> 00:07:28,648 including her dad and two brothers. 198 00:07:28,682 --> 00:07:30,116 - Well, her brother Jacoby will be 199 00:07:30,150 --> 00:07:32,952 on "Ninja Junior" this fall. 200 00:07:33,053 --> 00:07:35,055 There she is. Looking a little nervous. 201 00:07:35,088 --> 00:07:37,390 [countdown clock beeping] - Come on, Addy! Let's go! 202 00:07:37,424 --> 00:07:38,658 - And she's been tearing it up 203 00:07:38,692 --> 00:07:40,493 in ninja regional competitions, 204 00:07:40,527 --> 00:07:42,529 dominating competitors all over the country. 205 00:07:42,562 --> 00:07:43,797 - Let's go! 206 00:07:43,830 --> 00:07:45,765 - We first saw her on "Ninja Junior." 207 00:07:45,799 --> 00:07:47,667 Look how young she looked! 208 00:07:47,701 --> 00:07:49,069 But she's really upped her training 209 00:07:49,069 --> 00:07:51,371 in the last two years. 210 00:07:51,404 --> 00:07:52,572 - She's got that look, too. 211 00:07:52,605 --> 00:07:53,573 She's got the eye of the tiger. 212 00:07:53,606 --> 00:07:54,941 She's not messing around. 213 00:07:54,974 --> 00:07:56,343 - The youngsters this season-- 214 00:07:56,376 --> 00:07:57,610 it's just so impressive 215 00:07:57,644 --> 00:07:58,712 the way they're coming out here 216 00:07:58,745 --> 00:08:00,080 on this big platform-- 217 00:08:00,113 --> 00:08:03,316 good save there, by the way-- and delivering. 218 00:08:03,350 --> 00:08:05,618 - 5'4", 125 pounds. 219 00:08:05,652 --> 00:08:08,488 She's plenty strong, too, to be able to handle herself. 220 00:08:08,521 --> 00:08:11,024 Nice, efficient move. You see, she's not messing around. 221 00:08:11,024 --> 00:08:12,492 - Now it's Split Decision, 222 00:08:12,525 --> 00:08:14,594 and she's not even looking at Block Run. 223 00:08:14,627 --> 00:08:17,163 She's going straight for Log Runner. 224 00:08:17,197 --> 00:08:18,631 - Yeah, come on, come on, come on, now. Look at that. 225 00:08:18,665 --> 00:08:20,767 - Hey! Just effortless. 226 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,136 - Whoo! - And she is flying, Akbar. 227 00:08:23,169 --> 00:08:25,438 - You got this! You got this! 228 00:08:25,472 --> 00:08:27,741 - And Mom is her biggest cheerleader. 229 00:08:27,774 --> 00:08:29,275 - Now on to Air Surfer. 230 00:08:29,309 --> 00:08:31,578 She's got to jump that upside down snowboard 231 00:08:31,611 --> 00:08:33,279 across those landing pads. 232 00:08:33,313 --> 00:08:36,082 - Come on, Addy! Yeah! 233 00:08:36,116 --> 00:08:37,951 - All right, placement. 234 00:08:38,051 --> 00:08:39,352 Nice. 235 00:08:39,386 --> 00:08:41,621 - Good job. This is a challenge. 236 00:08:41,654 --> 00:08:44,190 And look at her, just looking calm. 237 00:08:44,224 --> 00:08:47,360 - This is mind-blowing, what we're watching. 238 00:08:47,394 --> 00:08:49,729 - This is the long transfer, Akbar. 239 00:08:49,763 --> 00:08:50,964 - Yes it is. 240 00:08:51,064 --> 00:08:52,232 - Long transfer. - But she can fly now. 241 00:08:52,265 --> 00:08:53,600 She can fly! She's over the edge! 242 00:08:53,633 --> 00:08:55,368 And she just skidded her way through! 243 00:08:55,402 --> 00:08:57,537 - Great work out of Addy Herman. 244 00:08:57,570 --> 00:09:01,207 Going for the dismount at the fifth obstacle. 245 00:09:01,241 --> 00:09:03,743 No woman this season has gotten past 246 00:09:03,777 --> 00:09:05,178 the fifth obstacle. 247 00:09:05,211 --> 00:09:07,914 Will a 15-year-old be the first to do it? 248 00:09:08,014 --> 00:09:10,517 - I can answer that. Yes. It's gonna be Addy Herman. 249 00:09:10,550 --> 00:09:12,185 - You can do this! 250 00:09:12,218 --> 00:09:15,355 - Stacy Herman, so proud of her daughter. 251 00:09:15,388 --> 00:09:17,290 But Pretzel Twist is a beast. 252 00:09:17,323 --> 00:09:18,892 She's got to turn that pretzel, 253 00:09:18,925 --> 00:09:20,226 get it off the hook. 254 00:09:20,260 --> 00:09:22,529 She's turning around to face the other side. 255 00:09:22,562 --> 00:09:25,031 When it unhooks, it'll come swinging back. 256 00:09:25,065 --> 00:09:28,368 Trying to be the youngest woman ever to hit a buzzer. 257 00:09:28,401 --> 00:09:30,403 - After this, Matt, I'll call her history teacher. 258 00:09:30,437 --> 00:09:31,705 I'm gonna tell them 259 00:09:31,738 --> 00:09:33,206 to put Addy Herman in the history book. 260 00:09:33,239 --> 00:09:35,408 - Akbar, the arms are hitting the pretzel handles, 261 00:09:35,442 --> 00:09:36,843 and she's having trouble with momentum. 262 00:09:36,876 --> 00:09:38,311 - Ah. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. 263 00:09:38,345 --> 00:09:39,612 - That grip is real, Akbar. - That's all right. 264 00:09:39,646 --> 00:09:41,448 - But she adjusts. - What a correction! 265 00:09:41,481 --> 00:09:42,782 - She adjusts! Nice adjustment. 266 00:09:42,816 --> 00:09:45,418 - That is so impressive what she was able to do. 267 00:09:45,452 --> 00:09:48,822 But now needs to lock it in. 268 00:09:48,855 --> 00:09:51,524 - Ah, ah, ah--okay. 269 00:09:51,558 --> 00:09:53,126 - And she does it well. 270 00:09:53,159 --> 00:09:56,429 She is relying on being 15 and having a ton of strength. 271 00:09:56,463 --> 00:09:58,431 - This is what it looks like when you put in the work. 272 00:09:58,465 --> 00:10:00,066 both: Oh, no! 273 00:10:00,100 --> 00:10:03,436 - No! Just couldn't hold on. 274 00:10:03,470 --> 00:10:04,771 - Oh! 275 00:10:04,804 --> 00:10:07,941 - What an effort out of the 15-year-old. 276 00:10:07,974 --> 00:10:10,810 Akbar, these kids continue to impress. 277 00:10:10,844 --> 00:10:14,314 - Her mom was a nervous wreck, but she didn't need to worry. 278 00:10:14,347 --> 00:10:17,684 Addy Herman came out fast, came out confident. 279 00:10:17,717 --> 00:10:20,120 She didn't get a buzzer, but what a debut 280 00:10:20,153 --> 00:10:23,590 from this 15-year-old rookie. 281 00:10:23,623 --> 00:10:25,091 - The top five women from tonight 282 00:10:25,125 --> 00:10:26,993 will move on to the semifinals. 283 00:10:27,027 --> 00:10:29,562 Addy Herman's got a good shot at being one of them. 284 00:10:29,596 --> 00:10:31,331 - Nice, Addy. 285 00:10:31,364 --> 00:10:35,402 - Tonight, it's ninja like you've never seen before. 286 00:10:35,435 --> 00:10:37,370 - Okay, I see you! 287 00:10:37,404 --> 00:10:40,473 - We've got gold medal-winning gymnast Shawn Johnson... 288 00:10:40,507 --> 00:10:42,575 - [yelps] - Uh-oh. That's all right. 289 00:10:42,609 --> 00:10:46,112 - And our defending women's champion, Meagan Martin... 290 00:10:46,146 --> 00:10:48,148 - That is yours! 291 00:10:48,181 --> 00:10:51,051 - Plus, one of the fastest ninjas on the planet, 292 00:10:51,084 --> 00:10:52,218 Jake Murray... 293 00:10:52,252 --> 00:10:53,653 - He's selling out right now! 294 00:10:53,687 --> 00:10:56,556 - And a new crop of talented teenagers. 295 00:10:56,589 --> 00:10:58,591 - Roll the tape again! 296 00:10:58,625 --> 00:11:01,728 - With spectacular spills and thrills... 297 00:11:01,761 --> 00:11:04,097 - Can I get a "whoo"? - Whoo! 298 00:11:04,130 --> 00:11:08,535 - It's gonna be a knockout on "American Ninja Warrior." 299 00:11:14,341 --> 00:11:15,508 - Oy vey. 300 00:11:15,542 --> 00:11:17,677 A couple of Orthodox Jewish athletes 301 00:11:17,711 --> 00:11:20,080 just flipped out on our course. 302 00:11:20,113 --> 00:11:22,615 First up was 19-year-old college student 303 00:11:22,649 --> 00:11:25,618 Zack Eichenstein, the Zack Attack. 304 00:11:25,652 --> 00:11:27,554 Eichenstein honors his faith 305 00:11:27,587 --> 00:11:30,123 by wearing a yarmulke when he runs. 306 00:11:30,156 --> 00:11:32,392 - And he wants to show up and show out. 307 00:11:32,425 --> 00:11:33,993 [cheers and applause] 308 00:11:34,094 --> 00:11:36,096 - The rookie waved off Block Run 309 00:11:36,096 --> 00:11:37,564 in favor of Log Runner, 310 00:11:37,597 --> 00:11:39,532 a decision he quickly regretted. 311 00:11:39,566 --> 00:11:42,435 - Oh, no! No, no, no, no, no, no, no! 312 00:11:42,469 --> 00:11:45,205 Maybe he should have gone on Block Run! 313 00:11:45,238 --> 00:11:47,240 [air horn blares] 314 00:11:47,273 --> 00:11:49,409 - Then, it was Jesse Orenshein, 315 00:11:49,442 --> 00:11:51,611 who showed he's mazal tough. 316 00:11:51,644 --> 00:11:55,181 - Ooh, okay, Jesse Orenshein. 317 00:11:55,215 --> 00:11:57,684 - With his pregnant wife and other family members 318 00:11:57,717 --> 00:12:00,053 cheering him on, the children's book author 319 00:12:00,086 --> 00:12:03,289 provided a thriller of an ending to his story. 320 00:12:03,323 --> 00:12:04,491 - Ooh. - Oh! 321 00:12:04,524 --> 00:12:05,925 - What a heck of a flip, though! 322 00:12:05,959 --> 00:12:08,395 Roll the tape again! 323 00:12:08,428 --> 00:12:12,532 Wow, Matt. Orenshein does a flip, and he lands it. 324 00:12:12,565 --> 00:12:16,236 That's the best flip I've ever seen off of an obstacle! 325 00:12:18,505 --> 00:12:21,074 - Up next is someone who knows all about knockouts. 326 00:12:21,074 --> 00:12:24,444 This is professional boxer Melissa St. Vil. 327 00:12:24,477 --> 00:12:26,579 She's currently the super lightweight champion 328 00:12:26,613 --> 00:12:29,149 in North America, and she's so tough, 329 00:12:29,182 --> 00:12:31,718 her nickname is Little Miss Tyson. 330 00:12:31,751 --> 00:12:33,386 She's the latest in a long line 331 00:12:33,420 --> 00:12:36,523 of tough-as-nails women who took on our course. 332 00:12:36,556 --> 00:12:39,559 Over the years, a number of female fighters, 333 00:12:39,592 --> 00:12:41,761 like MMA champ Michelle Waterson 334 00:12:41,795 --> 00:12:44,197 and UFC veteran Felice Herrig, 335 00:12:44,230 --> 00:12:46,800 have strutted into the "Ninja Warrior" ring. 336 00:12:46,833 --> 00:12:49,102 This is one tough lady. 337 00:12:49,135 --> 00:12:50,937 But nearly all of them... 338 00:12:50,970 --> 00:12:52,505 both: No! 339 00:12:52,539 --> 00:12:55,608 - Were knocked out shortly after the bell rang. 340 00:12:55,642 --> 00:12:58,978 - Oh! Hold on. Ooh! 341 00:12:59,012 --> 00:13:00,513 My goodness. 342 00:13:00,547 --> 00:13:03,216 - Knocked out by the first obstacle. 343 00:13:03,249 --> 00:13:06,453 But this champ is ready to rumble. 344 00:13:06,486 --> 00:13:09,622 - I'm going for a KO in Tacoma, baby. 345 00:13:09,656 --> 00:13:10,890 [upbeat music] 346 00:13:10,924 --> 00:13:13,760 I'm a world champion. I'm already ready. 347 00:13:13,793 --> 00:13:15,628 - And she's got lots of family and friends 348 00:13:15,662 --> 00:13:17,430 watching back in New York. 349 00:13:17,464 --> 00:13:21,701 - Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, oh, oh. Oh, okay. 350 00:13:21,735 --> 00:13:23,269 - I love her enthusiasm, 351 00:13:23,303 --> 00:13:25,205 but she's gonna wear herself out. 352 00:13:25,238 --> 00:13:27,741 - Let's go, Mel! Team Mel! - Oh, man. 353 00:13:27,774 --> 00:13:29,409 She dropped it like it was hot. 354 00:13:29,442 --> 00:13:31,344 - Come on, Mel! - Come on, Mel! 355 00:13:31,378 --> 00:13:33,513 [countdown clock beeping] 356 00:13:33,546 --> 00:13:34,848 - Trying to avoid an early exit 357 00:13:34,881 --> 00:13:35,982 like those other fighters. 358 00:13:36,082 --> 00:13:37,517 - She's looking a little wobbly. 359 00:13:37,550 --> 00:13:40,253 - No, no, no, no, no, no. - Oh, no. Oh, no! 360 00:13:40,286 --> 00:13:42,789 Oh, no! - Oh! 361 00:13:42,822 --> 00:13:45,258 - Knocked out on the first obstacle, Akbar. 362 00:13:45,291 --> 00:13:46,726 - Ding-ding. 363 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:48,795 That's like a Tyson knockout in the first round. 364 00:13:48,828 --> 00:13:50,096 - It again shows 365 00:13:50,130 --> 00:13:51,965 great athletes can struggle out there. 366 00:13:51,998 --> 00:13:56,469 Skill in another sport doesn't always translate to ninja. 367 00:13:56,503 --> 00:13:58,638 - I did it! [laughs] 368 00:13:58,672 --> 00:14:00,607 - Well, only on "American Ninja Warrior" 369 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:02,175 can a champion boxer 370 00:14:02,208 --> 00:14:04,944 be followed by a classical violinist. 371 00:14:05,045 --> 00:14:08,081 On the left is MIT student Guang Cui, 372 00:14:08,114 --> 00:14:09,916 and he's joined by his MIT classmate, 373 00:14:09,949 --> 00:14:12,752 who's also running tonight, Daniel Sun. 374 00:14:12,786 --> 00:14:15,755 - Matt, they know this is not "America's Got Talent," right? 375 00:14:15,789 --> 00:14:19,092 [flowing classical music] 376 00:14:19,125 --> 00:14:22,128 * * 377 00:14:22,162 --> 00:14:24,698 If they can ninja as well as they play, 378 00:14:24,731 --> 00:14:26,132 they're gonna be all right. 379 00:14:26,166 --> 00:14:30,770 * * 380 00:14:30,804 --> 00:14:33,073 - Well, these two love computer science 381 00:14:33,073 --> 00:14:34,607 and classical music, 382 00:14:34,641 --> 00:14:37,711 but Guang and Daniel are not your average nerds. 383 00:14:37,744 --> 00:14:39,546 [cheers and applause] 384 00:14:39,579 --> 00:14:41,581 * * 385 00:14:41,614 --> 00:14:43,350 - You think about a student at MIT, right? 386 00:14:43,383 --> 00:14:45,085 Maybe it's this scrawny guy 387 00:14:45,085 --> 00:14:48,822 who-who just has his nose stuck in books all day. 388 00:14:48,855 --> 00:14:51,991 - We are both musicians. 389 00:14:52,092 --> 00:14:53,593 We are both computer science students, 390 00:14:53,626 --> 00:14:56,296 and we build websites together. 391 00:14:56,329 --> 00:15:00,934 - But we're probably not your typical MIT students. 392 00:15:01,034 --> 00:15:02,035 - Definitely not. 393 00:15:02,035 --> 00:15:04,037 [remixed classical music] 394 00:15:04,037 --> 00:15:05,538 What's up, "Ninja Warrior"? 395 00:15:05,572 --> 00:15:07,774 Most people are surprised when they hear 396 00:15:07,807 --> 00:15:10,310 that we both do ninja. 397 00:15:10,343 --> 00:15:12,612 We like to go hacking a lot, which is an MIT term 398 00:15:12,645 --> 00:15:16,049 for climbing on different buildings. 399 00:15:16,049 --> 00:15:17,217 - There have been a couple times 400 00:15:17,250 --> 00:15:19,686 we've almost gotten caught by campus police, 401 00:15:19,719 --> 00:15:21,654 but we've always managed to get away. 402 00:15:21,688 --> 00:15:24,424 [laughter] 403 00:15:24,457 --> 00:15:27,193 - MIT is not really known for its athletics. 404 00:15:27,227 --> 00:15:28,762 - But we're gonna change that. 405 00:15:28,795 --> 00:15:31,331 Guang and I, we're ready to bust some stereotypes. 406 00:15:31,364 --> 00:15:33,633 - I'll see you at the buzzer. 407 00:15:33,667 --> 00:15:35,535 - Sounds good, man. See you there. 408 00:15:37,871 --> 00:15:39,839 [both laugh] - My bad. 409 00:15:39,873 --> 00:15:40,974 - You wanna try that again? - Try that again? 410 00:15:41,074 --> 00:15:42,342 - Yeah. 411 00:15:42,375 --> 00:15:43,877 - Putting the headband on, 412 00:15:43,910 --> 00:15:45,845 trying to secure those glasses in. 413 00:15:45,879 --> 00:15:47,147 - Let's go! 414 00:15:47,180 --> 00:15:48,682 - His buddy Daniel will be on the sideline. 415 00:15:48,715 --> 00:15:50,116 He'll run next. 416 00:15:50,150 --> 00:15:52,185 And Guang's got his family watching, 417 00:15:52,218 --> 00:15:53,787 and some of his fellow students 418 00:15:53,820 --> 00:15:55,722 watching from back in Massachusetts. 419 00:15:55,755 --> 00:15:58,958 He looks a little nervous. Trying to calm himself down. 420 00:15:58,992 --> 00:16:00,860 [countdown clock beeping] 421 00:16:00,894 --> 00:16:03,630 - Computer science major actually had his algorithms 422 00:16:03,663 --> 00:16:05,665 published in the ninth International Conference 423 00:16:05,699 --> 00:16:07,200 on Fun with Algorithms. 424 00:16:07,233 --> 00:16:09,502 And if you haven't been to that conference, Akbar, it's fun. 425 00:16:09,536 --> 00:16:10,837 - Yeah, no, I've never been to that conference, 426 00:16:10,870 --> 00:16:12,372 but I am planning to go next year. 427 00:16:12,405 --> 00:16:14,307 - We talk about the best athletes-- 428 00:16:14,341 --> 00:16:15,909 they're not just athletically gifted, 429 00:16:15,942 --> 00:16:17,844 they have a problem-solving mind. 430 00:16:17,877 --> 00:16:21,181 Well, he's a computer sciences engineering student at MIT. 431 00:16:21,214 --> 00:16:24,084 This guy has great problem-solving abilities. 432 00:16:24,117 --> 00:16:25,685 - He's got a big problem to solve here. 433 00:16:25,719 --> 00:16:27,487 - And you can just see how that bar moves. 434 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:29,823 And he's got it. - Let's go! 435 00:16:29,856 --> 00:16:33,893 - 5'8", 150 pounds. 436 00:16:33,927 --> 00:16:35,462 - Nice. Same thing. 437 00:16:35,495 --> 00:16:37,364 - Smooth. Smooth. - Good. 438 00:16:37,397 --> 00:16:39,466 - Now he's just gotta get this dismount. 439 00:16:39,499 --> 00:16:42,268 - And he's got it. Now it's Split Decision. 440 00:16:42,302 --> 00:16:44,771 - You got this. 441 00:16:44,804 --> 00:16:46,373 - Making his choice. 442 00:16:46,406 --> 00:16:50,677 - Yeah, everyone's gone, so far, towards Log Runner. 443 00:16:50,710 --> 00:16:52,379 - Let's go. 444 00:16:52,412 --> 00:16:54,381 - We know the violinist has good hands, 445 00:16:54,414 --> 00:16:56,082 but how are his feet? 446 00:16:56,082 --> 00:16:57,283 - Here we go. Nice, nice. 447 00:16:57,317 --> 00:16:58,885 Ta-ta-ta-ta, choppy feet. I like it. 448 00:16:58,918 --> 00:17:01,521 - Is there anything this kid can't do? 449 00:17:01,554 --> 00:17:03,890 Computers, music, and now ninja. 450 00:17:03,923 --> 00:17:06,292 - Let's go! Let's go! 451 00:17:06,326 --> 00:17:09,462 - All right, be careful here on Air Surfer. 452 00:17:09,496 --> 00:17:12,298 In addition to playing violin, he's also a rapper. 453 00:17:12,332 --> 00:17:15,035 He goes by the name Guizy. You think of Kanye. 454 00:17:15,068 --> 00:17:16,603 - Yeah, Young Guizy. 