American Ninja Warrior (2009–…): Season 12, Episode 2 - Qualifier 2 - full transcript
In this second round of Qualifying, the ninjas face up to six challenging obstacles including Ring Chaser and Rib Run, which are new to the course this year, in addition to the dynamic Ferris Wheel and the iconic Warped Wall. Nota...
[Dramatic music]
- Welcome to
downtown St. Louis!
- We're inside
- the dome at america's center,
Our home for this season
of "American ninja warrior."
- Hello, everyone.
- I'm Matt iseman.
- And I'm akbar gbajaiamila.
And I am fired up and ready
for week two of "ninja."
- Well, last week
- we kicked off the season
With new safety guidelines
in place.
No crowds, no family members
on the sideline.
- Yeah, and I really think
- that the ninjas have adapted
- well to this new environment.
We saw some great runs
in this new format
where our top stars
brought along other ninjas
from their community.
- And, akbar, it's another
- stacked lineup of competitors.
- Yeah, Matt.
- We are gonna see
- some of the best,
- Including one of our strongest
- women competitors,
Jesse "flex" labreck.
- [Grunts]
- She reached new heights
- last season.
- Yes!
Labreck!
- This year, our stars
have invited two others
and flex has a formidable
group from the midwest,
including her fiancé,
national finalist
Chris digangi.
- We are ready to flex.
- We've also got the man who
almost won it all last year,
worship leader Daniel Gil.
- He's gonna be climbing
for a million dollars!
- And he's bringing
a rookie and a janitor
and giving them
their chance to shine.
- These are two of
- the strongest Houston ninjas
That I know of.
- Plus, fan favorite,
stuntman jj woods
returns after a year off.
- I'm back, baby!
- And he's recruited
- two of the best
- from the state of Florida.
- I am so excited to see
just how far we can go.
- We'll also see
the eskimo ninja, Nick hanson.
A storm destroyed his course
in Alaska,
but it won't stop him.
And he's got two other ninjas
from his home state.
- Tonight, we're doing it
- for Alaska.
♪ ♪
- And as always, keeping track
- of the action on the sideline,
The third member of our team,
Zuri hall.
- Thanks, guys.
- This is where every ninja
- will start their run
Down six tough obstacles,
and that includes the one
everyone is talking about
from last week, ring chaser.
- Nice, got it!
- Got it!
- Competitors have
to catch that 14-inch ring,
and if they miss...
- Missed the ring.
- Oh, watch out.
- They'll have to finish with
a much smaller
eight-inch ring...
- Got it!
- Oh, okay!
- Get through
- two more obstacles
- And they'll face
- the warped wall.
- Yes!
- Nice!
- And starting tonight,
there's something big
- waiting for
- our two fastest finishers:
The power tower.
The 40-foot monster is back
with a couple of new twists.
Our two fastest finishers
- will race at the end
- of the night.
- The winner gets to bring
- the other two members
Of their group
to the semifinals.
We'll see you back here
at the end of the night.
- So let's get it going.
- This year,
- our top ninjas got to bring
- Two people
- from their community.
Here's our first one,
Cassie dierks,
a rookie from new Mexico.
- Come on, Cassie!
- She was invited
by the k9 ninja, roo yori.
- Roo's a five-time
- "ninja" veteran
- Who's known
- for his work rescuing dogs,
But in the spirit
of this special season,
the k9 ninja's brought along
a couple of cat people.
[Dogs barking]
- Thank you, thank you.
- I know that
- there's this rivalry
- Between cats - and dog people.
[Cat meows]
- But I think
- if we come together,
- We're gonna be unstoppable.
- [Cats meowing]
- We are all animal people
and it's definitely a fun
and light-hearted atmosphere.
We've tried to do some fun
- cat- and dog-themed training,
- like...
- Maybe we'll have someone
- hold a laser pointer
- And put it at the top
- of the warped wall.
- Good boy, Jackson.
- Climb some trees,
- maybe play a little tug-of-war
- to get the grip strength up.
[Cats meowing]
- My business
is catopia cat cafe,
located in Albuquerque,
new Mexico.
Cat cafes are
a great place to relax,
- take a load off,
- just chill out with some cats.
- There's generally, like,
15-20 rescue cats
that stay there.
[Meows]
- In the year and a half
- that we've been in business,
We've found homes for 180 cats.
- I think cats are the perfect
- inspiration for being a ninja
Because they're super agile,
they have great balance,
and they're just
super-great athletes.
Hi.
- Tonight,
- we're gonna be the cat's meow.
♪ ♪
- Do it for xanthippe!
- Whoo!
- There's roo and Jackson
sporting the adopt a cat shirt
which features
Cassie's own cat, xanthippe.
And there's xanthippe herself,
watching from new Mexico
- along with Cassie's family
- and boyfriend.
- Oh, man.
- This is amazing.
This is the first time
- I think we've seen a cat
- on the sidelines.
Is xanthippe excited?
- I can never tell
- with cats, Matt.
[Purring]
[Countdown clock beeping]
- All right, come on, Cassie.
- Here we go!
First obstacle,
the shrinking steps.
- Look at this cat.
- The cat is actually watching
- Cassie on the course!
Are you kidding me?
- Look at the cat keeping up
- with Cassie!
- Xanthippe can now watch her
- try lunatic ledges.
She's got to pounce out
and grab the first ledge,
then swing to the second.
- There you go. Nice!
- Come on.
- Cassie's a 21-year-old
rookie from Albuquerque.
5'7".
Needs some agility here.
Catlike agility.
- Yeah, Matt.
- She's gotta go.
- She's gotta generate
- enough power
And then make that transfer.
- Losing a little steam here.
- Big swing, big swing,
- big swing!
- Pop!
- Get it!
- Ahh!
- Oh, no!
- Oh, she missed it.
- She's in the water.
You know cats hate that.
- Whoo!
- Good job, Cassie!
- Cats have nine lives.
She only had one.
Cassie dierks is out
and xanthippe...
[Meows sadly]
Can't even look.
- Matt, they say cats
always land on their feet,
- but Cassie actually kicked
- the ledge away
With her right foot here
and just missed the bar
with her right hand.
You gotta be kitten me!
- A fun way to start.
- And here's a reminder
- of how this season will work.
Tonight's the second of
our four nights of qualifying.
The top 12 individuals
and top three women
will move on to one
of our two semifinals
- and only the best will advance
- to the finals
Where the winner takes home
$100,000.
♪ ♪
Well, our next athlete
knows all about winning.
- He comes from a competitive
- hockey background.
And look at this...
Dressed in his Jersey
and gear.
This is former
pro hockey player Barry goers.
He's the first member of
Jake Murray's Colorado group.
They have serious skills,
but they also know
how to have fun.
♪ ♪
- I picked some of the most
fun people from Colorado.
Barry's a former
pro hockey player,
I grew up skateboarding
and rock climbing,
and Glenn is the man
on the grill.
- How do you guys like
- your ribs?
- Extremely well-done.
- All right.
- [Chuckling]
- Char it.
- Jake's such a nice guy.
- Three, two, one, crush.
- The best advice he gave me
- was just have fun with it.
- Nice, Barry.
- Don't overthink things.
Kinda just do it.
- It's very interesting
seeing someone from hockey
come over to ninja,
but he's very powerful
and I would assume
that comes from hockey.
- Whoo!
- [Cheering]
- I played pro hockey
- for eight years,
- Four years with the
- wilks-barre/scranton penguins,
- The ahl team
- of the Pittsburgh penguins.
I definitely always had
to prove myself on the ice
- and, for me, that was
- just playing fearless.
- Goers... beautiful one.
And then he scores!
A three-point game
for the defenseman.
- I really miss having a team
- from the time
- I was playing hockey,
And to find guys
like Jake and Glenn...
- Hit me!
[Upbeat music]
- Who have really become
- my new team,
It's been awesome.
- I love you guys.
- Hi, hi!
- Barry's getting
- a lot of support.
That's his wife and two sons,
plus his parents who are also
watching from Colorado.
- And, look, from Pennsylvania,
- it's tux,
The mascot for the
wilks-barre/scranton penguins.
Goers played for them
for several years.
- You think he's gonna run
- the course in his gear?
- [Chuckling]
- There he goes.
Drop the gloves.
He's getting ready
for a fight.
- Oh,
- this hockey player's fit.
He's ready to go.
- Let's go, Barry!