455 00:17:16,636 --> 00:17:17,671 - Right here, right here. 456 00:17:17,704 --> 00:17:18,905 - Oh! - Come on, Guizy! 457 00:17:18,938 --> 00:17:20,340 - Look at that left side of the board. 458 00:17:20,373 --> 00:17:23,777 - Barely hanging on, Akbar! Got to correct it. 459 00:17:23,810 --> 00:17:26,946 - Correct it now. - A nice save there. 460 00:17:27,047 --> 00:17:28,248 - Let's go. Let's go. Just like that. 461 00:17:28,281 --> 00:17:31,051 - Solid. 462 00:17:31,051 --> 00:17:34,688 - Right on the edge--oh! - Oh! He just overshot it. 463 00:17:34,721 --> 00:17:36,823 But he makes it to the fourth obstacle. 464 00:17:36,856 --> 00:17:40,427 We'll have to see if that keeps him in tonight's top 30. 465 00:17:40,460 --> 00:17:42,696 - Young Guizy played it cool at the start, 466 00:17:42,729 --> 00:17:44,364 and he played it cool on the course. 467 00:17:44,397 --> 00:17:46,066 But the computer science student 468 00:17:46,066 --> 00:17:49,469 didn't correctly calculate his trajectory on the Air Surfer 469 00:17:49,502 --> 00:17:52,372 and went right past it. 470 00:17:52,405 --> 00:17:54,574 - That's tough. That's tough. Thought I had it. 471 00:17:54,607 --> 00:17:56,209 - It is tough. 472 00:17:56,242 --> 00:17:59,346 And the Air Surfer came from our Obstacle Design Challenge, 473 00:17:59,379 --> 00:18:02,215 submitted by 15-year-old Jennie Bensley. 474 00:18:02,248 --> 00:18:04,384 She was watching with her dad earlier 475 00:18:04,417 --> 00:18:06,319 as ninja veteran Connor Galvin 476 00:18:06,353 --> 00:18:09,522 tried to fly across Air Surfer and fell. 477 00:18:09,556 --> 00:18:12,659 - Oh! - Oh! 478 00:18:12,692 --> 00:18:15,462 If you're like Jennie and have an obstacle idea, 479 00:18:15,495 --> 00:18:19,566 go to anwnation.com to see how to submit your designs. 480 00:18:19,599 --> 00:18:22,535 We might see your obstacle on the course next season. 481 00:18:22,569 --> 00:18:24,938 - She won an Olympic gold medal. 482 00:18:25,038 --> 00:18:26,773 He played in the NFL. 483 00:18:26,806 --> 00:18:28,742 Guess which one's gonna run our course. 484 00:18:28,775 --> 00:18:31,711 Shawn Johnson and Andrew East are just ahead. 485 00:18:31,745 --> 00:18:32,912 - Whoo! 486 00:18:32,946 --> 00:18:33,947 - Plus, which ninja is promising 487 00:18:34,047 --> 00:18:35,415 to cash in on the Mega Wall? 488 00:18:35,448 --> 00:18:37,350 - He wrote himself a check? 489 00:18:37,384 --> 00:18:40,620 - And why is David Campbell making that face? 490 00:18:40,653 --> 00:18:43,189 It's all up next-- how's this, Matt? 491 00:18:43,223 --> 00:18:46,626 [dramatically] On "American Ninja Warrior." 492 00:18:52,699 --> 00:18:54,934 - Welcome back. While we were away, 493 00:18:54,968 --> 00:18:58,872 three rookies took their shot at our qualifying course. 494 00:18:58,905 --> 00:19:00,707 Brooklyn, New York's Dale Webb 495 00:19:00,740 --> 00:19:04,411 is a bodybuilder who calls himself Mr. Organic. 496 00:19:04,444 --> 00:19:06,846 He looks like a ninja. Let's see if he is one. 497 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:09,716 His strict vegan diet kept him light on his feet. 498 00:19:09,749 --> 00:19:11,818 - Nice. - But the physique failed him 499 00:19:11,851 --> 00:19:13,720 when he reached the second obstacle. 500 00:19:13,753 --> 00:19:18,358 - Oh! Boom. Fell right on his face. 501 00:19:18,391 --> 00:19:20,560 [upbeat music] 502 00:19:20,593 --> 00:19:22,429 - Jersey girl Rachel Degutz 503 00:19:22,462 --> 00:19:24,898 made some noise in her ninja debut. 504 00:19:24,931 --> 00:19:27,100 - Whoo! 505 00:19:27,133 --> 00:19:29,302 - The energetic 22-year-old teacher 506 00:19:29,336 --> 00:19:31,604 showed that she had done her homework. 507 00:19:31,638 --> 00:19:33,139 - Okay, boss lady! 508 00:19:33,173 --> 00:19:34,541 - And she made it all the way 509 00:19:34,574 --> 00:19:38,912 to the fifth obstacle in her introductory run. 510 00:19:38,945 --> 00:19:40,613 Hi! - Hey. 511 00:19:40,647 --> 00:19:42,749 - Though she finally fell... 512 00:19:42,782 --> 00:19:44,851 - Oh, no! 513 00:19:44,884 --> 00:19:46,186 - She's got a great shot 514 00:19:46,219 --> 00:19:47,921 at being in the women's top five. 515 00:19:47,954 --> 00:19:50,590 - Yeah, Rachel! - Whoo! 516 00:19:50,623 --> 00:19:54,661 - Then it was the second of our MIT students, Daniel Sun. 517 00:19:54,694 --> 00:19:56,563 - Whoo! - Let's go, Dan. 518 00:19:56,596 --> 00:19:59,466 - The math wizard mastered the Shrinking Steps... 519 00:19:59,499 --> 00:20:01,368 - Okay! I see you, Science Ninja! 520 00:20:01,401 --> 00:20:04,337 - But severely miscalculated on Double Down. 521 00:20:04,371 --> 00:20:07,774 - Oh, no! 522 00:20:07,807 --> 00:20:10,910 - I just missed it. Oh, man. 523 00:20:10,944 --> 00:20:12,479 - Up next is another guy 524 00:20:12,512 --> 00:20:14,080 competing with this good friend. 525 00:20:14,114 --> 00:20:17,083 This is Cheshire, Connecticut's Jay Lewis. 526 00:20:17,117 --> 00:20:19,452 He's running tonight along with his training partner 527 00:20:19,486 --> 00:20:20,920 Blake Feero. 528 00:20:20,954 --> 00:20:22,155 These guys are close. 529 00:20:22,188 --> 00:20:25,325 In fact, they live on the same street. 530 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:28,962 - That's a Jay. That's a Jay. 531 00:20:28,995 --> 00:20:30,530 - I first met Blake when I moved to Cheshire 532 00:20:30,563 --> 00:20:31,698 when I was a two years old. 533 00:20:31,731 --> 00:20:32,966 We went to preschool together-- 534 00:20:32,999 --> 00:20:35,635 - And we've been best friends ever since. 535 00:20:35,669 --> 00:20:37,771 - Our houses are on the same street, 536 00:20:37,804 --> 00:20:38,872 which is pretty crazy, you know. 537 00:20:38,905 --> 00:20:40,707 - Only two houses apart. 538 00:20:40,740 --> 00:20:42,809 - I see him sometimes every day of the week. 539 00:20:42,842 --> 00:20:44,077 Sometimes we'll go to his house. 540 00:20:44,110 --> 00:20:45,378 Sometimes he'll come to my house. 541 00:20:45,412 --> 00:20:46,479 Just having fun, playing games, 542 00:20:46,513 --> 00:20:47,480 that kind of thing. 543 00:20:47,514 --> 00:20:49,482 That's what we like to see. 544 00:20:49,516 --> 00:20:51,151 - Living so close to my friend Blake 545 00:20:51,184 --> 00:20:52,752 has really helped me so much in ninja. 546 00:20:52,786 --> 00:20:55,121 A lot of times, when I'm training outside, 547 00:20:55,155 --> 00:20:56,456 I'll be able to hear Blake doing stuff 548 00:20:56,489 --> 00:20:57,757 on his Salmon Ladder, on his Flying Bar, 549 00:20:57,791 --> 00:20:59,059 and I'll maybe give him a call, 550 00:20:59,092 --> 00:21:01,061 see if he wants to come over and train with me. 551 00:21:01,061 --> 00:21:02,262 What's up, dude? 552 00:21:02,295 --> 00:21:03,797 - I saw you on your Salmon Ladder. 553 00:21:03,830 --> 00:21:05,465 You want to come over, do some training? 554 00:21:05,498 --> 00:21:06,933 - Sure, that's sounds great. 555 00:21:06,966 --> 00:21:08,335 - All right, I'll be outside. See you in a few. 556 00:21:08,368 --> 00:21:10,203 - All right. See you, dude. 557 00:21:10,236 --> 00:21:11,338 - We push each other a lot. 558 00:21:11,371 --> 00:21:15,675 - * You make me believe * 559 00:21:15,709 --> 00:21:17,077 - I know sometimes he'll get a move, 560 00:21:17,110 --> 00:21:18,311 and I want to get it, 561 00:21:18,345 --> 00:21:19,646 and I'll get it right after him, 562 00:21:19,679 --> 00:21:21,081 after we've been struggling for a while. 563 00:21:21,081 --> 00:21:23,483 - Let's go. Come on, Feero. All you got. 564 00:21:23,516 --> 00:21:25,085 To think that just a few years ago, 565 00:21:25,118 --> 00:21:26,319 me and Blake were competing together on 566 00:21:26,353 --> 00:21:27,620 "Ninja Warrior Junior"... 567 00:21:27,654 --> 00:21:31,157 - Feero does it! - As advertised. 568 00:21:31,191 --> 00:21:32,492 - To now think that we're on the adult show, 569 00:21:32,525 --> 00:21:33,827 you know, it's one of those things 570 00:21:33,860 --> 00:21:35,095 that you're always dreaming about it... 571 00:21:35,095 --> 00:21:36,563 Yeah. - Yeah. 572 00:21:36,596 --> 00:21:38,098 - But you never really expect it to become a reality. 573 00:21:38,131 --> 00:21:39,833 And it's become a reality for both of us, 574 00:21:39,866 --> 00:21:42,135 and that's something that I'm, you know, truly amazed by. 575 00:21:42,168 --> 00:21:43,570 * * 576 00:21:43,603 --> 00:21:46,139 - * You make me believe * 577 00:21:46,172 --> 00:21:48,475 [cheers and applause] - Come on, Jay! 578 00:21:48,508 --> 00:21:50,877 - Blake's down on the sideline along with Jay's mom. 579 00:21:50,910 --> 00:21:52,946 - You got this, Jay! - You got this, Jay. Come on. 580 00:21:52,979 --> 00:21:54,647 - And cheering from back in Connecticut 581 00:21:54,681 --> 00:21:56,249 are Jay's dad and brother, 582 00:21:56,282 --> 00:21:59,252 plus the Weatherman, Joe Marovsky, who coaches Jay. 583 00:21:59,285 --> 00:22:00,754 - See that? You got this. You got this. 584 00:22:00,787 --> 00:22:03,223 [countdown clock beeping] 585 00:22:03,256 --> 00:22:04,924 - Let's go, Jay. Come on! 586 00:22:04,958 --> 00:22:07,494 - Only 5'4" and 115 pounds, 587 00:22:07,527 --> 00:22:10,330 one of the smallest and lightest competitors tonight. 588 00:22:10,363 --> 00:22:12,298 But don't underestimate him. 589 00:22:12,332 --> 00:22:13,967 - He's a junior in high school. 590 00:22:14,067 --> 00:22:15,769 Got into ninja when he was ten years old 591 00:22:15,802 --> 00:22:17,203 and never looked back. 592 00:22:17,237 --> 00:22:19,673 His nickname is Jay Lache 593 00:22:19,706 --> 00:22:22,375 because he can absolutely fly through the air. 594 00:22:22,409 --> 00:22:24,978 - Oh! - Living up to his name. 595 00:22:25,078 --> 00:22:27,213 Jay Lache could have caught that with his teeth! 596 00:22:27,247 --> 00:22:28,748 - Yeah, you know he can't go out on no lache. 597 00:22:28,782 --> 00:22:29,916 - Oh! 598 00:22:29,949 --> 00:22:31,317 - Not when your nickname is Lache. 599 00:22:31,351 --> 00:22:33,086 - Now, he's on to Split Decision. 600 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:34,921 - All right, which way? Which way? 601 00:22:34,954 --> 00:22:38,491 - And no hesitation. He knows he's going for Log Runner. 602 00:22:38,525 --> 00:22:39,826 It's just so remarkable. 603 00:22:39,859 --> 00:22:41,795 17 years old, on the big stage. 604 00:22:41,828 --> 00:22:42,829 And just look at him. 605 00:22:42,862 --> 00:22:45,799 - Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! 606 00:22:45,832 --> 00:22:48,001 - Now climbing up to take on Air Surfer. 607 00:22:48,101 --> 00:22:49,436 And the way he flies, 608 00:22:49,469 --> 00:22:52,138 this should be right in Jay Lache's wheelhouse. 609 00:22:52,172 --> 00:22:54,607 - We talked about it, he's 115 pounds. 610 00:22:54,641 --> 00:22:57,377 That's not a lot of weight to hold him back. 611 00:22:57,410 --> 00:22:59,446 - No problem with the first leap. 612 00:22:59,479 --> 00:23:02,916 And goes right into the second. 613 00:23:02,949 --> 00:23:04,851 And now the third. 614 00:23:04,884 --> 00:23:06,820 - Jay Lache is doing his thing! 615 00:23:06,853 --> 00:23:08,054 - Okay! - Did you see that? 616 00:23:08,088 --> 00:23:10,056 He was double-pumping in the air! 617 00:23:10,056 --> 00:23:11,758 - Okay, Jay Lache! 618 00:23:11,791 --> 00:23:13,159 - Look at his reaction. 619 00:23:13,193 --> 00:23:15,862 Double fists. Oh, he knew he had it. 620 00:23:15,895 --> 00:23:18,365 And still has the baby face we first saw 621 00:23:18,398 --> 00:23:21,468 back on "American Ninja Warrior Junior." 622 00:23:21,501 --> 00:23:24,571 Trying to be the first tonight to solve Pretzel Twist. 623 00:23:24,604 --> 00:23:26,506 This knocked out 17 ninjas last week 624 00:23:26,539 --> 00:23:29,309 and already tonight two more. 625 00:23:29,342 --> 00:23:31,544 - Matt, he's a junior at Cheshire High School. 626 00:23:31,578 --> 00:23:34,447 Think he's not gonna be a big man on campus? 627 00:23:34,481 --> 00:23:36,916 This kid does not need to be the Homecoming King. 628 00:23:36,950 --> 00:23:39,352 He's the Ninja King. 629 00:23:39,386 --> 00:23:42,689 - He is making this look too easy. 630 00:23:42,722 --> 00:23:45,725 Trying to be our first finisher tonight. 631 00:23:45,759 --> 00:23:48,128 - I promise this is gonna end up in the yearbook. 632 00:23:48,161 --> 00:23:49,362 - Oh, my! 633 00:23:49,396 --> 00:23:50,363 - This is gonna end up in the yearbook. 634 00:23:50,397 --> 00:23:52,565 This will mark his 2021. 635 00:23:52,599 --> 00:23:53,900 - There it is. - Yes! 636 00:23:53,933 --> 00:23:56,503 - Yes! Jay Lache! 637 00:23:56,536 --> 00:23:58,471 Matt, he ain't playing. Look where he's sitting. 638 00:23:58,505 --> 00:24:00,540 - What we thinking? We thinking Mega? 639 00:24:00,573 --> 00:24:02,876 - You got for 10K, Jay Lache! - Go get that money! 640 00:24:02,909 --> 00:24:06,346 - Come on. You can do it! all: Beat that wall! 641 00:24:06,379 --> 00:24:07,547 - You got this, Jay. 642 00:24:07,580 --> 00:24:09,082 - Well, his nickname's Jay Lache. 643 00:24:09,115 --> 00:24:11,918 It may be Jay Money if he hits this buzzer... 644 00:24:11,951 --> 00:24:13,053 - Yeah, we gonna give him a new nickname. 645 00:24:13,053 --> 00:24:14,154 - And gets 10K. 646 00:24:14,187 --> 00:24:15,155 - We gonna give him a new nickname. 647 00:24:15,188 --> 00:24:16,890 We gonna add on to his nickname. 648 00:24:16,923 --> 00:24:19,159 If he gets this, I'm gonna pay his taxes. 649 00:24:19,192 --> 00:24:20,827 - Oh! A good effort. 650 00:24:20,860 --> 00:24:22,662 - Okay, that's all right. - Let's go! 651 00:24:22,696 --> 00:24:26,433 - But can still be our first finisher of the night. 652 00:24:26,466 --> 00:24:27,967 Yes! 653 00:24:28,068 --> 00:24:29,803 [buzzer blares] - Let's go! 654 00:24:29,836 --> 00:24:32,272 [cheers and applause] - * You make me believe * 655 00:24:32,305 --> 00:24:34,074 * In something greater * 656 00:24:34,074 --> 00:24:37,744 - Yes! 657 00:24:37,777 --> 00:24:39,479 - Nice run, Jay! 658 00:24:39,512 --> 00:24:41,781 - Yeah! Yeah! 659 00:24:41,815 --> 00:24:43,683 - Let's go! 660 00:24:43,717 --> 00:24:45,819 - Your first run on the big stage, 661 00:24:45,852 --> 00:24:47,387 you got a buzzer, my friend. 662 00:24:47,420 --> 00:24:48,588 How's it feel? 663 00:24:48,621 --> 00:24:50,123 - It still doesn't feel real. 664 00:24:50,156 --> 00:24:52,659 I don't think it'll kick in until I see it on TV, honestly. 665 00:24:52,692 --> 00:24:54,961 - Well, I can show it to you right now. 666 00:24:54,994 --> 00:24:57,697 You lived up to your nickname, Jay Lache, 667 00:24:57,731 --> 00:24:59,165 flying through this course. 668 00:24:59,199 --> 00:25:00,834 And check yourself out. 669 00:25:00,867 --> 00:25:03,103 That Warped Wall was nothing for you. 670 00:25:03,136 --> 00:25:05,905 And Jay, man, show me your muscles. 671 00:25:05,939 --> 00:25:08,208 - Yeah! - Show me your muscles. 672 00:25:08,241 --> 00:25:09,442 - Yeah! 673 00:25:09,476 --> 00:25:11,478 - You hit that buzzer one more time, Jay. 674 00:25:11,511 --> 00:25:13,313 - Let's go! 675 00:25:13,346 --> 00:25:18,118 - * Believe in something greater * 676 00:25:18,151 --> 00:25:20,720 - A great moment, Jay Lewis. 677 00:25:20,754 --> 00:25:24,524 And his neighbor, Blake Feero, is gonna run next. 678 00:25:32,866 --> 00:25:34,634 - Minutes ago, 17-year-old Jay Lewis 679 00:25:34,668 --> 00:25:36,569 became the night's first finisher! 680 00:25:36,603 --> 00:25:38,104 - Show me your muscles! 681 00:25:38,138 --> 00:25:40,273 - And during the break, his friend and neighbor, 682 00:25:40,306 --> 00:25:42,976 16-year-old Blake Feero, got his shot. 683 00:25:43,076 --> 00:25:45,078 - You know his motto, Matt. Blake don't break. 684 00:25:45,111 --> 00:25:46,980 - You're gonna crush it, Feero. Let's go! 685 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:50,183 - The high school sophomore schooled the early obstacles. 686 00:25:50,216 --> 00:25:51,918 - Feero was moving like a Ferrari. 687 00:25:51,951 --> 00:25:53,119 - Yeah! 688 00:25:53,153 --> 00:25:55,088 - Feero was so strong, 689 00:25:55,088 --> 00:25:57,991 he overshot the landing on Air Surfer. 690 00:25:58,091 --> 00:26:01,795 - Oh, no! Whoa. Rookie mistake. 691 00:26:01,828 --> 00:26:03,296 - Gonna get it next year. 692 00:26:03,329 --> 00:26:06,599 - Then it was a competitor almost 40 years older, 693 00:26:06,633 --> 00:26:09,035 as 54-year-old Caroline Lee 694 00:26:09,035 --> 00:26:12,138 made her return to the course after a battle with cancer. 695 00:26:12,172 --> 00:26:14,074 - She's been through so much in her life. 696 00:26:14,107 --> 00:26:17,277 - The Amazon manager competed back in season three 697 00:26:17,310 --> 00:26:19,045 and fell on the second obstacle. 698 00:26:19,045 --> 00:26:20,714 Oh! 699 00:26:20,747 --> 00:26:23,516 So she had high hopes of doing better this year. 700 00:26:23,550 --> 00:26:26,086 But history repeated itself on Double Down. 701 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:28,054 - No! 702 00:26:28,054 --> 00:26:32,158 - After ten years, I still fall on the second obstacle. 703 00:26:32,192 --> 00:26:33,426 God. 704 00:26:33,460 --> 00:26:35,628 - Judas Licciardello is an auctioneer 705 00:26:35,662 --> 00:26:37,964 who talks as fast as he runs on the course, 706 00:26:38,064 --> 00:26:40,433 and he had his sights set on the Mega Wall. 707 00:26:40,467 --> 00:26:45,071 - [auctioneering] 708 00:26:45,071 --> 00:26:47,374 Let me hit that buzzer, baby. Mega Wall, here we come. 709 00:26:47,407 --> 00:26:48,775 - The New Jersey native survived 710 00:26:48,808 --> 00:26:50,477 a close call on Log Runner. 711 00:26:50,510 --> 00:26:52,746 - Stumbles, bumbles, fumbles, oh! 712 00:26:52,779 --> 00:26:55,615 - But the auctioneer never made it to the Mega Wall 713 00:26:55,648 --> 00:26:58,251 because he couldn't close on Pretzel Twist. 