- Jake murry
- and Glenn albright
Will have his back
on the sidelines.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- There's daddy.
- You got it, babe!
- Let's see if Jake was right
- about Barry.
- Well, - we know hockey players
- Have a strong lower body
- from skating,
But how's his upper body gonna
handle this ninja course?
- Nice.
- Off to a quick start here
- on lunatic ledges.
- And makes the grab
- on the second ledge.
- Good job, babe.
- Oh, good job.
- You can see him using his hips
- controlling those ledges.
But now ring chaser.
- Has to try to catch the ring
- rolling down the track.
- All right, go, go, go, go!
- Fast hands!
[All groan]
- I thought
- he would've got that!
- I think he needed
- his hockey stick for that one.
Now the difficulty goes up
with this smaller handle.
- Matt, this is just a little
- bit bigger than a puck.
- He's gotta nail it
- on that hook.
- Yes!
And he's got it!
- Whoo!
- Barry goers is going.
- Good job, Barry.
- Whoo-hoo!
- But now the balance obstacle,
- rib run.
No hesitation!
- He didn't stop
- and look at it.
- And no break.
Goes right into the fifth
obstacle, the Ferris wheel.
And... oh, almost a quick exit.
Needs to grab those handles
- and work his way across
- the two wheels.
- He's gotta really carry
all 165 pounds
around this Ferris wheel.
- This rookie
- is just attacking this course.
- Matt, he's a hockey player.
- Come on, dog.
- You know they like to fight.
- He's fighting
- with this course.
- Now has to reach over
- to the second wheel.
- Come on, babe, good job.
- [Cooing]
- Going down a little bit.
- Use that grip!
- Oh, oh!
- No!
And Barry goers knocked out.
- [Grimaces]
- Ooh.
- I think this Ferris wheel's
gonna knock out a few ninjas
tonight.
Matt, Barry got deked
by the first ring
but went top shelf
with the second.
He skated right through
rib run like it was nothing,
but it was game over when
he reached the Ferris wheel.
♪ ♪
- Tonight,
captain nbc has made his home
right here in St. Louis,
and he's got a couple
of Missouri men
- ready to represent
- the midwest.
- This is as American
- as it gets.
- Abel Gonzales is the pride
of south Texas,
- and he's bringing two
- of his prize pupils
To make their "ninja" debut.
- So they were on my side
- and I can't wait
- To be on their sides
- as a proud coach.
- And up next,
jj woods and others
share the powerful message
behind the ninjas
for black lives movement.
- ♪ How the water rises ♪
♪ and the mountains shake ♪
♪ our love will remain ♪
- Even though there is a lot
- of darkness out there,
Light always rises to meet it.
- When "American
ninja warrior" returns.
.
- Welcome back to St. Louis
- and our second night
- of qualifying
On "American ninja warrior."
This special season,
our veteran stars
got to invite two other
athletes to join them:
Athletes they've trained with
- or have
- a special connection to.
And one group got their shot
while we were away
- as last year's breakout star
- Taylor amann
- Led a group of pole vaulters
- onto the course.
First up, Nicole breske
hopes to qualify
- for next year's Olympics
- in pole vaulting,
- And this rookie was flexing
- at the start.
- Ooh, she is a beast!
- But the Florida state grad
- stalled out
At the lunatic ledges.
- Oh, no!
- Oh!
Next, it was Zane paksi,
who at just 5'1"
set the pole vault record
at olivet college in Michigan.
- I see you, big boy!
- Paksi survived
a couple of hard shots
on the lunatic ledges.
- Oh!
- But he couldn't survive
- a stumble on rib run.
- Oh!
- His foot grazed the water
and his night was over.
- Oh, no, Matt.
- Oh, no!
- Just barely got wet.
- [Chuckles]
[Cheers and applause]
- Well, now, it's
- the third member of the group.
This is Taylor amann.
- She was a conference champion
- pole vaulter
At the university
of Wisconsin.
Throwing some love to her
family back in her home state.
- You got this!
- You got it.
- Also cheering her on,
- a couple
- of other Wisconsin ninjas.
- You got this, Taylor.
- Yep.
- Let's go two.
- Let's go, Taylor!
- You got this!
- You got this!
- And her fellow pole vaulters
- who just ran
Now on the sideline for her.