714 00:26:58,284 --> 00:27:00,687 - Oh, no! 715 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:03,923 - Going, going, gone. 716 00:27:04,024 --> 00:27:06,059 - Up next, we've got a couple of training partners 717 00:27:06,092 --> 00:27:09,596 who grew up in the Amish community of Pennsylvania. 718 00:27:09,629 --> 00:27:13,266 This is Paul Fisher, a barn builder who's running tonight 719 00:27:13,299 --> 00:27:14,768 with his friend Ivan King. 720 00:27:14,801 --> 00:27:16,603 These two have a special bond 721 00:27:16,636 --> 00:27:18,505 after their very unique upbringing. 722 00:27:21,307 --> 00:27:24,911 - I grew up on an Amish dairy farm. 723 00:27:24,944 --> 00:27:27,213 We're aware that we're different, you know? 724 00:27:27,247 --> 00:27:28,815 But you didn't look at the world 725 00:27:28,848 --> 00:27:31,618 like it was evil or anything. 726 00:27:31,651 --> 00:27:35,088 I thought it looked exciting. 727 00:27:35,121 --> 00:27:38,758 I definitely wanted to explore the outside world, for sure. 728 00:27:38,792 --> 00:27:41,761 [upbeat music] 729 00:27:41,795 --> 00:27:46,166 * * 730 00:27:46,199 --> 00:27:47,734 - Paul and I both decided 731 00:27:47,767 --> 00:27:50,270 to leave the Amish community at the same time. 732 00:27:50,303 --> 00:27:52,472 It definitely was not an easy decision. 733 00:27:52,505 --> 00:27:54,474 - Whoo-hoo. - Let's go. 734 00:27:54,507 --> 00:27:56,242 - And it was nice to being able to share 735 00:27:56,276 --> 00:27:58,878 some of those experiences with a trusted friend. 736 00:27:58,912 --> 00:28:00,080 * * 737 00:28:00,113 --> 00:28:01,614 Nice. Nice. 738 00:28:01,648 --> 00:28:06,086 - We'd hang out every weekend, and we had similar interests. 739 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:10,357 We did some Spartan races, marathons, CrossFit, 740 00:28:10,390 --> 00:28:11,891 and that led to ninja. 741 00:28:11,925 --> 00:28:14,794 - Keep going. 742 00:28:14,828 --> 00:28:17,030 Go, go, go. 743 00:28:17,030 --> 00:28:20,567 - We needed a place to train, so we got this barn, 744 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:23,303 and we just filled it up with ninja obstacles. 745 00:28:23,336 --> 00:28:25,038 * * 746 00:28:25,038 --> 00:28:28,908 My job is carpentry, so we've been having a great time 747 00:28:28,942 --> 00:28:32,245 building the obstacles together and bonding over that. 748 00:28:32,278 --> 00:28:33,680 It's been great. 749 00:28:33,713 --> 00:28:35,248 Hit the buzzer. 750 00:28:35,281 --> 00:28:37,717 - As a kid, being Amish, we didn't have a TV, 751 00:28:37,751 --> 00:28:40,053 so competing on "American Ninja Warrior" 752 00:28:40,053 --> 00:28:44,424 is gonna be the coolest thing I've ever experienced. 753 00:28:44,457 --> 00:28:49,396 * * 754 00:28:49,429 --> 00:28:52,298 - And he'll have friends watching back in Pennsylvania. 755 00:28:52,332 --> 00:28:54,934 - That's my boy! That's my boy! 756 00:28:54,968 --> 00:28:56,536 - We'd love to have his family watching, 757 00:28:56,569 --> 00:28:59,072 but they don't own a television or a computer. 758 00:28:59,072 --> 00:29:02,108 [countdown clock beeping] 759 00:29:02,142 --> 00:29:05,178 He still visits and keeps in touch with his family. 760 00:29:05,211 --> 00:29:06,913 Decided to leave the Amish community 761 00:29:07,013 --> 00:29:10,617 after he drove his first car at 21 years old. 762 00:29:10,650 --> 00:29:12,485 Said, after that, the horse and buggy 763 00:29:12,519 --> 00:29:14,054 just wasn't fast enough anymore. 764 00:29:14,087 --> 00:29:15,522 - [chuckles] 765 00:29:15,555 --> 00:29:16,923 Hey, if he likes fast cars, 766 00:29:17,023 --> 00:29:18,925 then he's gonna like Double Down. 767 00:29:19,025 --> 00:29:21,361 This is like a roller coaster. 768 00:29:21,394 --> 00:29:23,096 - Come on, Paul! - Come on. Come on. 769 00:29:23,129 --> 00:29:24,297 - There it is! 770 00:29:24,330 --> 00:29:26,099 - Got it! - Good transfer there. 771 00:29:26,132 --> 00:29:28,435 Growing up on a farm, did a lot of manual labor. 772 00:29:28,468 --> 00:29:30,203 Says he still swings a mean hammer. 773 00:29:30,236 --> 00:29:33,707 Describes his grip strength as prodigious. 774 00:29:33,740 --> 00:29:36,509 - Oh, you got it. Breathe. - Right foot, left foot. 775 00:29:36,543 --> 00:29:38,311 - You got a choice here on Split Decision. 776 00:29:38,345 --> 00:29:40,580 - Oh, about to choose Block Run. 777 00:29:40,613 --> 00:29:42,248 - First one to attempt it. 778 00:29:42,282 --> 00:29:44,150 - You got it. You got it. 779 00:29:44,184 --> 00:29:46,619 [cheers and applause] 780 00:29:46,653 --> 00:29:48,188 - [chuckles] 781 00:29:48,221 --> 00:29:49,556 Oh, he said, "Heck no." 782 00:29:49,589 --> 00:29:51,424 He's going with Log Runner. 783 00:29:51,458 --> 00:29:53,093 - Arches. Arches. 784 00:29:53,126 --> 00:29:55,261 Come on, Paul. - He's wide-eyed. 785 00:29:55,295 --> 00:29:56,963 He's wide-eyed. He's ready. 786 00:29:57,063 --> 00:29:59,265 He just jumped over that last one. 787 00:29:59,299 --> 00:30:02,268 [cheers and applause] 788 00:30:02,302 --> 00:30:04,471 - Now staring up at the Air Surfer. 789 00:30:04,504 --> 00:30:07,374 The top 30 from tonight move on to the semifinals. 790 00:30:07,407 --> 00:30:09,442 And Paul Fisher will have a good shot 791 00:30:09,476 --> 00:30:12,412 if he can get through this obstacle. 792 00:30:14,314 --> 00:30:15,915 - Let's go. Let's go. - Nice. 793 00:30:15,949 --> 00:30:17,317 Uh-oh, watch out for that left side. 794 00:30:17,350 --> 00:30:18,852 - Left side a little off. 795 00:30:18,885 --> 00:30:20,820 - He is showing some good upper body strength here. 796 00:30:20,854 --> 00:30:22,355 - Left side up again. 797 00:30:22,389 --> 00:30:24,491 - He's gotta watch out. He must be right-handed. 798 00:30:24,524 --> 00:30:26,326 - Finish it. Come on. 799 00:30:26,359 --> 00:30:28,294 - Here we go. Big up. 800 00:30:28,328 --> 00:30:29,629 Nice landing. 801 00:30:29,662 --> 00:30:33,633 - There it us. What a rookie effort. 802 00:30:33,667 --> 00:30:36,536 And he's through the fourth obstacle. 803 00:30:36,569 --> 00:30:38,672 What was that? A handstand? 804 00:30:38,705 --> 00:30:40,940 [laughter] 805 00:30:40,974 --> 00:30:42,308 Save your energy. 806 00:30:42,342 --> 00:30:45,011 He's so excited--I know, you're excited, right? 807 00:30:45,045 --> 00:30:47,313 Well, he's definitely not a gymnast. 808 00:30:47,347 --> 00:30:48,815 That's an ugly handstand. 809 00:30:48,848 --> 00:30:51,484 And he fell right on the springboard. 810 00:30:51,518 --> 00:30:53,086 - Yeah, you know, the Pennsylvania Dutch, 811 00:30:53,119 --> 00:30:54,854 famous for their hot soft pretzels. 812 00:30:54,888 --> 00:30:56,656 So he should be right at home here. 813 00:30:56,690 --> 00:30:58,058 - I love soft pretzels. 814 00:30:58,091 --> 00:31:01,261 - You're in Amish Country now. - Amish strong! 815 00:31:01,294 --> 00:31:03,163 - Let's go, Paul. Let's go. Come on, man. 816 00:31:03,196 --> 00:31:05,198 - Well, only the teenager Jay Lewis 817 00:31:05,231 --> 00:31:07,567 has gotten past this obstacle tonight. 818 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:10,403 This is where all that barn training can come in handy. 819 00:31:10,437 --> 00:31:13,273 This is a lot of swinging around using your upper body. 820 00:31:13,306 --> 00:31:14,741 - Good job. You can just see the force 821 00:31:14,774 --> 00:31:16,343 on the grip when you peel back there. 822 00:31:16,376 --> 00:31:18,244 You can see him keeping his L's, 823 00:31:18,278 --> 00:31:20,613 trying to make sure he keeps engaged. 824 00:31:20,647 --> 00:31:22,082 Nice. Great. 825 00:31:22,115 --> 00:31:24,851 - You can see the striations on the forearms, Akbar. 826 00:31:24,884 --> 00:31:26,119 Grip strength looking locked in. 827 00:31:26,152 --> 00:31:27,187 - Want to make sure you're not too powerful 828 00:31:27,220 --> 00:31:28,421 when you're taking off... - Wow. 829 00:31:28,455 --> 00:31:30,090 - So that back swing doesn't throw you off. 830 00:31:30,090 --> 00:31:32,625 - And the barn builder closing in on a buzzer. 831 00:31:32,659 --> 00:31:33,693 - Oh, no! 832 00:31:33,727 --> 00:31:36,096 - Oh, no! - Oh. 833 00:31:36,096 --> 00:31:39,566 - The surprising run of Paul Fisher comes to an end. 834 00:31:39,599 --> 00:31:42,168 But a strong debut for the rookie. 835 00:31:42,202 --> 00:31:44,404 - I thought he had Pretzel Twist solved. 836 00:31:44,437 --> 00:31:47,407 But he missed with his left hand on that last pretzel 837 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:50,977 and swung back too fast, and his night was over. 838 00:31:52,846 --> 00:31:54,547 - Dang it. 839 00:31:54,581 --> 00:31:56,116 - Still to come, 840 00:31:56,116 --> 00:32:00,120 the best ninjas in this family may have four legs. 841 00:32:00,153 --> 00:32:02,055 Abby Clark and her dog Ace 842 00:32:02,055 --> 00:32:05,191 are coming up on "American Ninja Warrior." 843 00:32:10,063 --> 00:32:11,898 - Before the break, Pennsylvania's Paul Fisher 844 00:32:11,931 --> 00:32:14,200 powered his way to the fifth obstacle. 845 00:32:14,234 --> 00:32:17,270 - Oh, no! - And minutes ago, 846 00:32:17,303 --> 00:32:20,073 the other formerly Amish carpenter, Ivan King, 847 00:32:20,106 --> 00:32:22,509 tried to hammer his way through the course. 848 00:32:22,542 --> 00:32:24,077 - Let's go! 849 00:32:24,077 --> 00:32:25,745 - The 29-year-old rookie 850 00:32:25,779 --> 00:32:28,081 rocketed through the first three obstacles... 851 00:32:28,114 --> 00:32:30,383 - Hat's on backward, running through. He got it. 852 00:32:30,417 --> 00:32:32,852 - And was sailing through Air Surfer... 853 00:32:32,886 --> 00:32:34,587 - Oh, watch out! He's right on the tip! 854 00:32:34,621 --> 00:32:37,357 - But he couldn't nail the landing. 855 00:32:37,390 --> 00:32:39,292 But at least his hat stayed on. 856 00:32:39,325 --> 00:32:42,328 Casey Rothschild was waving the rainbow flag. 857 00:32:42,362 --> 00:32:44,764 She's the leader of Queer Ninjas Unite, 858 00:32:44,798 --> 00:32:46,866 an LGBTQ support group. 859 00:32:46,900 --> 00:32:49,602 - Everybody represented on "American Ninja Warrior." 860 00:32:49,636 --> 00:32:52,439 - In season ten, at just 19 years old, 861 00:32:52,472 --> 00:32:56,109 Rothschild became the youngest woman to ever hit a buzzer, 862 00:32:56,142 --> 00:32:58,211 a record that still stands. 863 00:32:58,244 --> 00:33:00,747 - Yay! Casey, are you kidding me? 864 00:33:00,780 --> 00:33:04,417 - Now 22, Rothschild came out rolling again tonight. 865 00:33:04,451 --> 00:33:07,053 - Boom, boom, boom, oh, oh, no, no, no, no. Whoo! 866 00:33:07,053 --> 00:33:08,488 [cheers and applause] 867 00:33:08,521 --> 00:33:10,357 - She fought her way to the fifth obstacle, 868 00:33:10,390 --> 00:33:13,093 but became the latest victim of Pretzel Twist. 869 00:33:13,126 --> 00:33:16,229 - Starting to slip with that right hand, Matt. No! 870 00:33:16,262 --> 00:33:18,164 - Oh, so close. 871 00:33:18,198 --> 00:33:20,066 - Still, she's in a good position 872 00:33:20,066 --> 00:33:21,801 to move on to the semifinals. 873 00:33:21,835 --> 00:33:24,070 Then, a doctor was in the house, 874 00:33:24,070 --> 00:33:26,206 as Dr. Stewart Mahler stepped up 875 00:33:26,239 --> 00:33:29,075 and showed off some of his sick dance moves. 876 00:33:29,075 --> 00:33:30,810 - He's got the rhythm down. 877 00:33:30,844 --> 00:33:33,480 - After embarrassing his wife and kids, Mahler, 878 00:33:33,513 --> 00:33:35,648 who's a physician in Rochester, New York, 879 00:33:35,682 --> 00:33:37,817 sliced through the first two obstacles. 880 00:33:37,851 --> 00:33:39,152 - Whoo! 881 00:33:39,185 --> 00:33:40,653 - All right, this is your time. 882 00:33:40,687 --> 00:33:42,589 - At Split Decision, he almost went for Block Run, 883 00:33:42,622 --> 00:33:44,124 but changed his mind, 884 00:33:44,157 --> 00:33:46,526 and the doctor wishes he'd gotten a second opinion. 885 00:33:46,559 --> 00:33:48,862 - Ooh! Right in the diaphragm. 886 00:33:48,895 --> 00:33:53,099 After that gut shot, he's gonna need some probiotics. 887 00:33:53,099 --> 00:33:56,236 - So we've seen 17 athletes so far tonight, 888 00:33:56,269 --> 00:33:59,572 and not a single ninja has attempted Block Run. 889 00:33:59,606 --> 00:34:00,774 And there's a good reason. 890 00:34:00,807 --> 00:34:03,176 It's been a giant killer over the years, 891 00:34:03,209 --> 00:34:04,377 taking out big names 892 00:34:04,411 --> 00:34:06,146 like the Big Dog, Jody Avila... 893 00:34:06,179 --> 00:34:08,615 - No, no, no! - Oh, no! 894 00:34:08,648 --> 00:34:11,351 - And even ninja's first million-dollar winner, 895 00:34:11,384 --> 00:34:13,353 Isaac Caldiero. 896 00:34:13,386 --> 00:34:15,455 - Whoa! What? No! 897 00:34:15,488 --> 00:34:19,759 - But statistically, Block Run is actually the easier option. 898 00:34:19,793 --> 00:34:22,162 It's got a knockout rate of 28% 899 00:34:22,195 --> 00:34:23,496 versus Log Runner, 900 00:34:23,530 --> 00:34:26,399 which eliminates competitors 40% of the time. 901 00:34:26,433 --> 00:34:28,068 - Oh! 902 00:34:28,068 --> 00:34:30,970 - That's largely due to one brutal night in Oklahoma City, 903 00:34:31,071 --> 00:34:34,307 when the Log Runner took out 36 competitors, 904 00:34:34,341 --> 00:34:36,843 including the great Casey Catanzaro. 905 00:34:36,876 --> 00:34:38,578 - Oh. - Oh, hold on! 906 00:34:38,611 --> 00:34:41,147 - No! 907 00:34:41,181 --> 00:34:43,750 - Personally, I don't like either choice. 908 00:34:43,783 --> 00:34:45,185 - Thanks, Zuri. 909 00:34:45,218 --> 00:34:47,587 Well, we'll see if anyone tries Block Run tonight. 910 00:34:47,620 --> 00:34:50,857 Up next, one of the breakout stars from last season, 911 00:34:50,890 --> 00:34:54,427 the Gnarly Ninja, Mr. Nate Hansen. 912 00:34:54,461 --> 00:34:55,695 - Whoo! 913 00:34:55,729 --> 00:34:57,530 - Last season, Nate shared his story 914 00:34:57,564 --> 00:35:00,066 of overcoming a growth hormone deficiency, 915 00:35:00,100 --> 00:35:03,336 and it earned him a lot of new fans. 916 00:35:03,370 --> 00:35:04,871 [upbeat music] 917 00:35:04,904 --> 00:35:08,908 Only 5'2". Can he make it up the 14 1/2-foot wall? 918 00:35:08,942 --> 00:35:10,143 And he's got it! 919 00:35:10,176 --> 00:35:12,679 - Okay, Gnarly! - Let's go! 920 00:35:12,712 --> 00:35:16,116 - Gnarly Nate Hansen! - Whoo! 921 00:35:16,149 --> 00:35:19,352 After my season 12 run, the messages that I got 922 00:35:19,386 --> 00:35:22,055 from parents and kids around the country saying, 923 00:35:22,088 --> 00:35:24,157 "You've inspired me to be a better person, 924 00:35:24,190 --> 00:35:26,693 you've inspired me to overcome my own obstacles in life," 925 00:35:26,726 --> 00:35:27,794 really warmed my heart. 926 00:35:27,827 --> 00:35:29,763 - Get it. Get it. Go. Touch. 927 00:35:29,796 --> 00:35:31,765 Go. Run, run, run, run. 928 00:35:31,798 --> 00:35:33,867 - Aiden's a younger kid from Michigan, 929 00:35:33,900 --> 00:35:37,137 and he also suffers from growth hormone deficiency. 930 00:35:37,170 --> 00:35:38,538 His mom sent me a message 931 00:35:38,571 --> 00:35:40,774 and told me about how he's been battling it 932 00:35:40,807 --> 00:35:43,143 and having to take shots day in and day out. 933 00:35:43,176 --> 00:35:45,078 And I know, growing up as a kid, 934 00:35:45,078 --> 00:35:46,446 how hard that can be, 935 00:35:46,479 --> 00:35:49,616 from the bullying to the own self-doubt in your mind 936 00:35:49,649 --> 00:35:50,617 of "Am I good enough?" 937 00:35:50,650 --> 00:35:52,652 So I connected with Aiden. 938 00:35:52,686 --> 00:35:54,154 We had a Zoom call. 939 00:35:54,187 --> 00:35:55,288 How you been, Aiden? 940 00:35:55,321 --> 00:35:56,456 - I've been pretty good. 941 00:35:56,489 --> 00:35:57,824 - He told me all about his school 942 00:35:57,857 --> 00:35:59,259 and all about his ninja. 943 00:35:59,292 --> 00:36:01,194 - I got a new record of making it up 944 00:36:01,227 --> 00:36:03,663 the 12-foot Warped Wall. - That's awesome. 945 00:36:03,697 --> 00:36:06,900 He's an awesome kid. He is super-duper kind. 946 00:36:06,933 --> 00:36:09,235 I'm just as much of a fan of him as he is of me. 947 00:36:09,269 --> 00:36:11,571 - Keeping pushing it, and maybe sooner or later 948 00:36:11,604 --> 00:36:13,039 you'll get a 13-foot wall, 949 00:36:13,039 --> 00:36:14,941 and then maybe even a 14-foot wall. 950 00:36:15,041 --> 00:36:17,610 When I was a kid, no one else had growth hormone deficiency 951 00:36:17,644 --> 00:36:19,045 that I could look up to. 952 00:36:19,045 --> 00:36:21,815 - Let's go! Whoo! 953 00:36:21,848 --> 00:36:23,750 - So my goal is to be that person 954 00:36:23,783 --> 00:36:25,618 for Aiden and other kids, 955 00:36:25,652 --> 00:36:27,854 so they can look up to me and say, 956 00:36:27,887 --> 00:36:29,422 "I will overcome this obstacle." 957 00:36:32,625 --> 00:36:34,127 [cheers and applause] 958 00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:35,628 Hey, Aiden! 959 00:36:35,662 --> 00:36:37,797 - And Nate giving a big shout-out to Aiden, 960 00:36:37,831 --> 00:36:39,366 watching back in Michigan. 961 00:36:39,399 --> 00:36:40,900 - Let's go, Nate! - Aww, this is nice. 962 00:36:40,934 --> 00:36:43,703 Aiden's excited. He gets to watch his hero. 963 00:36:43,737 --> 00:36:45,238 - And Nate's got a bunch of other fans 964 00:36:45,271 --> 00:36:47,140 watching back in Colorado, 965 00:36:47,173 --> 00:36:48,908 plus he his roommates, 966 00:36:48,942 --> 00:36:52,245 Jonah Muñoz and Austin Gray on the sidelines. 967 00:36:52,278 --> 00:36:54,814 - Just another example of ninjas supporting each other. 968 00:36:54,848 --> 00:36:57,417 [countdown clock beeping] 969 00:36:57,450 --> 00:37:00,720 - Nate Hansen, just 5'2", 125 pounds, 970 00:37:00,754 --> 00:37:04,557 hit a buzzer his first time on the course last season. 971 00:37:04,591 --> 00:37:05,859 Hoping to do it again, 972 00:37:05,892 --> 00:37:08,094 but so far tonight, only one finisher. 973 00:37:08,128 --> 00:37:09,329 - Let's do it! - Come on. 974 00:37:09,362 --> 00:37:10,630 - Says loves being underestimated. 975 00:37:10,663 --> 00:37:11,831 - Whoo! 976 00:37:11,865 --> 00:37:13,266 - He just uses it as motivation. 977 00:37:13,299 --> 00:37:14,634 - Yeah, go ahead, 978 00:37:14,668 --> 00:37:15,935 underestimate the Gnarly Ninja if you want. 979 00:37:16,036 --> 00:37:18,471 Nate Hansen is a beast. 980 00:37:18,505 --> 00:37:21,708 Had one of the fastest times in qualifying last year. 981 00:37:21,741 --> 00:37:24,110 Just showed us such confidence. 982 00:37:24,144 --> 00:37:27,614 Currently a business major at the University of Colorado. 983 00:37:27,647 --> 00:37:30,116 - This is wicked fast. 984 00:37:30,150 --> 00:37:34,354 - On now to Split Decision. He's going for Log Runner. 985 00:37:34,387 --> 00:37:36,189 - You got it. You got it. You got it! 986 00:37:36,222 --> 00:37:37,524 Boom! Just like that! 987 00:37:37,557 --> 00:37:39,926 - Made it look easy. And Aiden loved it. 988 00:37:39,959 --> 00:37:42,562 - Didn't even break a sweat through the balance obstacle. 989 00:37:42,595 --> 00:37:45,065 - But now, it's two upper body obstacles, 990 00:37:45,065 --> 00:37:46,566 starting with the Air Surfer. 991 00:37:46,599 --> 00:37:49,636 - Living in Colorado, I'm sure he's seen snowboards, 992 00:37:49,669 --> 00:37:51,104 but not like this. 993 00:37:51,137 --> 00:37:54,074 - You can see him trying to visualize the landing. 994 00:37:54,074 --> 00:37:55,408 Good control. 995 00:37:55,442 --> 00:37:57,610 He's had lots of extra training this year 996 00:37:57,644 --> 00:38:00,046 living with Jonah Muñoz and Austin Gray. 997 00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:03,016 - Wow, that's a lot of good ninjas in one house. 998 00:38:03,016 --> 00:38:05,218 - Just needs this last swing. Oh! 999 00:38:05,251 --> 00:38:06,653 - Ooh! Got caught up. - How did he save it? 1000 00:38:06,686 --> 00:38:07,854 - That was a great save! 1001 00:38:07,887 --> 00:38:09,889 Whoa, he almost got in trouble! 1002 00:38:09,923 --> 00:38:11,157 - You got this, Nate. 1003 00:38:11,191 --> 00:38:14,861 - And he is through. - Atta boy! 1004 00:38:14,894 --> 00:38:17,864 - Now, just one more obstacle before the Warped Wall, 1005 00:38:17,897 --> 00:38:20,200 but Pretzel Twist has been difficult. 1006 00:38:20,233 --> 00:38:23,403 Only the teenager Jay Lewis has gotten past it so far. 1007 00:38:23,436 --> 00:38:24,637 - Nice technique. 1008 00:38:24,671 --> 00:38:26,139 - By turning around like that, 1009 00:38:26,172 --> 00:38:28,875 there's less chance of peeling off when he locks it in. 1010 00:38:28,908 --> 00:38:30,176 - Looks good. - Good. 1011 00:38:30,210 --> 00:38:32,779 - Nice one, Nate. - Good job, Nate. 1012 00:38:32,812 --> 00:38:34,948 - Let's go, Nate. Come on, Nate! 1013 00:38:35,048 --> 00:38:36,549 - Come on. You got this! 1014 00:38:36,583 --> 00:38:38,284 - Let's see, will he have anything for this transfer? 1015 00:38:38,318 --> 00:38:39,486 - Nice. Great job. 1016 00:38:39,519 --> 00:38:40,754 - Da-da-da-da-da-da. Okay! Okay! 1017 00:38:40,787 --> 00:38:42,389 - This is impressive. 1018 00:38:42,422 --> 00:38:43,923 - They say if you stay ready, you never have to get ready. 1019 00:38:43,957 --> 00:38:46,226 And he's been staying ready this entire time. 1020 00:38:46,259 --> 00:38:49,329 - Nate, one more swing, and he's got that dismount. 1021 00:38:49,362 --> 00:38:53,333 Nate Hansen. And he's gonna set a new fastest time. 1022 00:38:53,366 --> 00:38:56,069 - You always bet on the Gnarly Ninja! 1023 00:38:56,069 --> 00:38:59,172 [cheers and applause] 1024 00:38:59,205 --> 00:39:00,807 * * 1025 00:39:00,840 --> 00:39:05,078 - Let's go, baby! Whoo! 1026 00:39:05,111 --> 00:39:08,515 * * 1027 00:39:08,548 --> 00:39:10,450 - You are such a motivation. 1028 00:39:10,483 --> 00:39:12,719 But what's it like being up here after last season, 1029 00:39:12,752 --> 00:39:14,688 knowing kids like Aiden, 1030 00:39:14,721 --> 00:39:17,023 they're watching you-- you're making a difference? 1031 00:39:17,057 --> 00:39:19,259 - Absolutely, man. I mean, my goal is not to be 1032 00:39:19,292 --> 00:39:20,827 the best on the show, 1033 00:39:20,860 --> 00:39:23,430 it's to inspire people out in the community just like myself, 1034 00:39:23,463 --> 00:39:25,165 and Aiden happens to be one of those kids. 1035 00:39:25,198 --> 00:39:26,466 I'm so glad I could change his life, 1036 00:39:26,499 --> 00:39:28,101 and my goal is to change many more. 1037 00:39:28,134 --> 00:39:32,272 - Inspiring people all around. Nate Hansen did just that. 1038 00:39:32,305 --> 00:39:35,442 Hit that buzzer one more time, Nate. 1039 00:39:35,475 --> 00:39:37,110 - Whoo! 1040 00:39:37,143 --> 00:39:40,480 * * 1041 00:39:40,513 --> 00:39:42,082 - It's not easy training 1042 00:39:42,115 --> 00:39:45,051 when your wife is Olympic legend Shawn Johnson. 1043 00:39:45,085 --> 00:39:47,487 - What are you doing? Drop it lower. Come on. 1044 00:39:47,520 --> 00:39:49,089 - Zero fun. - One more. 1045 00:39:49,122 --> 00:39:51,891 - But Andrew East is gonna be on our course. 1046 00:39:51,925 --> 00:39:53,727 She said she's never been this nervous 1047 00:39:53,760 --> 00:39:55,428 at a competition before. - I haven't. 1048 00:39:55,462 --> 00:39:57,497 - And Shawn's gonna be in our booth, 1049 00:39:57,530 --> 00:40:00,033 when "American Ninja Warrior" returns. 1050 00:40:04,838 --> 00:40:06,473 - Welcome back to "American Ninja Warrior," 1051 00:40:06,506 --> 00:40:09,409 where tonight we're seeing a theme develop: teamwork. 1052 00:40:09,442 --> 00:40:11,044 - Yeah, that's right. Sometimes you need 1053 00:40:11,077 --> 00:40:12,545 a partner to do your best. 1054 00:40:12,579 --> 00:40:15,215 And tonight, we've seen some dynamic duos. 1055 00:40:15,248 --> 00:40:19,019 We've had college classmates and teenage neighbors. 1056 00:40:19,052 --> 00:40:22,022 And minutes ago, it was another powerful pair, 1057 00:40:22,055 --> 00:40:25,592 because rock-solid Adam Rayl is now training partners 1058 00:40:25,625 --> 00:40:28,495 and roommates with the Papal Ninja Sean Bryan. 1059 00:40:28,528 --> 00:40:29,929 - You got it, Adam. Come on! 1060 00:40:29,963 --> 00:40:32,332 - And the new arrangement seems to be working 1061 00:40:32,365 --> 00:40:35,602 as Rayl, a six-time veteran and former gymnast, 1062 00:40:35,635 --> 00:40:37,303 put together a strong run. 1063 00:40:37,337 --> 00:40:38,838 - Sticks the landing! 1064 00:40:38,872 --> 00:40:41,207 - And even took a shot at the Mega Wall... 1065 00:40:41,241 --> 00:40:42,542 Oh! 1066 00:40:42,575 --> 00:40:44,577 But had to settle for the regular wall 1067 00:40:44,611 --> 00:40:46,746 and becoming our third finisher of the night. 1068 00:40:46,780 --> 00:40:50,083 - No problem for Rayl. Hits that buzzer. 1069 00:40:50,116 --> 00:40:51,951 But he wanted the big wall. 1070 00:40:51,985 --> 00:40:53,553 - Then, the two switched roles, 1071 00:40:53,586 --> 00:40:55,622 and Bryan got his shot at the course. 1072 00:40:55,655 --> 00:40:57,057 - Come on, Sean. 1073 00:40:57,090 --> 00:40:59,325 - The Catholic Church worker came out blazing. 1074 00:40:59,359 --> 00:41:00,660 - Beautiful, man. 1075 00:41:00,694 --> 00:41:02,195 - He's got his foot on the accelerator. 1076 00:41:02,228 --> 00:41:06,266 - And even after a rough landing on Pretzel Twist... 1077 00:41:06,299 --> 00:41:08,435 Right on his coccyx. - You okay? 1078 00:41:08,468 --> 00:41:10,503 - He still beat Nate Hansen's time 1079 00:41:10,537 --> 00:41:13,506 and finished with the fastest time so far. 1080 00:41:13,540 --> 00:41:16,843 - The veterans are coming back strong tonight. 1081 00:41:16,876 --> 00:41:19,412 And now we've got another dynamic duo, 1082 00:41:19,446 --> 00:41:21,948 half of which is up here in the booth with us. 1083 00:41:21,981 --> 00:41:24,751 Former world champion and Olympic gold medalist, 1084 00:41:24,784 --> 00:41:26,186 gymnast Shawn Johnson. 1085 00:41:26,219 --> 00:41:28,088 You have four medals to your name, 1086 00:41:28,121 --> 00:41:30,724 including the gold in the balance beam in 2008, 1087 00:41:30,757 --> 00:41:33,893 but you're here for another reason too, Shawn. What's that? 1088 00:41:33,927 --> 00:41:35,729 - My husband is running the course. 1089 00:41:35,762 --> 00:41:37,831 - Okay, well, did you put him up to this? 1090 00:41:37,864 --> 00:41:38,898 - No. - Okay. 1091 00:41:38,932 --> 00:41:40,266 - I tried to talk him out of it. 1092 00:41:40,300 --> 00:41:41,434 We have a baby on the way. 1093 00:41:41,468 --> 00:41:43,103 I'm like, "This is not your forte, 1094 00:41:43,136 --> 00:41:45,505 but I'm your number one cheerleader." 1095 00:41:45,538 --> 00:41:47,207 - Well, let's see how he does. 1096 00:41:47,240 --> 00:41:49,342 Ladies and gentlemen, the husband of this woman, 1097 00:41:49,376 --> 00:41:51,111 it's Andrew East! 1098 00:41:51,111 --> 00:41:53,013 - Oh, okay! - Wow. 1099 00:41:53,113 --> 00:41:55,749 - What do you give that? A ten? All tens? 1100 00:41:55,782 --> 00:41:57,117 - Ten for effort. 1101 00:41:57,150 --> 00:41:59,386 - Well, Shawn may be better at cartwheels, 1102 00:41:59,419 --> 00:42:01,554 but Andrew East is no slouch. 1103 00:42:01,588 --> 00:42:05,191 He's a former football star who made it to the NFL. 1104 00:42:05,225 --> 00:42:06,593 After a successful career 1105 00:42:06,626 --> 00:42:09,496 as a long snapper at Vanderbilt University, 1106 00:42:09,529 --> 00:42:12,065 Andrew spent time with six NFL teams 1107 00:42:12,065 --> 00:42:13,566 over the next five years. 1108 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:15,068 - Competing on a big scale was something 1109 00:42:15,101 --> 00:42:17,771 that I just really enjoyed and wanted to continue doing. 1110 00:42:17,804 --> 00:42:19,072 And then I got introduced to this whole 1111 00:42:19,105 --> 00:42:20,674 "American Ninja Warrior," 1112 00:42:20,707 --> 00:42:23,443 and I've loved being able to transition out of football 1113 00:42:23,476 --> 00:42:25,378 into different athletic endeavors. 1114 00:42:25,412 --> 00:42:28,481 - His gold medal-winning wife has been pushing him 1115 00:42:28,515 --> 00:42:31,651 with the same intensity that lifted her to Olympic glory. 1116 00:42:31,685 --> 00:42:33,420 - Better jumps. Make it harder. 1117 00:42:33,453 --> 00:42:34,688 - What? 1118 00:42:34,721 --> 00:42:36,890 - Training with a gold medal gymnast 1119 00:42:36,923 --> 00:42:39,726 definitely has its pros and cons. 1120 00:42:39,759 --> 00:42:40,860 - What are you doing? 1121 00:42:40,894 --> 00:42:42,128 Drop it lower. 1122 00:42:42,162 --> 00:42:43,129 One more. Come on. 1123 00:42:43,163 --> 00:42:44,364 - Zero fun. - One more. 1124 00:42:44,397 --> 00:42:46,633 - Her competitive edge has not softened at all. 1125 00:42:46,666 --> 00:42:50,337 Shawn is there to dominate, and she'll let you know it. 1126 00:42:50,370 --> 00:42:52,372 - So happy, guys. 1127 00:42:52,405 --> 00:42:54,474 - I'm hoping to go out there, hit the buzzer, 1128 00:42:54,507 --> 00:42:57,477 and show that there's two good athletes in the family. 1129 00:42:57,510 --> 00:42:59,112 - Good job, baby. 1130 00:42:59,145 --> 00:43:00,347 - Andrew's gonna have his family 1131 00:43:00,380 --> 00:43:02,382 watching back in Indiana. 1132 00:43:02,415 --> 00:43:04,217 And look who's on his sideline. 1133 00:43:04,250 --> 00:43:06,319 Fellow Vanderbilt grad Meagan Martin. 1134 00:43:06,353 --> 00:43:09,322 And Shawn, of course, watching up here in the booth with us. 1135 00:43:09,356 --> 00:43:11,591 - I love you! - Hey, babe. 1136 00:43:11,624 --> 00:43:13,626 - I don't think I've ever seen an Olympian nervous before. 1137 00:43:13,660 --> 00:43:15,895 This is so cool. 1138 00:43:15,929 --> 00:43:18,898 [countdown clock beeping] 1139 00:43:18,932 --> 00:43:21,067 Football players have not always done well, 1140 00:43:21,067 --> 00:43:22,268 but here we go. 1141 00:43:22,302 --> 00:43:23,937 - All right, well, he should do well 1142 00:43:23,970 --> 00:43:25,772 in the balance obstacle course. 1143 00:43:25,805 --> 00:43:28,308 Shawn, you knew he was gonna do well in the balance. 1144 00:43:28,341 --> 00:43:29,743 - I don't know. 1145 00:43:29,776 --> 00:43:32,078 I just don't know. That was great. That was great. 1146 00:43:32,078 --> 00:43:34,514 - 6'2", 225, watch on Double Down. 1147 00:43:34,547 --> 00:43:35,949 He's got--he's a bigger boy, 1148 00:43:35,982 --> 00:43:37,117 one of the bigger athletes we've had out here. 1149 00:43:37,150 --> 00:43:38,585 - You got this! Come on! 1150 00:43:38,618 --> 00:43:39,919 - Yeah, Matt, he's got that upper body strength, 1151 00:43:39,953 --> 00:43:41,554 representing for the former NFL players. 1152 00:43:41,588 --> 00:43:43,490 I'm right here with you, Andrew. 1153 00:43:43,523 --> 00:43:45,392 - Camping up. Now gonna go for a ride here. 1154 00:43:45,425 --> 00:43:47,460 Watch this grip strength. - Just hang on. Hang on. 1155 00:43:47,494 --> 00:43:49,896 - Oh, hold on. Hold on. Nice. 1156 00:43:49,929 --> 00:43:51,297 - Now, this is gonna be the challenge. 1157 00:43:51,331 --> 00:43:52,699 We'll see if he can fly. 1158 00:43:52,732 --> 00:43:56,169 - Yeah! - Great body control. 1159 00:43:56,202 --> 00:43:57,604 Now, with that moving bar... - Come on. 1160 00:43:57,637 --> 00:43:59,839 - It makes it hard to make that lache. 1161 00:43:59,873 --> 00:44:00,840 Nice. - Yes! 1162 00:44:00,874 --> 00:44:02,642 - Okay! And he got it. 1163 00:44:02,676 --> 00:44:04,310 - Okay. Come on. - That is impressive. 1164 00:44:04,344 --> 00:44:07,047 6'2", 225, as a rookie, 1165 00:44:07,047 --> 00:44:09,215 making a lache with the moving bar. 1166 00:44:09,249 --> 00:44:11,818 - All right, for the long snapper, this is a long drop. 1167 00:44:11,851 --> 00:44:13,286 Oh! Nice. - Good hold. 1168 00:44:13,319 --> 00:44:15,822 - Big swing. Yeah. Come on. 1169 00:44:15,855 --> 00:44:17,924 - He's going for that dismount. 1170 00:44:17,957 --> 00:44:21,061 - Ooh. - Got it! 1171 00:44:21,094 --> 00:44:22,829 - Good job. You got it. Yes. 1172 00:44:22,862 --> 00:44:24,698 - But now it's Split Decision. 1173 00:44:24,731 --> 00:44:27,867 - You want me to try this one? - Is he gonna try Block Run? 1174 00:44:27,901 --> 00:44:28,935 - The blocks? 1175 00:44:28,968 --> 00:44:30,470 - Shawn, which would you choose? 1176 00:44:30,503 --> 00:44:31,971 - You're either gonna go with the outside, 1177 00:44:32,072 --> 00:44:33,573 on Log Runner, or Block Run. 1178 00:44:33,606 --> 00:44:37,077 - I would do the Log Runner. - Left? 1179 00:44:37,077 --> 00:44:40,347 - He's listening to his wife. Gonna go Log Runner now. 1180 00:44:40,380 --> 00:44:43,483 - Quick feet. Leaning forward. Come on. 1181 00:44:43,516 --> 00:44:44,718 - Meagan, the eight-time veteran, 1182 00:44:44,751 --> 00:44:46,820 giving him some advice. 1183 00:44:46,853 --> 00:44:48,121 - You got this! 1184 00:44:48,154 --> 00:44:50,090 - Okay, Log Runner. Here we go. Nice. 1185 00:44:50,090 --> 00:44:52,292 - Yes! - Come on, he knows what's up. 1186 00:44:52,325 --> 00:44:54,461 - Yes! - Yeah! Whoo! 1187 00:44:54,494 --> 00:44:56,162 - All right, Shawn, he's halfway through. 1188 00:44:56,196 --> 00:44:57,564 - Oh, my God! 1189 00:44:57,597 --> 00:45:00,600 - You know about--uh-oh. That's all right. Here you go. 1190 00:45:00,633 --> 00:45:02,736 - Sorry. - Hey, babe! 1191 00:45:02,769 --> 00:45:04,037 - You got this! 1192 00:45:04,070 --> 00:45:05,939 Oh, you can do this one. Come on. 1193 00:45:06,039 --> 00:45:07,574 - I made it way farther than I was expecting to. 1194 00:45:07,607 --> 00:45:09,609 - [laughing] Yeah. - You're halfway through. 1195 00:45:09,642 --> 00:45:11,945 Come on! We want a touchdown. 1196 00:45:12,045 --> 00:45:14,481 - Oh, my goodness. Has Andrew ever surfed before? 1197 00:45:14,514 --> 00:45:15,882 - No. 1198 00:45:15,915 --> 00:45:17,517 - Well, he's going air surfing right now. 1199 00:45:17,550 --> 00:45:19,252 - He's never done ninja before. 1200 00:45:19,285 --> 00:45:21,955 - Again, this is so impressive out here. 1201 00:45:22,055 --> 00:45:24,190 At 225, this is gonna be a challenge. 1202 00:45:24,224 --> 00:45:26,393 And Shawn, you have to be precise moving this board. 1203 00:45:26,426 --> 00:45:27,460 - Come on. Good! Good! 1204 00:45:27,494 --> 00:45:28,628 - There's a lot of athleticism. 1205 00:45:28,661 --> 00:45:30,163 Former NFL player. - Long gap here. 1206 00:45:30,196 --> 00:45:31,931 - Married to a world-class gymnast. 1207 00:45:31,965 --> 00:45:34,200 Come on. You're representing for a whole lot. 1208 00:45:34,234 --> 00:45:36,136 both: Oh! 1209 00:45:36,169 --> 00:45:38,972 - Tackled by Air Surfer. - The board just got caught up. 1210 00:45:39,072 --> 00:45:40,907 But he's celebrating, and you're still clapping. 1211 00:45:40,940 --> 00:45:42,375 - I'm so proud. I'm so proud. 1212 00:45:42,409 --> 00:45:44,144 - She's so proud of you! 1213 00:45:44,177 --> 00:45:45,345 - Oh, that was a blast! 1214 00:45:45,378 --> 00:45:48,181 - Your pants almost fell off. [laughter] 1215 00:45:48,214 --> 00:45:50,083 - Pull up your pants! 1216 00:45:50,083 --> 00:45:52,352 Andrew had some good moments on the course, 1217 00:45:52,385 --> 00:45:56,122 but I think Shawn had some even better ones up here. 1218 00:45:56,156 --> 00:45:57,991 He survived three obstacles. 1219 00:45:58,091 --> 00:46:00,326 And Shawn, that has to have made you proud. 