- Amann had a breakout season
- last year,
Was the top woman
in Oklahoma city,
- and qualified for the national
- finals as a rookie.
[Countdown clock beeping]
5'7", 125, akbar.
- Yeah, she was a big-time
college pole vaulter.
Was an all-American
her senior year.
- Swing.
- Big swing, big swing!
- Now the lunatic ledges.
- Remember, the top three women
- from tonight
- Will move on
- to the semifinals.
- But you probably'll need
- to get to that fifth obstacle
- If you want one
- of those spots.
- She showed US a lot
- of athleticism.
Made it up the warped wall
in the city finals.
And she goes fast.
She has a good pace.
We know pace can be key.
- But she's taking
a few extra swings here.
- Now she's through.
- Whoo.
- Come on, Taylor.
- Let's go.
- Before
the covid-19 pandemic,
- she started
- to take boxing classes
- To really step up
- her training.
- Well, she's gonna need quick
- hands on this next obstacle,
Ring chaser.
- Good racing.
- Can she grab it?
Not fast enough.
- I thought
- she was gonna punch for it.
- That boxing skills
- would've came in play for that
With the hand speed.
- And now watch
- how she builds up momentum.
Will she use that bar?
- Yup.
- One move.
- Yeah, she's going.
- Perfect.
- Matt, do you see
- how confident she was?
- Great.
- Didn't have to eye it up.
- She saw it, locked on to it,
- and boom.
- There you go.
- Good job, Taylor!
Whoo!
[Cheers and applause]
- Let's watch the footwork
- here on rib run.
- Quick feet, quick feet.
- Quick feet, Taylor,
- quick feet.
- Well, as a pole vaulter,
she should be good
with her footwork.
- Come on, nice, nice, nice.
- Keep going!
- Oh, no!
- Oh!
Uh-oh.
[All groan]
- Taylor amann splashes down.
You can see,
- just getting spread out,
- lost her momentum,
And down she goes.
- She looked strong
- through three obstacles,
But on the fourth,
her legs were
flying side-to-side.
That pushes the ribs out
and she had no chance.
- We'll have to see
- if that keeps her
In the women's top three.
- Well, now,
- it's time to welcome back
A "ninja" favorite.
Zuri, get 'em going.
- Guys, we have all missed
this next ninja.
Jj woods has been
a fan favorite for years,
but a nasty fall kept him
from the course last season.
But jj wanted
to return this year.
He's been one of the leaders
of a ninja movement
for racial justice.
[Uplifting music]
- Myself,
- like so many other ninjas,
- We're gonna be wearing
- this shirt:
Ninjas for black lives.
And it's to promote knowledge,
growth, and unity.
- ♪ Yeah ♪
- Ignoring race
doesn't fix racism;
it makes it worse.
♪ ♪
- Athletes in general,
- you know,
- We're supposed to
- be role models,
But then there's this idea
- that we're not supposed
- to have opinions,
But I think that's changing
- and I think that
- that's really important.
- You know,
I spent so much of my life
trying to be the opposite
of what america thinks I am,
and, in that moment,
it was for nothing.
- ♪ We will never break ♪
♪ we will never break ♪
- I grew up in the south.
It was very racist, you know?
And I just grew up that way.
- You just kind of learn,
- "okay, yeah, that's normal.
- Whatever," - and you go on.
- But realizing
- you shouldn't be
- Used to this,
- that's a horrible thing.
- Nobody should have to explain
- that to their children.
- Hearing about this stuff,
- it's tricky
And it makes US feel bad,
because it makes US realize
that maybe the world isn't
as fair as we thought.
But if we don't know that,
if we don't hear that,
then how can we change that?
- [Squealing and giggling]
- It's been deeply personal.
- It wasn't until I had a kid,
- until I saw kofi,
And I thought about the way
I wanted him to be treated
that this work really started
to become impossible
to not do.
- ♪ How the water rises ♪
♪ and the mountains shake ♪
♪ our love will remain ♪
- We have a platform where
we can create some real change
- and we can really make
- a difference here.
That is the future
that ninjas for black lives
is working for.
♪ ♪
- Even though there is a lot
- of darkness out there,
Light always rises to meet it.
♪ ♪
[Cheers and applause]
- Well said by jj woods.
Jj woods has always been about
something bigger than himself.