1220 00:46:00,360 --> 00:46:01,528 - Shawn Johnson, thank you so much... 1221 00:46:01,561 --> 00:46:02,829 - Thank you, thank you. 1222 00:46:02,862 --> 00:46:04,197 - For being a part of "Ninja Warrior." 1223 00:46:04,230 --> 00:46:05,598 - And remember, the Summer Olympics from Tokyo 1224 00:46:05,632 --> 00:46:08,435 start July 23 right here on NBC. 1225 00:46:08,468 --> 00:46:11,237 We've got more ninja superstars coming up, 1226 00:46:11,271 --> 00:46:14,774 including our reigning women's champ, Meagan Martin. 1227 00:46:14,808 --> 00:46:17,177 - Majestic, Your Majesty. 1228 00:46:17,210 --> 00:46:20,780 - Plus, the wild man from Colorado, Jake Murray, 1229 00:46:20,814 --> 00:46:24,184 and his roommate and wingman Ethan Swanson 1230 00:46:24,217 --> 00:46:27,587 when "American Ninja Warrior" returns. 1231 00:46:33,159 --> 00:46:35,628 - Three dynamic ninjas hit the course minutes ago. 1232 00:46:35,662 --> 00:46:39,099 Welder Anthony Eardley knows how to get things amped up. 1233 00:46:39,132 --> 00:46:40,400 - Hey, hey! 1234 00:46:40,433 --> 00:46:41,935 - When your socks match your outfit, 1235 00:46:41,968 --> 00:46:43,903 that's how you know he's ready. 1236 00:46:43,937 --> 00:46:46,806 - The three-time veteran from Oneonta, New York, 1237 00:46:46,840 --> 00:46:48,942 always brings electricity to the course. 1238 00:46:48,975 --> 00:46:51,077 [cheers and applause] 1239 00:46:51,111 --> 00:46:52,645 And tonight was no different. 1240 00:46:52,679 --> 00:46:54,881 - Big up! Big jump! I like that! 1241 00:46:54,914 --> 00:46:57,784 - He even makes his exits entertaining. 1242 00:46:57,817 --> 00:47:00,387 - Ooh! He looked like a flipping pretzel. 1243 00:47:00,420 --> 00:47:01,688 - But it could still be fast enough 1244 00:47:01,721 --> 00:47:04,090 to earn him a spot in the semifinals. 1245 00:47:04,124 --> 00:47:05,525 - Whoo! 1246 00:47:05,558 --> 00:47:07,761 - Then it was the night's smallest competitor, 1247 00:47:07,794 --> 00:47:09,562 the fiery Taylor Johnson. 1248 00:47:09,596 --> 00:47:11,664 - Let's go! 1249 00:47:11,698 --> 00:47:14,434 - With her training partner Addy Herman on the sideline, 1250 00:47:14,467 --> 00:47:17,904 Johnson, who's only 4'11" and 104 pounds, 1251 00:47:17,937 --> 00:47:21,074 came up with some big moments on Double Down... 1252 00:47:21,107 --> 00:47:23,810 - Let's go! - Ooh, looking okay! 1253 00:47:23,843 --> 00:47:27,514 - And Log Runner. - Yes! Let's go! 1254 00:47:27,547 --> 00:47:29,516 - Oh, she's pumped! - Whoo! 1255 00:47:29,549 --> 00:47:31,685 - But the three-time veteran from Foxborough, 1256 00:47:31,718 --> 00:47:34,954 Massachusetts, was just too strong on Air Surfer. 1257 00:47:35,055 --> 00:47:37,891 - Whoa! Watch out! - Good job, Taylor. 1258 00:47:37,924 --> 00:47:39,225 - Just overshot it. 1259 00:47:39,259 --> 00:47:42,128 Got to be precise on these things. 1260 00:47:42,162 --> 00:47:43,730 - Then it was Rob Pannell, 1261 00:47:43,763 --> 00:47:46,132 one of the greatest lacrosse players in history. 1262 00:47:46,166 --> 00:47:48,335 - He's a big deal in the lacrosse world. 1263 00:47:48,368 --> 00:47:49,736 - Pannell won the College Player 1264 00:47:49,769 --> 00:47:52,072 of the Year Award and was Rookie of the Year 1265 00:47:52,072 --> 00:47:54,341 and MVP in Major League Lacrosse. 1266 00:47:54,374 --> 00:47:56,276 - He's a big dude. He knows how to attack. 1267 00:47:56,309 --> 00:47:59,346 - The 195-pound Pannell was light on his feet 1268 00:47:59,379 --> 00:48:02,148 on Shrinking Steps, but his inexperience showed 1269 00:48:02,182 --> 00:48:04,351 when he tried to attack Double Down. 1270 00:48:04,384 --> 00:48:07,787 - Oh! He had it! - [laughs] 1271 00:48:07,821 --> 00:48:11,091 - I'm glad I got through the first obstacle. 1272 00:48:11,124 --> 00:48:12,292 - We've talked a lot tonight 1273 00:48:12,325 --> 00:48:14,394 about having great training partners. 1274 00:48:14,427 --> 00:48:16,896 And that is definitely true of our next competitor. 1275 00:48:16,930 --> 00:48:19,032 This is New Jersey's Abby Clark. 1276 00:48:19,032 --> 00:48:22,168 And not only is the four-time veteran's boyfriend a ninja, 1277 00:48:22,202 --> 00:48:25,105 even her dog is an ace on obstacle courses. 1278 00:48:25,138 --> 00:48:26,806 [upbeat music] 1279 00:48:26,840 --> 00:48:30,510 - Stalk. Good boy. 1280 00:48:30,543 --> 00:48:34,180 My boyfriend Joe and I got Ace when he was eight weeks old. 1281 00:48:34,214 --> 00:48:35,582 There we go, buddy. 1282 00:48:35,615 --> 00:48:40,453 He is a Border Collie, and he does agility obstacles. 1283 00:48:40,487 --> 00:48:41,788 - It's the final round, 1284 00:48:41,821 --> 00:48:43,790 and Champ has the time to beat. 1285 00:48:43,823 --> 00:48:45,291 * * 1286 00:48:45,325 --> 00:48:49,396 In the past year, he started competing. 1287 00:48:49,429 --> 00:48:53,266 Ace, frame. Yes. Feet. Jump. 1288 00:48:53,299 --> 00:48:54,734 Every competition's different, 1289 00:48:54,768 --> 00:48:56,670 just like every ninja competition is different. 1290 00:48:56,703 --> 00:48:58,138 Some have jumps. 1291 00:48:58,171 --> 00:49:00,507 Some have the bigger obstacles like the tunnels, 1292 00:49:00,540 --> 00:49:03,743 the weave poles, and the A-frame. 1293 00:49:03,777 --> 00:49:07,180 Ace, frame. Jump, jump. 1294 00:49:07,213 --> 00:49:09,382 Ace definitely gets the same rush 1295 00:49:09,416 --> 00:49:10,750 that I get on the ninja course. 1296 00:49:10,784 --> 00:49:12,185 Jump. Back. 1297 00:49:12,218 --> 00:49:13,853 He gets so excited to go out and do obstacles. 1298 00:49:13,887 --> 00:49:15,055 He knows it's his job. 1299 00:49:15,088 --> 00:49:16,056 Weave. 1300 00:49:16,089 --> 00:49:17,223 And he loves what he does. 1301 00:49:17,257 --> 00:49:20,160 Jump. Good boy. - [barks] 1302 00:49:20,193 --> 00:49:21,728 - Ace kind of blows my mind sometimes, 1303 00:49:21,761 --> 00:49:23,430 'cause he is super-fast. 1304 00:49:23,463 --> 00:49:26,299 And Abby's pretty similar on the course. 1305 00:49:26,332 --> 00:49:27,500 - Yeah! - Abby Clark! 1306 00:49:27,534 --> 00:49:28,902 - That's what I'm talking about! 1307 00:49:28,935 --> 00:49:31,304 That's what I'm talking about! 1308 00:49:31,338 --> 00:49:33,707 - I think Ace has taught me that 1309 00:49:33,740 --> 00:49:36,276 no matter what happens, you just keep going. 1310 00:49:36,309 --> 00:49:39,179 Out. Ace. Ace. 1311 00:49:39,212 --> 00:49:41,348 Push. 1312 00:49:41,381 --> 00:49:43,683 I'm ready to crush this course like Ace. 1313 00:49:43,717 --> 00:49:45,919 - [barks] 1314 00:49:45,952 --> 00:49:47,287 [cheers and applause] 1315 00:49:47,320 --> 00:49:48,288 - Ace, speak. - [barks] 1316 00:49:48,321 --> 00:49:49,289 - Yeah. 1317 00:49:49,322 --> 00:49:50,490 - So of course Ace and Joe 1318 00:49:50,523 --> 00:49:52,492 will be barking out encouragement... 1319 00:49:52,525 --> 00:49:54,327 - Come on, speak. Yeah. Good boy. 1320 00:49:54,361 --> 00:49:57,831 - Along with Abby's parents and other family members... 1321 00:49:57,864 --> 00:49:59,332 - You got it, Abby! 1322 00:49:59,366 --> 00:50:01,835 - Plus some of her East Coast ninjas on the sideline. 1323 00:50:01,868 --> 00:50:04,771 [countdown clock beeping] 1324 00:50:04,804 --> 00:50:07,140 - Abby Clark is capable of hitting a buzzer. 1325 00:50:07,173 --> 00:50:09,976 She did it in qualifying back in season ten. 1326 00:50:10,010 --> 00:50:11,578 - Come on, Abby. - Come on, Abby. 1327 00:50:11,611 --> 00:50:14,180 - Goes right up onto Double Down. 1328 00:50:14,214 --> 00:50:15,882 She should be able to handle this. 1329 00:50:15,915 --> 00:50:18,251 Was an All-American gymnast at Springfield College 1330 00:50:18,284 --> 00:50:20,020 in Massachusetts. 1331 00:50:20,053 --> 00:50:22,389 [cheers and applause] 1332 00:50:22,422 --> 00:50:23,656 You can check her out on TikTok, 1333 00:50:23,690 --> 00:50:25,825 where she has over 400,000 followers. 1334 00:50:25,859 --> 00:50:27,127 - Nice. 1335 00:50:27,160 --> 00:50:29,029 - Shows a lot of her ninja training videos. 1336 00:50:29,062 --> 00:50:30,597 - After tonight's run, she might end up 1337 00:50:30,630 --> 00:50:32,732 at a million followers on TikTok. 1338 00:50:32,766 --> 00:50:36,069 - And looking strong here. - Ooh. 1339 00:50:36,102 --> 00:50:38,138 - Abby looking smooth. 1340 00:50:38,171 --> 00:50:40,473 And she's got it. 1341 00:50:40,507 --> 00:50:41,908 And Ace looks like 1342 00:50:41,941 --> 00:50:44,210 he's giving high five paws right there to Joe. 1343 00:50:44,244 --> 00:50:45,545 - Yeah. Let's go. 1344 00:50:45,578 --> 00:50:48,014 - Abby fell on a balance obstacle two years ago. 1345 00:50:48,048 --> 00:50:50,750 And she too going with Log Runner tonight. 1346 00:50:50,784 --> 00:50:52,519 - Always makes you wonder, on Split Decision, 1347 00:50:52,552 --> 00:50:53,887 did you choose the right one? 1348 00:50:53,920 --> 00:50:55,255 - Perfect. 1349 00:50:55,288 --> 00:50:56,289 - And yep, Abby Clark chose the right one. 1350 00:50:56,322 --> 00:50:57,891 - Let's go. 1351 00:50:57,924 --> 00:50:59,893 - Climbing up to take on Air Surfer. 1352 00:50:59,926 --> 00:51:02,929 - Speak. Speak. Good boy. - Ace is getting excited. 1353 00:51:02,962 --> 00:51:05,065 She's reached the fourth obstacle. 1354 00:51:05,065 --> 00:51:06,633 - Once an athlete, always an athlete. 1355 00:51:06,666 --> 00:51:08,868 Retired from gymnastics after college. 1356 00:51:08,902 --> 00:51:10,870 You know, she really struggled to find something, 1357 00:51:10,904 --> 00:51:12,505 but once she got into ninja 1358 00:51:12,539 --> 00:51:15,108 and she got a taste of it, she hasn't looked back. 1359 00:51:15,141 --> 00:51:17,310 - Good transfer there. Look at that. 1360 00:51:17,344 --> 00:51:19,713 Good shot of the board, how it's perfectly placed. 1361 00:51:19,746 --> 00:51:20,980 - Good. You got this. 1362 00:51:21,081 --> 00:51:23,149 - Great control out of Abby Clark. 1363 00:51:23,183 --> 00:51:25,118 Ooh. Watch that left side. A little forward. 1364 00:51:25,151 --> 00:51:27,754 And you can see her momentum trying to correct it. 1365 00:51:27,787 --> 00:51:30,623 - Let's go. You can overshoot. Come on. 1366 00:51:30,657 --> 00:51:32,359 - Ooh. Good transfers. 1367 00:51:32,392 --> 00:51:34,094 - Let's go, Abby! - Come on, Abby. 1368 00:51:34,094 --> 00:51:35,662 - You got this, Abby. - Come on. You got it. 1369 00:51:35,695 --> 00:51:38,098 - She's closing in on the fifth obstacle. 1370 00:51:38,131 --> 00:51:40,967 - Nice. - And she's got it. 1371 00:51:41,001 --> 00:51:42,836 - Let's go! 1372 00:51:42,869 --> 00:51:46,406 - Keep in mind, season 13, a lot of talented women, 1373 00:51:46,439 --> 00:51:48,208 but none has hit a buzzer. 1374 00:51:48,241 --> 00:51:50,643 We've had three women reach Pretzel Twist tonight, 1375 00:51:50,677 --> 00:51:53,113 but none has gotten past it. 1376 00:51:53,113 --> 00:51:55,648 - Yes. Good. Be ready for it to lock in. 1377 00:51:55,682 --> 00:51:57,384 - Yeah, get your grip. You got it. 1378 00:51:57,417 --> 00:52:01,421 - You can see a chorus of support on the sidelines. 1379 00:52:01,454 --> 00:52:03,356 Good job using that body, generating the power. 1380 00:52:03,390 --> 00:52:05,058 - Nice. - Holding on. 1381 00:52:05,058 --> 00:52:06,593 - You got it. - You got it. 1382 00:52:06,626 --> 00:52:08,595 - Real well done. That was great technique there, Akbar. 1383 00:52:08,628 --> 00:52:09,929 - Come on, Abby. You got this. 1384 00:52:09,963 --> 00:52:11,965 - And remember, the top five women from tonight 1385 00:52:12,065 --> 00:52:13,466 move on the semifinals. 1386 00:52:13,500 --> 00:52:14,868 Abby Clark's put herself 1387 00:52:14,901 --> 00:52:16,569 in a good position to be one of them already. 1388 00:52:16,603 --> 00:52:18,905 - But Matt, position-wise-- 1389 00:52:18,938 --> 00:52:20,073 how is she gonna get that reach? 1390 00:52:20,106 --> 00:52:21,174 - Well, she may have to switch around. 1391 00:52:21,207 --> 00:52:22,375 - Ooh. 1392 00:52:22,409 --> 00:52:23,610 - She just can't quite get it locked in. 1393 00:52:23,643 --> 00:52:24,778 - Matt, she's getting very close. 1394 00:52:24,811 --> 00:52:27,147 - A little bit more, a little bit more. 1395 00:52:27,180 --> 00:52:28,748 - There it is. - Locked in. 1396 00:52:28,782 --> 00:52:30,316 Matt, now she's in a funky position. 1397 00:52:30,350 --> 00:52:31,885 Turn around. 1398 00:52:31,918 --> 00:52:35,422 - Come on, Abby. Let's go. - Watch that right hand. 1399 00:52:35,455 --> 00:52:37,457 - No! - That right hand. 1400 00:52:37,490 --> 00:52:39,459 - Oh! - Oh! 1401 00:52:39,492 --> 00:52:41,895 - Oh! Doesn't get a buzzer, but a great effort 1402 00:52:41,928 --> 00:52:43,496 from Abby Clark. 1403 00:52:43,530 --> 00:52:45,732 Ace and Joe, proud of that run, 1404 00:52:45,765 --> 00:52:47,767 and Zuri's gonna give her some good news. 1405 00:52:47,801 --> 00:52:50,937 - Abby, congratulations on a really great run. 1406 00:52:50,970 --> 00:52:52,205 You went far enough, fast enough. 1407 00:52:52,238 --> 00:52:54,641 You are moving on. Congratulations. 1408 00:52:54,674 --> 00:52:56,710 We'll see you in the semifinals, girl. 1409 00:52:56,743 --> 00:52:58,978 - Yeah! - Yeah! Whoo! 1410 00:52:59,012 --> 00:53:01,481 - She made it. She made it. Aw, yeah! 1411 00:53:01,514 --> 00:53:03,316 [laughs] - [barking] 1412 00:53:03,350 --> 00:53:04,784 - Coming up, 1413 00:53:04,818 --> 00:53:07,387 one ninja sees the world a little differently. 1414 00:53:07,420 --> 00:53:09,489 And he's gonna give you a bird's eye ride 1415 00:53:09,522 --> 00:53:11,057 down the course. 1416 00:53:11,057 --> 00:53:12,826 - Whoa! 1417 00:53:12,859 --> 00:53:17,063 - Plus, they're two of ninja's biggest goofballs 1418 00:53:17,097 --> 00:53:19,065 and biggest talents. 1419 00:53:19,065 --> 00:53:22,068 Ethan Swanson and Jake Murray coming up 1420 00:53:22,102 --> 00:53:24,804 on "American Ninja Warrior." 1421 00:53:30,076 --> 00:53:31,511 - Welcome back to the Tacoma Dome, 1422 00:53:31,544 --> 00:53:33,446 our home for the qualifying rounds here 1423 00:53:33,480 --> 00:53:35,915 on "American Ninja Warrior." 1424 00:53:35,949 --> 00:53:38,084 While we were away, Darius Moore 1425 00:53:38,084 --> 00:53:40,720 owns a demolition company in Pennsylvania, 1426 00:53:40,754 --> 00:53:42,756 and he was ready to destroy the course. 1427 00:53:42,789 --> 00:53:45,091 - Yeah! - Hammer that baby through. 1428 00:53:45,091 --> 00:53:46,659 - A typical day for Darius 1429 00:53:46,693 --> 00:53:50,497 involves tearing things down for eight hours. 1430 00:53:50,530 --> 00:53:53,833 Tonight, he was smooth on the first obstacle, 1431 00:53:53,867 --> 00:53:56,302 but the hammer came down on him on the second. 1432 00:53:56,336 --> 00:53:58,872 - Oh! 1433 00:53:58,905 --> 00:54:00,640 - Then, it was the two athletes 1434 00:54:00,674 --> 00:54:02,409 who have competed on every season 1435 00:54:02,442 --> 00:54:03,843 of "American Ninja Warrior." 1436 00:54:03,877 --> 00:54:06,046 First up was Brian Kretsch, 1437 00:54:06,046 --> 00:54:08,481 making his 13th straight appearance. 1438 00:54:08,515 --> 00:54:11,051 Kretsch broke his leg in season seven 1439 00:54:11,051 --> 00:54:13,319 and has had a mental block with balance obstacles 1440 00:54:13,353 --> 00:54:14,621 ever since. 1441 00:54:14,654 --> 00:54:15,922 So when he got past 1442 00:54:15,955 --> 00:54:18,058 his balance obstacle choice tonight... 1443 00:54:18,091 --> 00:54:19,893 - Oh, my God! 1444 00:54:19,926 --> 00:54:21,628 - He was nearly brought to tears. 1445 00:54:21,661 --> 00:54:23,263 - He's got to center himself now. 1446 00:54:23,296 --> 00:54:26,466 - Kretsch kept it going and made it to the fifth obstacle. 1447 00:54:26,499 --> 00:54:28,168 - Oh, no! - Oh, no! 1448 00:54:28,201 --> 00:54:31,871 But became the latest victim of Pretzel Twist. 1449 00:54:31,905 --> 00:54:33,073 But that should be good enough 1450 00:54:33,073 --> 00:54:34,541 to get him into the semifinals. 1451 00:54:34,574 --> 00:54:37,811 - I'm gluten-free. I don't eat pretzels. 1452 00:54:37,844 --> 00:54:39,245 [laughter] 1453 00:54:39,279 --> 00:54:41,381 - Then it was the other veteran who's been around 1454 00:54:41,414 --> 00:54:44,484 since the beginning, the Godfather, David Campbell. 1455 00:54:44,517 --> 00:54:45,952 - Go, David! 1456 00:54:45,985 --> 00:54:48,121 - With ninja great Jessie Graff cheering him on, 1457 00:54:48,154 --> 00:54:51,224 the pizza delivery driver delivered once again. 1458 00:54:51,257 --> 00:54:53,393 - Never doubt the old guy. 1459 00:54:53,426 --> 00:54:56,396 - Though he's almost 30 years older than some of our teens, 1460 00:54:56,429 --> 00:54:58,765 the 43-year-old didn't show it. 1461 00:54:58,798 --> 00:55:00,467 - David Campbell still has it in him. 1462 00:55:00,500 --> 00:55:02,035 - Yeah. 1463 00:55:02,068 --> 00:55:05,372 - Campbell survived a rough landing on Pretzel Twist. 1464 00:55:05,405 --> 00:55:08,508 - Oh, my goodness! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! 1465 00:55:08,541 --> 00:55:10,243 Check this out again! 1466 00:55:10,276 --> 00:55:13,446 - Oh, my! - Oh, my, he felt that! 1467 00:55:13,480 --> 00:55:16,049 - But it wasn't enough to stop the Godfather, 1468 00:55:16,049 --> 00:55:17,350 who shook it off 1469 00:55:17,384 --> 00:55:19,419 and even tried the 18-foot Mega Wall... 1470 00:55:19,452 --> 00:55:20,720 - Ooh. 1471 00:55:20,754 --> 00:55:22,522 - Before settling for the regular wall 1472 00:55:22,555 --> 00:55:24,824 and becoming our fifth finisher of the night. 1473 00:55:24,858 --> 00:55:26,059 - I love it. 1474 00:55:26,092 --> 00:55:27,694 The old guys have come to play 1475 00:55:27,727 --> 00:55:31,231 and show them teenagers how it's done. 1476 00:55:31,264 --> 00:55:33,566 - When Campbell and Kretsch first competed, 1477 00:55:33,600 --> 00:55:36,369 our next athlete was only two years old. 1478 00:55:36,403 --> 00:55:39,172 This is 15-year-old Caiden Madzelan, 1479 00:55:39,205 --> 00:55:41,941 better known as the Troutdale Ninja. 1480 00:55:43,076 --> 00:55:45,078 [dramatic music] 1481 00:55:45,111 --> 00:55:47,347 * * 1482 00:55:47,380 --> 00:55:50,383 - Troutdale is a little town in northern Oregon. 1483 00:55:50,417 --> 00:55:52,585 Growing up in Troutdale, I was always outdoors, 1484 00:55:52,619 --> 00:55:56,956 and that's easy when you live in a place like this. 1485 00:55:56,990 --> 00:55:58,124 It's a great place to hike, 1486 00:55:58,158 --> 00:55:59,626 to paddleboard, to go climbing, 1487 00:55:59,659 --> 00:56:01,027 to go on the river. 1488 00:56:01,027 --> 00:56:02,262 It's amazing. 1489 00:56:02,295 --> 00:56:03,930 * * 1490 00:56:04,030 --> 00:56:06,332 Because it's a small town, there's not a lot of people 1491 00:56:06,366 --> 00:56:08,601 that do ninja, and it's made me known 1492 00:56:08,635 --> 00:56:10,403 as a little celebrity in Troutdale. 1493 00:56:10,437 --> 00:56:12,605 You know, everyone knows me as the Troutdale Ninja. 1494 00:56:12,639 --> 00:56:15,241 - From here on out, May 11th is gonna be known 1495 00:56:15,275 --> 00:56:18,211 as Troutdale Ninja Day in honor of Caiden. 1496 00:56:18,244 --> 00:56:21,181 - Oh, my goodness. Thank you. Thank you. 1497 00:56:21,214 --> 00:56:23,116 But growing up wasn't always easy. 1498 00:56:23,149 --> 00:56:26,152 My parents got divorced when I was five years old. 1499 00:56:26,186 --> 00:56:29,322 And for a lot of years, my dad and I didn't get along. 1500 00:56:29,356 --> 00:56:32,892 * * 1501 00:56:32,926 --> 00:56:34,594 - It was extremely hard for me, 1502 00:56:34,627 --> 00:56:37,864 having a tough relationship with my son. 1503 00:56:37,897 --> 00:56:39,699 And I felt like on lots of levels, 1504 00:56:39,733 --> 00:56:42,769 I was failing him and failing myself as a father. 1505 00:56:42,802 --> 00:56:46,206 And so it was hard for everybody. 1506 00:56:46,239 --> 00:56:48,074 - We were always slamming the doors on each other, 1507 00:56:48,074 --> 00:56:49,876 yelling at each other, screaming at each other, 1508 00:56:49,909 --> 00:56:52,512 and there--all the time, I would call my mom and say, 1509 00:56:52,545 --> 00:56:54,681 "Please come pick up me up. I don't want to be here." 1510 00:56:57,083 --> 00:56:57,984 - Nice. 1511 00:56:58,084 --> 00:56:59,152 Around the time that Caiden 1512 00:56:59,185 --> 00:57:00,787 was really getting interested in ninja, 1513 00:57:00,820 --> 00:57:03,490 I decided to build a ninja rig in the backyard, 1514 00:57:03,523 --> 00:57:06,126 and that was a great thing for him and I to work on together. 1515 00:57:06,159 --> 00:57:08,828 And he still trains on that to this day. 1516 00:57:08,862 --> 00:57:11,031 Crazy how much it's gotten used. 1517 00:57:11,064 --> 00:57:12,532 - Yeah, all the things I've broken. 1518 00:57:12,565 --> 00:57:14,701 - All the things you've broken, but you've added on to it. 1519 00:57:14,734 --> 00:57:17,837 It makes me emotional to look back on where 1520 00:57:17,871 --> 00:57:19,372 Caiden and I were in our relationship 1521 00:57:19,406 --> 00:57:21,074 and where we've come 1522 00:57:21,107 --> 00:57:23,276 and to think of how much I have to thank 1523 00:57:23,309 --> 00:57:24,511 "American Ninja Warrior" for that. 1524 00:57:24,544 --> 00:57:25,779 I'm proud of you. 1525 00:57:25,812 --> 00:57:26,946 I love you. - Love you, too. 1526 00:57:27,047 --> 00:57:28,314 There's no other way to say it. 1527 00:57:28,348 --> 00:57:30,617 "Ninja Warrior" saved me and my dad's friendship. 1528 00:57:30,650 --> 00:57:33,353 And I'm really grateful and thankful for it. 1529 00:57:37,424 --> 00:57:40,093 - And Dad is on the sideline. 1530 00:57:40,126 --> 00:57:42,062 - Dad looks a little anxious. - Wow. 1531 00:57:42,095 --> 00:57:43,430 - I think it's harder for the parents, isn't it? 1532 00:57:43,463 --> 00:57:44,864 - Yeah, it is. 1533 00:57:44,898 --> 00:57:46,900 - And there's Mom back in Oregon, 1534 00:57:46,933 --> 00:57:49,069 watching with other friends and family. 1535 00:57:49,069 --> 00:57:51,538 - Let's go Caiden. Come on, bud. 1536 00:57:51,571 --> 00:57:53,940 - Let's go, Caiden! [countdown clock beeping] 1537 00:57:53,973 --> 00:57:55,975 - Well, Akbar, the story of the season 1538 00:57:56,076 --> 00:57:59,079 has been the youth invasion, the teen titans. 1539 00:57:59,079 --> 00:58:00,880 - And Matt, here's one that's been eating the fridge. 1540 00:58:00,914 --> 00:58:02,682 He's a big 15-year-old. 6'1". 1541 00:58:02,716 --> 00:58:04,918 And he can use that length on this course. 1542 00:58:05,018 --> 00:58:07,887 He trains one to two hours every day, with no rest days. 1543 00:58:07,921 --> 00:58:09,289 He's got the energy. He's got the youth. 1544 00:58:09,322 --> 00:58:10,824 - Oh! - You see how he just came in? 1545 00:58:10,857 --> 00:58:12,225 - Seamless, one move. 1546 00:58:12,258 --> 00:58:14,260 - It looked like Double Dipper in Vegas. 1547 00:58:14,294 --> 00:58:15,895 - Oh, my! 1548 00:58:15,929 --> 00:58:18,832 And now it's Split Decision, and like everyone tonight, 1549 00:58:18,865 --> 00:58:21,067 he's going with Log Runner over Block Run. 1550 00:58:21,101 --> 00:58:22,836 - He's got those long legs. 1551 00:58:22,869 --> 00:58:24,437 - Well, he had hearing issues growing up. 1552 00:58:24,471 --> 00:58:25,805 Had problems with speed and balance. 1553 00:58:25,839 --> 00:58:27,273 But none there. - Yeah, Caiden! 1554 00:58:27,307 --> 00:58:28,775 - Yeah, Matt, in fact, the doctors told him 1555 00:58:28,808 --> 00:58:31,144 that he probably wouldn't be an athlete. 1556 00:58:31,177 --> 00:58:33,480 Uh, wrong. - 100% wrong. 1557 00:58:33,513 --> 00:58:35,248 He not only does ninja, 1558 00:58:35,281 --> 00:58:37,384 he's on his high school cross-country and track team 1559 00:58:37,417 --> 00:58:39,586 and is a straight-A student. 1560 00:58:39,619 --> 00:58:41,554 - We first saw him on "Ninja Junior." 1561 00:58:41,588 --> 00:58:43,490 He made it to the Sweet 16, 1562 00:58:43,523 --> 00:58:46,793 but he was a little smaller then. 1563 00:58:46,826 --> 00:58:49,929 - He's got a big jump here on Air Surfer. 1564 00:58:49,963 --> 00:58:51,197 Gets it. 1565 00:58:51,231 --> 00:58:53,700 Just needs the dismount. 1566 00:58:53,733 --> 00:58:55,902 - Oh, my goodness! - Yes! 1567 00:58:55,935 --> 00:58:58,271 - And you can see how proud Dad is. 1568 00:58:58,304 --> 00:59:00,573 Ninja brought father and son together. 1569 00:59:00,607 --> 00:59:03,443 These two now best friends. And look at Caiden out here, 1570 00:59:03,476 --> 00:59:06,046 making big swings on Pretzel Twist. 1571 00:59:06,079 --> 00:59:09,516 - There's a lot of kickback there. 1572 00:59:09,549 --> 00:59:11,918 - Trying to be our second teen finisher tonight, 1573 00:59:12,018 --> 00:59:15,121 and moving quickly through the pretzels. 1574 00:59:15,155 --> 00:59:16,122 - Watch out, now. Whoa. 1575 00:59:16,156 --> 00:59:17,357 - And in a single move, 1576 00:59:17,390 --> 00:59:19,225 going over, Caiden gave us a look. 1577 00:59:19,259 --> 00:59:21,027 - Matt, look how confident he is. 1578 00:59:21,027 --> 00:59:23,263 - He's smiling right now, Akbar. 1579 00:59:23,296 --> 00:59:24,397 Oh, my! 1580 00:59:24,431 --> 00:59:26,332 - I'm gonna write him up, 1581 00:59:26,366 --> 00:59:27,634 running through the halls this fast. 1582 00:59:27,667 --> 00:59:30,403 - Caiden Madzelan. - Look at Dad. 1583 00:59:30,437 --> 00:59:32,706 You think he's not hyped? 1584 00:59:32,739 --> 00:59:34,207 Yeah, $10,000, buddy! - You going for it? 1585 00:59:34,240 --> 00:59:35,875 What you gonna do with that money? 1586 00:59:35,909 --> 00:59:39,079 - He is announcing his presence with authority. 1587 00:59:39,112 --> 00:59:42,382 It is almost unfair watching these youngsters 1588 00:59:42,415 --> 00:59:44,417 destroy this course. 1589 00:59:44,451 --> 00:59:47,153 No one has yet made it up the Mega Wall tonight. 1590 00:59:47,187 --> 00:59:50,056 Can 15-year-old Caiden be the first? 1591 00:59:50,056 --> 00:59:52,692 - 18 feet. This is it. 15 years old. 1592 00:59:52,726 --> 00:59:54,828 - Good run. 1593 00:59:54,861 --> 00:59:58,365 - Ooh. Okay. 1594 00:59:58,398 --> 01:00:01,601 - Got his fingers up so close! 1595 01:00:01,634 --> 01:00:03,003 - That's all right. Finish this one. 1596 01:00:03,036 --> 01:00:04,637 - Well, he had some height, Matt. He was super close. 1597 01:00:04,671 --> 01:00:06,172 - That was the only flaw. 1598 01:00:06,206 --> 01:00:07,607 - Get that buzzer. - Look at that. 1599 01:00:07,640 --> 01:00:09,242 [buzzer blares] 1600 01:00:09,275 --> 01:00:11,611 - Yeah! Whoo! 1601 01:00:11,644 --> 01:00:13,046 [cheers and applause] 1602 01:00:13,079 --> 01:00:17,851 - Caiden Madzelan. Wow! Wow! 1603 01:00:17,884 --> 01:00:19,319 - That's it! 1604 01:00:19,352 --> 01:00:21,821 - You must have excelled in PE, didn't you? 1605 01:00:21,855 --> 01:00:24,391 - A+. - A+. [laughs] 1606 01:00:24,424 --> 01:00:27,827 Well, you get an A++ on "Ninja Warrior," man. 1607 01:00:27,861 --> 01:00:29,529 That was outstanding. 1608 01:00:29,562 --> 01:00:30,730 - Thank you, man. 1609 01:00:30,764 --> 01:00:32,232 - Caiden, you just got your first buzzer. 1610 01:00:32,265 --> 01:00:34,334 What's it like doing it with your dad here? 1611 01:00:34,367 --> 01:00:37,103 - I'm so thankful for him to be on the sideline, and, you know, 1612 01:00:37,137 --> 01:00:39,773 after all that we've been through when I was younger, 1613 01:00:39,806 --> 01:00:41,775 it's truly special for him to be here right now. 1614 01:00:41,808 --> 01:00:44,477 - Why don't you hit that buzzer one more time? 1615 01:00:44,511 --> 01:00:46,980 I have a feeling you're gonna be doing it a lot. 1616 01:00:47,013 --> 01:00:50,050 [cheers and applause] 1617 01:00:58,258 --> 01:01:00,727 - Check out the close calls while we were away. 1618 01:01:00,760 --> 01:01:03,530 Arizona college student Tage Herrington 1619 01:01:03,563 --> 01:01:06,466 had his 12 siblings cheering him on. 1620 01:01:06,499 --> 01:01:08,234 And the baby-faced 20-year-old 1621 01:01:08,268 --> 01:01:10,303 gave them something to get excited about, 1622 01:01:10,337 --> 01:01:12,772 as Ninja Blue blazed through the course... 1623 01:01:12,806 --> 01:01:15,375 - Nice hang time! [cheers and applause] 1624 01:01:15,408 --> 01:01:17,177 He's looking at the Mega Wall, I think. 1625 01:01:17,210 --> 01:01:18,878 - And tried to become the first tonight 1626 01:01:18,912 --> 01:01:20,814 to conquer the 18-foot wall. 1627 01:01:20,847 --> 01:01:23,083 both: Oh! - He almost had it! 1628 01:01:23,116 --> 01:01:26,319 - He got a hand on top, but couldn't finish 1629 01:01:26,353 --> 01:01:27,987 and settled for the regular wall, 1630 01:01:28,088 --> 01:01:30,256 becoming our seventh finisher tonight. 1631 01:01:30,290 --> 01:01:32,692 - Oh, man. That's pretty dope, man. 1632 01:01:32,726 --> 01:01:35,462 - New Jersey car mechanic Brandon Richards 1633 01:01:35,495 --> 01:01:38,598 barely survived a near collision on Double Down. 1634 01:01:38,631 --> 01:01:40,000 - Whoa! Whoo! 1635 01:01:40,100 --> 01:01:41,201 All right, take a look again. 1636 01:01:41,234 --> 01:01:43,169 He got his legs up pretty high. 1637 01:01:43,203 --> 01:01:45,739 Man, if he wasn't flexible, he would have been done. 1638 01:01:45,772 --> 01:01:48,141 - The 21-year-old rookie kept running. 1639 01:01:48,174 --> 01:01:49,743 - Nice. 1640 01:01:49,776 --> 01:01:52,112 - But his night came to a screeching halt on Air Surfer. 1641 01:01:52,112 --> 01:01:53,413 both: Oh! 1642 01:01:53,446 --> 01:01:55,615 - That's not the way it was supposed to go! 1643 01:01:55,648 --> 01:01:58,518 - Then it was New York City attorney Adam Nasser, 1644 01:01:58,551 --> 01:02:01,554 who had to fight to stay alive on the first obstacle... 1645 01:02:01,588 --> 01:02:04,391 - Oh, oh, oh, oh. No, no, no, no, no, no. 1646 01:02:04,424 --> 01:02:07,727 - And again on the third. both: Oh! 1647 01:02:07,761 --> 01:02:10,130 - Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, oh, oh, oh. 1648 01:02:10,163 --> 01:02:12,732 - The 28-year-old rookie rolled around Log Runner 1649 01:02:12,766 --> 01:02:14,067 for more than a minute. 1650 01:02:14,100 --> 01:02:16,469 - Matt, he is in ninja prison right now. 1651 01:02:16,503 --> 01:02:19,139 - But the lawyer refused to be dismissed... 1652 01:02:19,172 --> 01:02:21,474 - Go Superman. Go Superman. 1653 01:02:21,508 --> 01:02:24,077 - And finally got through. - Yeah! 1654 01:02:24,077 --> 01:02:26,312 - And then made it to the fifth obstacle... 1655 01:02:26,346 --> 01:02:27,414 - Oh! 1656 01:02:27,447 --> 01:02:28,815 - Before his run finally ended. 1657 01:02:28,848 --> 01:02:32,152 - Matt, he burned energy and he burned out. 1658 01:02:33,520 --> 01:02:36,222 - Our next ninja is gonna take you on a ride 1659 01:02:36,256 --> 01:02:38,758 like you've never experienced before. 1660 01:02:38,792 --> 01:02:41,394 This is Quinn Nguyen. He's a college student 1661 01:02:41,428 --> 01:02:43,730 at Rochester Institute of Technology, 1662 01:02:43,763 --> 01:02:46,766 but also a first-person drone pilot. 1663 01:02:46,800 --> 01:02:49,969 He's gonna show us the course like you've never seen before. 1664 01:02:50,003 --> 01:02:51,738 [upbeat music] 1665 01:02:51,771 --> 01:02:54,941 - Oh, I like this. This is fire. Wow! 1666 01:02:54,974 --> 01:02:57,877 - And the drone's choosing Block Run. 1667 01:02:57,911 --> 01:03:00,146 - Just cruising through Air Surfer. 1668 01:03:00,180 --> 01:03:03,049 Boy, this course looks easy when you fly through it. 1669 01:03:03,049 --> 01:03:06,519 And he's eyeing the Mega Wall. Why not? 1670 01:03:06,553 --> 01:03:08,855 - Well, hello. 1671 01:03:08,888 --> 01:03:11,591 - Okay! I see you! 1672 01:03:11,624 --> 01:03:12,959 - And that's just a taste 1673 01:03:13,059 --> 01:03:16,229 of what this 20-year-old can do with his drone. 1674 01:03:16,262 --> 01:03:17,497 - It's time to fly. 1675 01:03:17,530 --> 01:03:19,766 * * 1676 01:03:19,799 --> 01:03:23,536 I fly FPV drones-- first-person view drones. 1677 01:03:23,570 --> 01:03:25,905 Basically, you wear headset goggles, 1678 01:03:25,939 --> 01:03:28,408 and you see what the drone's seeing. 1679 01:03:28,441 --> 01:03:30,276 It gives you that adrenaline rush. 1680 01:03:32,579 --> 01:03:34,080 You're, like, basically a bird, 1681 01:03:34,114 --> 01:03:35,648 and there's nothing stopping you from doing anything. 1682 01:03:35,682 --> 01:03:39,185 * * 1683 01:03:39,219 --> 01:03:42,288 The biggest one can go up to 60, 70 miles per hour, 1684 01:03:42,322 --> 01:03:44,257 maybe more. I haven't exactly clocked it. 1685 01:03:44,290 --> 01:03:45,625 [chuckles] 1686 01:03:45,658 --> 01:03:47,460 I'm gonna fly my drone through the course, 1687 01:03:47,494 --> 01:03:49,596 and then I'm gonna fly through the course. 1688 01:03:49,629 --> 01:03:51,564 - That's some cool stuff right there. 1689 01:03:51,598 --> 01:03:53,400 - Well, Nguyen will have some family watching, 1690 01:03:53,433 --> 01:03:56,169 along with some college classmates at RIT. 1691 01:03:56,202 --> 01:03:59,406 [countdown clock beeping] 1692 01:03:59,439 --> 01:04:01,341 - It's one thing to photograph a course, 1693 01:04:01,374 --> 01:04:04,277 but getting through it is a lot tougher. 1694 01:04:04,310 --> 01:04:05,912 [cheers and applause] 1695 01:04:05,945 --> 01:04:07,847 - Made it through Shrinking Steps. 1696 01:04:07,881 --> 01:04:09,849 Now needs to soar through Double Down. 1697 01:04:09,883 --> 01:04:12,752 - Fly. Fly. - Oh, my. 1698 01:04:12,786 --> 01:04:14,054 - Oh, watch out. 1699 01:04:14,087 --> 01:04:15,588 That's a steep drop right there, Matt. 1700 01:04:15,622 --> 01:04:17,957 It's like a roller coaster at Universal Studios. 1701 01:04:18,058 --> 01:04:19,125 - He's using a lot of mass, 1702 01:04:19,159 --> 01:04:20,794 but that is taxing on the grip. 1703 01:04:20,827 --> 01:04:22,429 - Ooh! Wow! You see the whiplash. 1704 01:04:22,462 --> 01:04:24,097 - He didn't even crank it up. 1705 01:04:24,130 --> 01:04:26,099 He just moved it through, Akbar. 1706 01:04:26,132 --> 01:04:27,434 That was power. 1707 01:04:27,467 --> 01:04:29,569 - He flew his drone across Block Run, 1708 01:04:29,602 --> 01:04:31,805 but it looks like he's gonna choose Log Runner. 1709 01:04:31,838 --> 01:04:34,908 - Let's go! [cheers and applause] 1710 01:04:34,941 --> 01:04:37,577 - Only 5'4". 1711 01:04:37,610 --> 01:04:39,813 - Whoa, nice. 1712 01:04:39,846 --> 01:04:43,516 - Quinn Nguyen, and he is pumped. 1713 01:04:43,550 --> 01:04:45,085 - Let's go! 1714 01:04:45,085 --> 01:04:48,588 - Yeah, Quinn! - Quinn! 1715 01:04:48,621 --> 01:04:50,857 - And here he is on the fourth obstacle, 1716 01:04:50,890 --> 01:04:52,092 Air Surfer. 1717 01:04:52,125 --> 01:04:53,560 - Yeah, Quinn Nguyen, he's moving. 1718 01:04:53,593 --> 01:04:55,962 He's hustling through. All right, big drop. 1719 01:04:55,995 --> 01:04:57,864 - You can see him--I like it-- a little more measured 1720 01:04:57,897 --> 01:04:59,232 approach here, Akbar. 1721 01:04:59,265 --> 01:05:00,800 - You know, at 20 years old, he's fearless. 1722 01:05:00,834 --> 01:05:03,069 You can see that drop meant nothing to him. 1723 01:05:03,103 --> 01:05:05,038 He was able to absorb all of that weight. 1724 01:05:05,038 --> 01:05:06,539 And if he can do that one more time, 1725 01:05:06,573 --> 01:05:07,874 he should be in the clear. 1726 01:05:07,907 --> 01:05:09,676 - Listen, he flies a drone with goggles. 1727 01:05:09,709 --> 01:05:13,079 You have to have a good visual mind, 3D understanding. 1728 01:05:13,113 --> 01:05:15,382 Clearly, it's serving him well here on Air Surfer. 1729 01:05:15,415 --> 01:05:18,284 - Well, he literally did visualize 1730 01:05:18,318 --> 01:05:21,221 how this run would go. 1731 01:05:21,254 --> 01:05:24,724 - Let's go, Quinn! Let's go! 1732 01:05:24,758 --> 01:05:28,128 - Let's go! I want that Mega Wall! 1733 01:05:28,161 --> 01:05:30,930 - "I want that Mega Wall!" 5'4", 145 pounds. 1734 01:05:30,964 --> 01:05:32,832 He's calling out the Mega Wall. 1735 01:05:32,866 --> 01:05:35,635 You better eat some pretzels right now. 1736 01:05:35,669 --> 01:05:37,871 - He is up. 1737 01:05:37,904 --> 01:05:39,973 He twisted the handle off, Akbar. 1738 01:05:40,073 --> 01:05:41,941 That kind of muscle-- once again, 1739 01:05:41,975 --> 01:05:45,078 he's continuing to rely on just power here. 1740 01:05:45,111 --> 01:05:46,980 - All right. He's supposed to dip the pretzel. 1741 01:05:47,080 --> 01:05:48,682 - This is gonna be a violent kickback. 1742 01:05:48,715 --> 01:05:50,917 - Oh, goodness! - There it was. 1743 01:05:50,950 --> 01:05:53,119 - Whiplash and flipping everywhere! 1744 01:05:53,153 --> 01:05:55,321 Did a cartwheel into the pool! 1745 01:05:55,355 --> 01:05:56,656 - But he's happy. 1746 01:05:56,690 --> 01:06:00,026 That run's gonna get him into the semifinals. 1747 01:06:00,026 --> 01:06:01,628 - Well, just like his drone, 1748 01:06:01,661 --> 01:06:04,130 Nguyen flew through the first four obstacles. 1749 01:06:04,164 --> 01:06:06,633 While the drone flew through Pretzel Twist, 1750 01:06:06,666 --> 01:06:10,270 Nguyen crashed and went out with some flair. 1751 01:06:10,303 --> 01:06:13,406 [cheers and applause] 1752 01:06:13,440 --> 01:06:15,175 - I got to get one of those. 1753 01:06:15,208 --> 01:06:17,177 - I for sure would crash that. 1754 01:06:17,210 --> 01:06:18,812 - Well, that drone should keep flying, 1755 01:06:18,845 --> 01:06:21,915 because our next athlete is definitely gonna soar. 1756 01:06:21,948 --> 01:06:24,050 [cheers and applause] 1757 01:06:24,050 --> 01:06:26,753 This is the Swan, Ethan Swanson. 1758 01:06:26,786 --> 01:06:29,556 The eight-time veteran always brings the energy. 1759 01:06:29,589 --> 01:06:31,057 He gets his fans fired up 1760 01:06:31,057 --> 01:06:33,693 by getting the swan wings flapping. 1761 01:06:33,727 --> 01:06:36,463 He's got his family members watching from back in Illinois 1762 01:06:36,496 --> 01:06:39,933 along with Flex Lebreck and his Chicago area ninjas. 1763 01:06:39,966 --> 01:06:42,535 But Ethan's actually moved from Chicago, 1764 01:06:42,569 --> 01:06:44,804 now living in Colorado with Jake Murray. 1765 01:06:44,838 --> 01:06:47,507 - Boy, that's gotta be a fun house with those two. 1766 01:06:47,540 --> 01:06:49,342 - And Jake's gonna be down on the sideline, 1767 01:06:49,376 --> 01:06:51,611 leading the cheers. - Come on, brother! 1768 01:06:51,644 --> 01:06:53,847 [countdown clock beeping] 1769 01:06:53,880 --> 01:06:55,515 [cheers and applause] 1770 01:06:55,548 --> 01:06:58,485 - You know Ethan's gonna fly through this course. 1771 01:07:00,220 --> 01:07:02,155 - And he will take his chances on the course. 1772 01:07:02,188 --> 01:07:03,790 He is a daredevil. 1773 01:07:03,823 --> 01:07:05,825 Also likes to do backflips. 1774 01:07:05,859 --> 01:07:09,129 He's done one for 967 straight days. 1775 01:07:09,162 --> 01:07:12,032 Says he'll do one tonight if he hits the buzzer. 1776 01:07:12,032 --> 01:07:14,567 [cheers and applause] 1777 01:07:14,601 --> 01:07:16,503 Which way will he go at Split Decision? 1778 01:07:16,536 --> 01:07:18,204 - And he's going Block Run. 1779 01:07:18,238 --> 01:07:20,540 - You've done it before, dude. You've done it before. 1780 01:07:20,573 --> 01:07:23,510 - Leave it to the daredevil to take a risk. 1781 01:07:23,543 --> 01:07:25,912 Swanson the first to try Block Run. 1782 01:07:25,945 --> 01:07:28,114 - Whoo-hoo-hoo! He made that look easy. 1783 01:07:28,148 --> 01:07:30,583 I bet all the ninjas that fell on Log Runner are thinking, 1784 01:07:30,617 --> 01:07:34,421 "Why didn't I just do that?" 1785 01:07:34,454 --> 01:07:35,789 - And his roommate Jake Murray 1786 01:07:35,822 --> 01:07:37,390 cheering him on on the sidelines. 1787 01:07:37,424 --> 01:07:39,726 These two have put in a lot of training together lately. 1788 01:07:39,759 --> 01:07:41,628 - Nice. - Looking sharp. 1789 01:07:41,661 --> 01:07:43,129 - Yeah, it's hard to rush through this one, 1790 01:07:43,163 --> 01:07:44,731 because if you rush through-- 1791 01:07:44,764 --> 01:07:46,266 if you rush through on this one, 1792 01:07:46,299 --> 01:07:47,934 that could put in in trouble. 1793 01:07:47,967 --> 01:07:49,636 - 100%, Akbar, and I like it. 1794 01:07:49,669 --> 01:07:51,104 Go fast when you can. 1795 01:07:51,137 --> 01:07:53,139 Be methodical when you have to. 1796 01:07:53,173 --> 01:07:55,075 Stay alive. 1797 01:07:55,075 --> 01:07:58,111 And now, Ethan Swanson staring down Pretzel Twist. 1798 01:07:58,144 --> 01:08:00,447 And he's got a shot at the fastest time 1799 01:08:00,480 --> 01:08:01,881 held by Sean Bryan. 1800 01:08:01,915 --> 01:08:03,917 - His buddy Jake may have something to say 1801 01:08:04,017 --> 01:08:05,485 about the fastest time. 1802 01:08:05,518 --> 01:08:08,188 - Well, it's easy to get hung up and eat a lot of time 1803 01:08:08,221 --> 01:08:10,323 here on Pretzel Twist. Now, the challenge is, 1804 01:08:10,357 --> 01:08:12,192 Akbar, this is the first time you get your hands on it. 1805 01:08:12,225 --> 01:08:14,794 You watched some ninjas do it. You've talked to them. 1806 01:08:14,828 --> 01:08:17,030 But seeing how your hands feel comfortable 1807 01:08:17,063 --> 01:08:19,532 and understanding how much power you need to generate 1808 01:08:19,566 --> 01:08:21,301 to get that pendulum locked in-- 1809 01:08:21,334 --> 01:08:23,103 - Yeah, and Matt, you can see him right now... 1810 01:08:23,136 --> 01:08:24,938 - Wow! - Going--reversing here. 1811 01:08:25,038 --> 01:08:26,339 Now, it's very important to make sure 1812 01:08:26,373 --> 01:08:29,175 you secure the grab before you take it off the hook, 1813 01:08:29,209 --> 01:08:30,877 because that backswing-- - Perfect. 1814 01:08:30,910 --> 01:08:32,178 - And you see the way he controlled it 1815 01:08:32,212 --> 01:08:33,680 so it wasn't a heavy backswing? 1816 01:08:33,713 --> 01:08:35,715 - Just enough to lock it in. - Nice. 1817 01:08:35,749 --> 01:08:38,318 - Ethan Swanson, textbook form here. 1818 01:08:38,351 --> 01:08:40,687 - He's got a chance to get the fastest time. 1819 01:08:40,720 --> 01:08:42,322 And right on the dismount. 1820 01:08:42,355 --> 01:08:44,624 - Will he go for the Mega Wall? 1821 01:08:44,657 --> 01:08:47,060 - Yeah! Let's go! 1822 01:08:47,060 --> 01:08:49,195 - He's going for it. He's going for the fast time. 1823 01:08:49,229 --> 01:08:50,897 - Wow, not even looking at the Mega Wall. 1824 01:08:50,930 --> 01:08:52,699 - He's not going for the money. He wants that speed. 1825 01:08:52,732 --> 01:08:54,601 - Ethan Swanson, get that buzzer. 1826 01:08:54,634 --> 01:08:56,703 - Hey. Hey. 1827 01:08:56,736 --> 01:08:58,304 [cheers and applause] 1828 01:08:58,338 --> 01:09:01,608 [upbeat music] 1829 01:09:01,641 --> 01:09:03,443 * * 1830 01:09:03,476 --> 01:09:04,911 - [screams] 1831 01:09:05,011 --> 01:09:07,847 [cheers and applause] 1832 01:09:07,881 --> 01:09:10,650 - Ends up a couple seconds behind Sean Bryan, 1833 01:09:10,684 --> 01:09:12,452 but still, what a run. 1834 01:09:12,485 --> 01:09:14,888 Hey, Ethan, I think there's the business 1835 01:09:14,921 --> 01:09:17,457 of making it 968 days in a row. 1836 01:09:17,490 --> 01:09:20,226 - Uh-oh. Watch yourself. Make sure you got clearance. 1837 01:09:20,260 --> 01:09:21,861 Here we go. 1838 01:09:21,895 --> 01:09:23,897 - Oh! - That's a good landing. 1839 01:09:23,930 --> 01:09:26,266 - Ethan Swanson! The Swan is back. 1840 01:09:26,299 --> 01:09:27,767 - I'll take it. 1841 01:09:27,801 --> 01:09:30,203 - No one had tried Block Run all night, 1842 01:09:30,236 --> 01:09:32,706 but Ethan Swanson did it with ease. 1843 01:09:32,739 --> 01:09:34,941 Ends up with the second-fastest time 1844 01:09:35,041 --> 01:09:36,376 of the night so far 1845 01:09:36,409 --> 01:09:38,678 and got those swan wings flapping. 1846 01:09:38,712 --> 01:09:42,248 * * 1847 01:09:42,282 --> 01:09:44,651 - And the big names keep on coming. 1848 01:09:44,684 --> 01:09:48,788 Our reigning woman's champion Meagan Martin is up next 1849 01:09:48,822 --> 01:09:51,791 on "American Ninja Warrior." 1850 01:09:56,162 --> 01:09:58,298 - Minutes ago, 19-year-old Matt Bradley 1851 01:09:58,331 --> 01:09:59,733 had a birthday shout-out 1852 01:09:59,766 --> 01:10:01,801 for his mom back home in Philadelphia. 1853 01:10:01,835 --> 01:10:03,570 - Happy birthday, Mom. 1854 01:10:03,603 --> 01:10:05,171 - The high school senior is heading 1855 01:10:05,205 --> 01:10:06,840 to Penn State in the fall. 1856 01:10:06,873 --> 01:10:09,642 And he went to school on this qualifying course. 1857 01:10:09,676 --> 01:10:11,077 - You get the feeling, in his rookie year, 1858 01:10:11,111 --> 01:10:12,278 he wants to hit that buzzer. 1859 01:10:12,312 --> 01:10:14,047 [cheers and applause] 1860 01:10:14,080 --> 01:10:15,882 - And he did just that, 1861 01:10:15,915 --> 01:10:18,785 becoming our ninth finisher of the night. 1862 01:10:18,818 --> 01:10:21,254 [upbeat music] 1863 01:10:21,287 --> 01:10:22,589 - Hey, Matt, 1864 01:10:22,622 --> 01:10:24,524 that's a nice birthday present for Mom, isn't it? 1865 01:10:24,557 --> 01:10:26,059 - I wouldn't be where I am today without her. 1866 01:10:26,092 --> 01:10:28,161 - Aww, that's amazing. 1867 01:10:28,194 --> 01:10:29,629 - With all the success, 1868 01:10:29,662 --> 01:10:31,664 four-time ninja veteran Austin Gray 1869 01:10:31,698 --> 01:10:33,733 seemed like a shoo-in for a buzzer. 1870 01:10:33,767 --> 01:10:35,802 - Austin Gray ain't playing around. 1871 01:10:35,835 --> 01:10:37,704 - The 24-year-old from Colorado 1872 01:10:37,737 --> 01:10:39,873 was last year's overall runner-up. 1873 01:10:39,906 --> 01:10:41,675 And he was cruising again tonight... 1874 01:10:41,708 --> 01:10:43,209 - I've got a sneaking suspicion 1875 01:10:43,243 --> 01:10:45,278 that he is trying to get the fastest time. 1876 01:10:45,311 --> 01:10:47,447 - Until one mistake on Pretzel Twist. 1877 01:10:47,480 --> 01:10:50,050 - Oh! all: Oh. 1878 01:10:50,083 --> 01:10:52,385 - It was still good enough to make the top 30, 1879 01:10:52,419 --> 01:10:54,220 but it was a surprise. 1880 01:10:54,254 --> 01:10:55,889 - Sha-na-na. 1881 01:10:55,922 --> 01:10:58,124 - Massachusetts schoolteacher Allyssa Beird 1882 01:10:58,158 --> 01:11:01,161 was also looking to ace the qualifying course. 1883 01:11:01,194 --> 01:11:02,595 - Nice! Ooh. 1884 01:11:02,629 --> 01:11:05,131 Wasn't that a beautiful dismount? 1885 01:11:05,165 --> 01:11:07,334 - Nice. Nice. 1886 01:11:07,367 --> 01:11:09,969 - The six-time veteran has advanced beyond qualifying 1887 01:11:10,070 --> 01:11:12,839 every season she's competed. And she followed 1888 01:11:12,872 --> 01:11:15,375 Ethan Swanson's path at Split Decision. 1889 01:11:15,408 --> 01:11:16,910 - Allyssa Beird going Block Run. 1890 01:11:16,943 --> 01:11:18,712 I like this choice. 1891 01:11:18,745 --> 01:11:21,147 Only the second person all night to try it. 1892 01:11:21,181 --> 01:11:23,450 I love the veterans being fearless. 1893 01:11:23,483 --> 01:11:25,085 - Yeah! 1894 01:11:25,085 --> 01:11:27,253 - But the teacher couldn't solve Pretzel Twist. 1895 01:11:27,287 --> 01:11:29,923 - No! - Oh! 1896 01:11:29,956 --> 01:11:32,726 - Allyssa Beird has to be salty about Pretzel Twist. 1897 01:11:32,759 --> 01:11:35,495 - And her slower pace put her on the bubble 1898 01:11:35,528 --> 01:11:38,465 in fifth place among the women. 1899 01:11:38,498 --> 01:11:40,934 And the final woman of the night is up next. 1900 01:11:40,967 --> 01:11:42,902 Zuri, get her started. 1901 01:11:42,936 --> 01:11:44,404 - Make way for the champ. 1902 01:11:44,437 --> 01:11:48,241 Our next athlete won the first ever women's championship. 1903 01:11:48,274 --> 01:11:50,276 It's Meagan Martin. 1904 01:11:50,310 --> 01:11:52,645 And whoa, a little stumble. 1905 01:11:52,679 --> 01:11:53,880 But you can't stop this girl. 1906 01:11:53,913 --> 01:11:56,116 Not only is she a ninja, a model, 1907 01:11:56,116 --> 01:11:58,318 and a rock climber, in a few weeks, 1908 01:11:58,351 --> 01:12:02,288 she'll be a part of NBC's Olympic broadcast team. 1909 01:12:03,823 --> 01:12:05,592 - To be the best, you gotta beat the best. 1910 01:12:05,625 --> 01:12:07,627 And these are two of the best. 1911 01:12:07,660 --> 01:12:09,229 - This year has been absolutely huge for me. 1912 01:12:09,262 --> 01:12:10,497 - Another power move by Meagan! 1913 01:12:10,530 --> 01:12:11,798 - Meagan jumps ahead! 1914 01:12:11,831 --> 01:12:13,733 - Oh, my goodness! - Meagan pulls ahead 1915 01:12:13,767 --> 01:12:16,503 and does it at the buzzer! 1916 01:12:16,536 --> 01:12:17,871 - Come from behind! 1917 01:12:17,904 --> 01:12:19,305 - I won the women's championship, 1918 01:12:19,339 --> 01:12:21,107 which was amazing. 1919 01:12:21,141 --> 01:12:23,877 - Meagan Martin takes the title! 1920 01:12:23,910 --> 01:12:26,713 - And I've been extremely busy as a broadcast commentator 1921 01:12:26,746 --> 01:12:28,581 for multiple USA climbing events. 1922 01:12:28,615 --> 01:12:31,084 - Alongside former U.S. national team member 1923 01:12:31,084 --> 01:12:32,519 Meagan Martin. 1924 01:12:32,552 --> 01:12:35,088 - And if that wasn't enough, I was fortunate enough 1925 01:12:35,121 --> 01:12:36,589 to be hired by NBC 1926 01:12:36,623 --> 01:12:40,093 to be the climbing analyst for the Tokyo Olympics. 1927 01:12:40,093 --> 01:12:41,494 [cheers and applause] 1928 01:12:41,528 --> 01:12:43,797 I've never wanted a job more, 1929 01:12:43,830 --> 01:12:46,299 other than the "Ninja Warrior" sideline job. 1930 01:12:46,332 --> 01:12:48,601 But--just kidding. Let me start over. 1931 01:12:48,635 --> 01:12:51,237 [laughing] Sorry. 1932 01:12:51,271 --> 01:12:52,672 - I hope Zuri didn't hear that. 1933 01:12:52,706 --> 01:12:54,140 But you know what? We love them both. 1934 01:12:54,174 --> 01:12:55,842 - Everybody loves Meagan, 1935 01:12:55,875 --> 01:12:57,310 including, of course, her parents, 1936 01:12:57,344 --> 01:12:59,546 watching from Michigan. - Let's go! 1937 01:12:59,579 --> 01:13:02,215 - And on the sideline, training partner Adam Rayl 1938 01:13:02,248 --> 01:13:04,451 and fellow Vanderbilt alum Andrew East. 1939 01:13:04,484 --> 01:13:07,387 [countdown clock beeping] 1940 01:13:07,420 --> 01:13:08,922 Well, she is busy. 1941 01:13:08,955 --> 01:13:11,725 Just flew in from doing TV work at a climbing event. 1942 01:13:11,758 --> 01:13:13,960 And she's worried she may be a little off. 1943 01:13:14,060 --> 01:13:16,696 - Come on, now. Come on. Come on. 1944 01:13:16,730 --> 01:13:18,598 - Still models for Athleta Sportwear 1945 01:13:18,631 --> 01:13:21,067 in addition to all her other work. 1946 01:13:21,067 --> 01:13:22,535 But right now, 1947 01:13:22,569 --> 01:13:24,671 having to work to get through Double Down. 1948 01:13:24,704 --> 01:13:26,072 - And Matt, if you think about it, too, 1949 01:13:26,106 --> 01:13:27,607 the way this course is playing tonight, 1950 01:13:27,640 --> 01:13:30,410 it falls right within her strengths. 1951 01:13:30,443 --> 01:13:32,946 - Well, we haven't had a woman hit the buzzer this year. 1952 01:13:32,979 --> 01:13:35,215 Meagan would love to be the first. 1953 01:13:35,248 --> 01:13:36,750 - Nice. 1954 01:13:36,783 --> 01:13:38,385 - Of course, Meagan, the third woman ever in history 1955 01:13:38,418 --> 01:13:41,121 to hit a buzzer. That was seven years ago. 1956 01:13:44,124 --> 01:13:46,860 - She is one of the icons of this sport. 1957 01:13:48,928 --> 01:13:51,297 - Yes. - Yes! 1958 01:13:51,331 --> 01:13:53,099 - There it is. There's the smile. 1959 01:13:53,099 --> 01:13:55,602 [cheers and applause] 1960 01:13:55,635 --> 01:13:58,371 And like so many before her, she's ignoring Block Run. 1961 01:13:58,405 --> 01:13:59,706 - A lot of these athletes 1962 01:13:59,739 --> 01:14:01,941 are just walking straight over to Log Runner. 1963 01:14:02,042 --> 01:14:03,476 - Here we go, Meagan. - Confidence, Meagan. 1964 01:14:03,510 --> 01:14:05,779 - Come on. You got it. You got it. You got it. Yeah! 1965 01:14:05,812 --> 01:14:07,147 - Ah, there we go. A little stumble. 1966 01:14:07,180 --> 01:14:08,682 She's pumped. - She got it. 1967 01:14:08,715 --> 01:14:10,216 [cheers and applause] 1968 01:14:10,250 --> 01:14:13,153 - Just methodically destroying this course. 1969 01:14:13,186 --> 01:14:14,487 Just so relaxed. 1970 01:14:14,521 --> 01:14:17,057 But Akbar, we have seen a lot of mistakes 1971 01:14:17,057 --> 01:14:19,059 here on Air Surfer. 1972 01:14:19,059 --> 01:14:22,429 - There you go. Come on, now. 1973 01:14:22,462 --> 01:14:25,098 - Look at the upper body. Look at her biceps. 1974 01:14:25,131 --> 01:14:28,068 Look at the triceps, back muscles, 1975 01:14:28,068 --> 01:14:30,370 brachioradialis. 1976 01:14:30,403 --> 01:14:31,838 Here we go. Right on the edge, and then 1977 01:14:31,871 --> 01:14:33,807 she's got to come in hot, come in tight, though. 1978 01:14:33,840 --> 01:14:37,110 You want to come in compact to be able to absorb--oh! 1979 01:14:37,143 --> 01:14:38,111 Oh, man. - Wow. 1980 01:14:38,144 --> 01:14:39,546 - That almost got scary. 1981 01:14:39,579 --> 01:14:40,780 - Barely got that right side on, Akbar. 1982 01:14:40,814 --> 01:14:42,282 - Yes, she did. Wow. 1983 01:14:42,315 --> 01:14:44,718 Great recovery by Meagan Martin, the queen. 1984 01:14:44,751 --> 01:14:46,219 She's got the crown for a reason. 1985 01:14:46,252 --> 01:14:48,988 - Go, Meg! - Come on, Meagan! 1986 01:14:49,089 --> 01:14:51,925 [cheers and applause] 1987 01:14:51,958 --> 01:14:54,694 - Long move here. Gotta test that grip. 1988 01:14:54,728 --> 01:14:56,796 - All right, come on, Your Highness. 1989 01:14:56,830 --> 01:14:58,998 - Ooh! - Ooh, barely got it on. 1990 01:14:59,099 --> 01:15:00,567 - Majestic, Your Majesty. 1991 01:15:00,600 --> 01:15:01,901 - Wow. That had a lot of height, 1992 01:15:01,935 --> 01:15:03,636 but barely had the distance, Akbar. 1993 01:15:03,670 --> 01:15:05,238 She's been flirting with disaster. 1994 01:15:05,271 --> 01:15:07,073 She may be going for the dismount. 1995 01:15:07,107 --> 01:15:09,542 There it is. [cheers and applause] 1996 01:15:09,576 --> 01:15:11,678 So she's made it to the fifth obstacle, 1997 01:15:11,711 --> 01:15:13,847 but she used up a lot of time. 1998 01:15:13,880 --> 01:15:15,281 The top five women move on, 1999 01:15:15,315 --> 01:15:18,284 and her time is behind that of Allyssa Beird, 2000 01:15:18,318 --> 01:15:20,653 who's currently in fifth, so to move on, 2001 01:15:20,687 --> 01:15:22,555 Meagan must get through Pretzel Twist 2002 01:15:22,589 --> 01:15:24,090 or her season is over. 2003 01:15:24,124 --> 01:15:26,292 - We haven't seen a woman get past Pretzel Twist. 2004 01:15:26,326 --> 01:15:28,862 Tonight, it's gonna be Meagan Martin. 2005 01:15:28,895 --> 01:15:30,096 There we go. 2006 01:15:30,130 --> 01:15:31,464 - Well, Meagan hit four buzzers 2007 01:15:31,498 --> 01:15:33,166 to win the women's championship, 2008 01:15:33,199 --> 01:15:35,502 but she hasn't hit a buzzer in the regular season 2009 01:15:35,535 --> 01:15:36,903 in five years. 2010 01:15:36,936 --> 01:15:38,471 Good job locking it in. - Yeah. 2011 01:15:38,505 --> 01:15:39,706 - And great job controlling it. 2012 01:15:39,739 --> 01:15:41,374 - Well, this is where her rock climbing skills 2013 01:15:41,408 --> 01:15:42,409 come into play. 2014 01:15:42,442 --> 01:15:43,743 She survives in this area. 2015 01:15:43,777 --> 01:15:45,478 - Absolutely. - She lives in this area. 2016 01:15:45,512 --> 01:15:48,615 - Meagan Martin, what a performance. 2017 01:15:48,648 --> 01:15:51,651 She just keeps getting better, Akbar. 2018 01:15:54,354 --> 01:15:57,791 Got to get it locked in. There it is. 2019 01:15:57,824 --> 01:15:59,292 One more move. 2020 01:15:59,325 --> 01:16:02,162 - And Matt, you see her eyeballing the other pretzel. 2021 01:16:02,195 --> 01:16:04,230 - It's gonna be a long reach, though. 5'4". 2022 01:16:04,264 --> 01:16:06,399 - She's got that vice grip. Look at her. She ain't playing. 2023 01:16:06,433 --> 01:16:09,803 - Oh! [cheers and applause] 2024 01:16:09,836 --> 01:16:13,940 - She might be the first to do this in all of season 13. 2025 01:16:14,040 --> 01:16:15,508 Just needs the dismount! 2026 01:16:15,542 --> 01:16:17,377 - I told you, dog. - Fly, Meagan! 2027 01:16:17,410 --> 01:16:18,378 - I told you she was gonna do it! 2028 01:16:18,411 --> 01:16:19,612 Get out of there! 2029 01:16:19,646 --> 01:16:20,613 - Fly, Meagan! 2030 01:16:20,647 --> 01:16:22,048 - Get out of there! 2031 01:16:22,048 --> 01:16:24,184 - Yes! - Nice! Nice! 2032 01:16:24,217 --> 01:16:28,388 And she stuck the landing. - The queen delivers. 2033 01:16:28,421 --> 01:16:31,691 The first woman to get past the fifth obstacle this season. 2034 01:16:31,725 --> 01:16:34,260 - She ain't playing around. - Yes! 2035 01:16:34,294 --> 01:16:35,829 - Yes, Meagan. Good job. 2036 01:16:35,862 --> 01:16:39,165 - Well, with that, she has just pushed Alyssa Beird 2037 01:16:39,199 --> 01:16:42,068 off the leaderboard. The women here are so dynamic. 2038 01:16:42,068 --> 01:16:43,837 all: Beat that wall! Beat that wall! 2039 01:16:43,870 --> 01:16:46,606 - It was season six when Meagan was just the third woman ever 2040 01:16:46,639 --> 01:16:48,074 to get up the Warped Wall. 2041 01:16:48,074 --> 01:16:51,144 Now, 14 1/2 feet away from being the first woman 2042 01:16:51,177 --> 01:16:53,513 to get a buzzer all season long. 2043 01:16:53,546 --> 01:16:56,516 all: Beat that wall! Beat that wall! 2044 01:16:56,549 --> 01:16:57,851 Beat that wall! Beat that wall! 2045 01:16:57,884 --> 01:17:01,221 - Here we go. Look at that. Nice form too. Yes! 2046 01:17:01,254 --> 01:17:03,690 - Yes! - Meagan Martin has done it! 2047 01:17:03,723 --> 01:17:06,693 [upbeat music] 2048 01:17:06,726 --> 01:17:10,196 * * 2049 01:17:10,230 --> 01:17:12,332 - The first buzzer of the season 2050 01:17:12,365 --> 01:17:14,167 for a woman in season 13! 2051 01:17:14,200 --> 01:17:17,070 - Let's go! Let's go! 2052 01:17:17,103 --> 01:17:19,906 - How does that feel? 2053 01:17:19,939 --> 01:17:22,208 - So good. I'm so happy. 2054 01:17:22,242 --> 01:17:25,311 - Meagan, what's making you cry? 2055 01:17:25,345 --> 01:17:26,780 - Yeah. 2056 01:17:26,813 --> 01:17:28,048 - I've just been really busy, 2057 01:17:28,081 --> 01:17:30,250 so I had to come from work to here, 2058 01:17:30,283 --> 01:17:32,686 and I didn't know if I could do it. 2059 01:17:32,719 --> 01:17:36,723 - You did it. You go, girl. You go. Well done. 2060 01:17:36,756 --> 01:17:39,526 The Queen of Ninja, Meagan Martin. 2061 01:17:39,559 --> 01:17:42,295 Hit that buzzer one more time, Queen. 2062 01:17:42,328 --> 01:17:44,330 [cheers and applause] 2063 01:17:44,364 --> 01:17:46,066 - Yes! 2064 01:17:46,066 --> 01:17:48,134 * * 2065 01:17:48,168 --> 01:17:50,170 - No woman had made it past Pretzel Twist, 2066 01:17:50,203 --> 01:17:53,807 but Meagan Martin had to do it to keep her season alive, 2067 01:17:53,840 --> 01:17:55,575 and she did it. 2068 01:17:55,608 --> 01:17:57,577 Then sprinted to the buzzer, 2069 01:17:57,610 --> 01:17:59,579 our first woman finisher all season. 2070 01:17:59,612 --> 01:18:01,648 [buzzer blares] 2071 01:18:04,718 --> 01:18:08,288 Well, who could top that run? Jake Murray's gonna try. 2072 01:18:08,321 --> 01:18:12,158 We'll see him next on "American Ninja Warrior." 2073 01:18:17,297 --> 01:18:20,166 - Well, what a night it's been for the ladies here. 2074 01:18:20,200 --> 01:18:23,103 Moments ago, Meagan Martin became the first woman 2075 01:18:23,136 --> 01:18:24,671 to hit a buzzer this season. 2076 01:18:24,704 --> 01:18:26,039 [buzzer blares] 2077 01:18:26,039 --> 01:18:28,341 And for the second time in three weeks 2078 01:18:28,375 --> 01:18:30,744 and only the second time in history, 2079 01:18:30,777 --> 01:18:34,681 we're now guaranteed to have five women in the top 30. 2080 01:18:34,714 --> 01:18:36,950 Besides Meagan, we've had impressive runs 2081 01:18:37,050 --> 01:18:39,919 by the Massachusetts teenager Addy Herman. 2082 01:18:39,953 --> 01:18:41,654 New Jersey's Abby Clark 2083 01:18:41,688 --> 01:18:43,957 also reached the fifth obstacle, 2084 01:18:44,057 --> 01:18:46,926 as did three-time veteran Casey Rothschild 2085 01:18:46,960 --> 01:18:49,796 and energetic ninja rookie Rachel Degutz. 2086 01:18:49,829 --> 01:18:53,133 - Okay, boss lady! 2087 01:18:53,166 --> 01:18:54,367 - Well, it's been a frenzied 2088 01:18:54,401 --> 01:18:56,503 last few minutes out on the course. 2089 01:18:56,536 --> 01:18:58,271 - Whoo! 2090 01:18:58,304 --> 01:19:00,040 - First up was the man, 2091 01:19:00,073 --> 01:19:02,409 the myth, the legend, Chad Flexington. 2092 01:19:02,442 --> 01:19:05,278 - Whoo! 2093 01:19:05,311 --> 01:19:07,847 - Flexington's the alter ego of Idaho father of three 2094 01:19:07,881 --> 01:19:10,316 and contractor Ben Udy. 2095 01:19:10,350 --> 01:19:12,018 But when he steps on the course, 2096 01:19:12,052 --> 01:19:14,254 he's all Chad, all American. 2097 01:19:14,287 --> 01:19:17,023 - Whoo! - Whoo! 2098 01:19:17,023 --> 01:19:19,626 - Flexington was so confident he'd conquer the Mega Wall, 2099 01:19:19,659 --> 01:19:21,394 he provided his own check. 2100 01:19:21,428 --> 01:19:23,563 - He wrote himself a check? 2101 01:19:23,596 --> 01:19:26,099 - And he looked like he might get to cash it in. 2102 01:19:26,132 --> 01:19:28,034 He made it to the fifth obstacle... 2103 01:19:28,068 --> 01:19:29,336 - No! 2104 01:19:29,369 --> 01:19:31,805 - Before Pretzel Twist ended his night. 2105 01:19:31,838 --> 01:19:34,474 Still, he's moving on to the semifinals. 2106 01:19:34,507 --> 01:19:37,844 - [screams] There it is. 2107 01:19:37,877 --> 01:19:39,512 - Rhode Island's Luke Dillon 2108 01:19:39,546 --> 01:19:41,514 looked impressive in his ninja debut. 2109 01:19:41,548 --> 01:19:43,683 - Dillon putting on a clinic so far. 2110 01:19:43,717 --> 01:19:45,385 - The 19-year-old college student 2111 01:19:45,418 --> 01:19:46,886 used his gymnastics background 2112 01:19:46,920 --> 01:19:49,322 to power through the first five obstacles. 2113 01:19:49,356 --> 01:19:51,891 - Ah-da-da-da-da-da-da. Okay. 2114 01:19:51,925 --> 01:19:54,427 - And he became our 11th finisher of the night. 2115 01:19:54,461 --> 01:19:56,796 - Luke, man, great job. 2116 01:19:56,830 --> 01:19:59,466 - Another 19-year-old rookie, Jonah Muñoz... 2117 01:19:59,499 --> 01:20:00,867 - Whoo! all: Whoo! 2118 01:20:00,900 --> 01:20:03,069 - Likes to get everyone yelling "Whoo!" 2119 01:20:03,103 --> 01:20:05,572 after each obstacle. - [laughing] Whoo! 2120 01:20:05,605 --> 01:20:08,108 - And his run provided plenty to "Whoo!" about. 2121 01:20:08,141 --> 01:20:09,876 - Whoo! - With his roommates, 2122 01:20:09,909 --> 01:20:12,345 fellow ninjas Nate Hansen and Austin Gray 2123 01:20:12,379 --> 01:20:13,747 leading the "Whoos"... - Whoo! 2124 01:20:13,780 --> 01:20:15,348 - Whoo! - Muñoz marched all the way 2125 01:20:15,382 --> 01:20:18,985 to the buzzer and became our 12th finisher. 2126 01:20:19,019 --> 01:20:22,655 - That was a big one right there. 2127 01:20:22,689 --> 01:20:25,492 - So now it's our final runner of the night, 2128 01:20:25,525 --> 01:20:27,794 Colorado's Jake Murray. 2129 01:20:27,827 --> 01:20:30,563 And you know it's gonna be entertaining. 2130 01:20:30,597 --> 01:20:32,132 - Uh-oh. 2131 01:20:32,165 --> 01:20:33,900 - The Wildman being extra careful on that little step. 2132 01:20:33,933 --> 01:20:35,101 - [laughs] 2133 01:20:35,135 --> 01:20:36,936 - Never a dull moment with Jake. 2134 01:20:36,970 --> 01:20:39,139 The seven-time veteran almost always 2135 01:20:39,172 --> 01:20:41,107 puts up the fastest time of the night, 2136 01:20:41,141 --> 01:20:44,878 and we expect another go-for-broke run tonight. 2137 01:20:44,911 --> 01:20:47,614 Jake has a ton of support, including his mom, dad, 2138 01:20:47,647 --> 01:20:49,916 and nephew from their home in South Dakota, 2139 01:20:49,949 --> 01:20:52,819 along with good friend and roommate Ethan Swanson. 2140 01:20:52,852 --> 01:20:55,021 - Yeah, Jake! 2141 01:20:55,055 --> 01:20:58,391 [countdown clock beeping] 2142 01:20:58,425 --> 01:21:01,928 - Last year was stellar, the fastest in qualifying, 2143 01:21:01,961 --> 01:21:04,698 the fastest in semifinals, the fastest in finals. 2144 01:21:04,731 --> 01:21:06,466 - Okay, Matt, I get it. He's fast. 2145 01:21:06,499 --> 01:21:07,734 - [laughs] 2146 01:21:07,767 --> 01:21:10,804 [cheers and applause] 2147 01:21:12,339 --> 01:21:14,708 - Whoa! He did that in one move. 2148 01:21:14,741 --> 01:21:16,943 - Jake does go fast, but what we've really seen 2149 01:21:16,976 --> 01:21:18,645 in the past years, he's matured. 2150 01:21:18,678 --> 01:21:20,480 He does fast, but in control. 2151 01:21:20,513 --> 01:21:21,748 And that's been the difference. 2152 01:21:21,781 --> 01:21:23,316 - Nicely done! Nicely done! 2153 01:21:23,350 --> 01:21:26,186 - This dude might win the whole thing this year, Matt. 2154 01:21:26,219 --> 01:21:27,620 - Nicely done, nicely done! 2155 01:21:27,654 --> 01:21:29,589 - He's not taking any breaks between obstacles. 2156 01:21:29,622 --> 01:21:31,224 Sean Bryan has the fastest time, 2157 01:21:31,257 --> 01:21:33,526 but it looks like Jake Murray's gonna try to beat it. 2158 01:21:33,560 --> 01:21:36,096 - He's probably thought of every move on this course. 2159 01:21:36,129 --> 01:21:37,697 He's not being reckless. 2160 01:21:37,731 --> 01:21:39,766 - But everybody is susceptible to mistakes. 2161 01:21:39,799 --> 01:21:43,536 It was two years ago in the city finals here in Tacoma 2162 01:21:43,570 --> 01:21:45,772 he missed on that fifth obstacle, the Lighting Bolt. 2163 01:21:45,805 --> 01:21:47,107 Just got careless. 2164 01:21:47,107 --> 01:21:48,141 - And Matt, you see he choked it down 2165 01:21:48,174 --> 01:21:49,509 just a little bit here, 2166 01:21:49,542 --> 01:21:50,910 because you don't want to be careless here. 2167 01:21:50,944 --> 01:21:52,512 And you see that? 2168 01:21:52,545 --> 01:21:54,014 You see how he had a little bit of hangtime right there? 2169 01:21:54,114 --> 01:21:55,682 - Absolutely. 2170 01:21:55,715 --> 01:21:57,117 [cheers and applause] - Nice, nice! 2171 01:21:57,117 --> 01:21:58,718 - Right through. - All right, he's at a minute 2172 01:21:58,752 --> 01:22:00,053 and he's staring at the fifth obstacle. 2173 01:22:00,053 --> 01:22:02,455 This is a good position to be in. 2174 01:22:02,489 --> 01:22:06,259 He's got about 50 seconds left if he wants to beat Sean Bryan. 2175 01:22:06,292 --> 01:22:08,661 Jake's gonna have to be efficient on Pretzel Twist. 2176 01:22:08,695 --> 01:22:11,831 Easy to get hung up on this obstacle. 2177 01:22:11,865 --> 01:22:14,968 - Good. Good strength. - Stay smooth. 2178 01:22:15,068 --> 01:22:18,638 - Going for the second pretzel, where it's so hard 2179 01:22:18,672 --> 01:22:21,574 not to just overshoot to get that pendulum locked in, 2180 01:22:21,608 --> 01:22:23,076 and then get peeled back off. 2181 01:22:23,109 --> 01:22:25,412 But Jake using just enough force, 2182 01:22:25,445 --> 01:22:27,380 but an extra swing here. 2183 01:22:27,414 --> 01:22:28,615 - I like it. 2184 01:22:28,648 --> 01:22:29,816 Matt, and what I love about this, too, 2185 01:22:29,849 --> 01:22:31,217 he's super-efficient. 2186 01:22:31,251 --> 01:22:34,387 - Ooh. Wow. That was a gamble, Akbar. 2187 01:22:34,421 --> 01:22:36,089 [cheers and applause] 2188 01:22:36,122 --> 01:22:37,824 Now just needs the dismount. 2189 01:22:37,857 --> 01:22:41,094 - Get off it, Jake. Come on now. Get off it! 2190 01:22:41,094 --> 01:22:44,164 - And he's gonna get the fastest time of the night. 2191 01:22:44,197 --> 01:22:45,899 [cheers and applause] 2192 01:22:45,932 --> 01:22:47,167 [buzzer blares] 2193 01:22:47,200 --> 01:22:49,269 - Whoo-hoo-hoo! 2194 01:22:49,302 --> 01:22:52,105 [upbeat music] 2195 01:22:52,105 --> 01:22:53,640 - Yeah! 2196 01:22:53,673 --> 01:22:56,142 - Beats Sean Bryan and his roommate Ethan Swanson. 2197 01:22:56,176 --> 01:22:57,811 - You did it! 2198 01:22:57,844 --> 01:22:59,179 - And you're so fun to be around. 2199 01:22:59,212 --> 01:23:00,413 You got a good roommate, though. 2200 01:23:00,447 --> 01:23:02,048 How you gonna do that to your roommate? 2201 01:23:02,048 --> 01:23:03,817 How you just gonna beat his time like that? 2202 01:23:03,850 --> 01:23:06,720 - I'll make it up to him. - [chuckles] 2203 01:23:06,753 --> 01:23:10,357 - Oh, look at this. - [laughs] Be careful! 2204 01:23:10,390 --> 01:23:11,725 What is this? - What is this? 2205 01:23:11,758 --> 01:23:13,493 - What is this? - What? 2206 01:23:13,526 --> 01:23:16,062 - He's carrying him. Now he's carrying him. 2207 01:23:16,062 --> 01:23:17,497 These guys are so silly. 2208 01:23:17,530 --> 01:23:19,866 Well, we've talked all night about teammates. 2209 01:23:19,899 --> 01:23:22,702 These two got to be the fastest, funniest duo. 2210 01:23:22,736 --> 01:23:25,472 And a big comeback for the veterans this week, 2211 01:23:25,505 --> 01:23:27,207 dominating the leaderboard. 2212 01:23:27,240 --> 01:23:30,076 The teenagers haven't stolen the show just yet. 2213 01:23:30,076 --> 01:23:32,178 Check out the others going to the semifinals 2214 01:23:32,212 --> 01:23:34,514 during Akbar's Gbajabia-moments. 2215 01:23:34,547 --> 01:23:37,917 - All right, number three, yoga teacher and contortionist 2216 01:23:37,951 --> 01:23:40,320 Aubry Marie showed the flexibility 2217 01:23:40,353 --> 01:23:42,956 that has made her a social media sensation. 2218 01:23:42,989 --> 01:23:44,190 - And that's why she has 2219 01:23:44,224 --> 01:23:46,626 almost 300,000 followers on Instagram. 2220 01:23:46,659 --> 01:23:50,263 - But the extra stretching didn't help at Double Down. 2221 01:23:50,296 --> 01:23:51,998 both: Ooh! 2222 01:23:52,098 --> 01:23:55,702 - Number two, big shout-out to Muscles Mendez. 2223 01:23:55,735 --> 01:23:58,772 His mom made us authentic Salvadoran pupusas. 2224 01:23:58,805 --> 01:24:00,140 - This is really good. 2225 01:24:00,173 --> 01:24:01,808 - And they were awesome. 2226 01:24:01,841 --> 01:24:04,110 - I feel my muscles growing already. 2227 01:24:04,144 --> 01:24:05,412 - And on the course, 2228 01:24:05,445 --> 01:24:07,781 Muscles made it to the fourth obstacle. 2229 01:24:07,814 --> 01:24:09,249 My goodness! 2230 01:24:09,282 --> 01:24:12,519 And number one, music teacher John Huey 2231 01:24:12,552 --> 01:24:14,721 led his entire middle school orchestra 2232 01:24:14,754 --> 01:24:17,457 in a start line sendoff. 2233 01:24:17,490 --> 01:24:18,825 But unfortunately, 2234 01:24:18,858 --> 01:24:22,295 Mr. Huey stopped soon after the music did. 2235 01:24:22,328 --> 01:24:24,330 Oh! 2236 01:24:24,364 --> 01:24:25,532 - That's it for tonight. 2237 01:24:25,565 --> 01:24:29,069 Next week, the final round of qualifying. 2238 01:24:29,069 --> 01:24:31,338 For Akbar Gbajabiamila and Zuri Hall, I'm Matt Iseman. 2239 01:24:31,371 --> 01:24:34,741 We'll see you next week on "American Ninja Warrior."