- Uncle!
- And there's a great example
- of that.
- That's his friend's daughter,
- Zoey
- Battling cancer
- at a hospital in New York.
She calls him uncle jj
and she means
the world to him.
Also has his parents
along with other
family members watching.
- [Laughs]
- Let's go, jj!
- Jj's brought along
- a couple of ninjas
- From his home state
- of Florida,
Ashley mcconville
and Ronald Washington.
We'll see them in just a bit.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- This was a guy who made
- a lot of noise.
- Four times he made it
- to the national finals.
- But like many,
- with most ninja gyms closed,
- Hasn't been able
- to train on obstacles
As much as he'd like.
- This is a bigger jj woods.
He's put on 22 pounds.
- He's really gotten
- into the power lifting.
- Oh, he is jacked, akbar.
- Look at those shoulders.
Looks like he's got
cannonballs under that shirt.
- And just look at the smile
- on the face of Zoey.
So excited to watch jj.
Now ring chaser.
There goes jj.
Gotta move fast.
- Missed it.
So now, he'll have to use
that smaller ring behind him.
He'll need to jump it
six feet over to that hook.
- That's a lot of weight.
- 197 pounds.
- Watch that hook!
- Missed it.
- [All groan]
- Dang!
- [Chuckles]
- That smaller handle,
- you have to be
- so much more precise.
- Matt, jj woods at 197 pounds,
he needed that big ring.
Check this out.
Jj just didn't move
fast enough on the bars
to catch the ring,
and with that smaller ring,
it's a lot harder
to land it on the hook.
- Though he didn't
- hit a buzzer,
He was able to get
his important message across,
and that right there is a win.
- [Sighs]
Still good to be back.
- And, guys, a lot of our
big-name ninjas are coming up.
Will any of them
take down our mega wall?
That buzzer right there
is worth 10,000 bucks.
No one could reach it
last week.
- Oh, so close.
- Ooh!
- But some of our best
- will get their shot tonight...
[Buzzer blares]
- When "American ninja warrior"
- returns.
.
- Welcome back to St. Louis
- where we're in the second week
- of qualifying
Here on
"American ninja warrior."
And up next
is Fort Lauderdale's
Ronald "dynamite" Washington.
- You can see he's got
- a lot of support
From back in his home state.
- They're here in spirit, bro!
- You've got this.
- He's a member of jj woods'
crew from south Florida,
and like jj,
he's wearing the ninjas
for black lives t-shirt
but also a blue headband
for law enforcement.
- Washington works
- in law enforcement
As a fish & wildlife officer,
and, like jj,
he's also got a message.
- Shout out
- to black lives matter
Because all of them do,
and blue lives, too.
Let's go.
[Shouts]
- You can see why
they call him dynamite.
That's his wife
who's expecting any day now.
- Go, Ronald!
- As well as his father
- and brother there
And a young man named cedrick
that he mentors.
- Let's go!
- He is all jacked up,
- and I'll tell you why.
Last year in Atlanta,
- he made it
- to the fifth obstacle,
Ferris wheel.
[Electricity crackles]
First the lights went out...
He kept going,
but, a few seconds later,
he went out.
- Oh.
- [Air horn blares]
- Well, the Ferris wheel
- is back tonight,
Down as the fifth obstacle,
so he wants revenge.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- He started a career
- in law enforcement
Right out of high school.
A dedicated officer.
- You know, he puts his life
- at risk all the time
Dealing with alligators
- and all sorts
- of other crazy stuff.
- Here he is
- on lunatic ledges.
- I like it.
- A confident approach.
5'11, 170.
- Well, Matt, here's a man
- that loves
- a risky proposition.
His nine to five is risky
and ninja is risky.
- Moving on to ring chaser.
This is where jj fell earlier.
- Quick, quick, quick,
- quick, quick!
- Come on, go get it,
- go get it, go get it!
Nice!
- Oh, so smooth.
- You gotta risk it
to get the biscuit,
and he just got the biscuit.
- Nice!
- And he's got it.
- Smooth!
- Get outta there!
- A smooth run.
- Whoo!
Good job, Ronald!
- Aw, and he's getting close
- to that Ferris wheel.
- But first,
gotta survive rib run.
- Nice.
- Look at that, Matt.
- He is coming out
- with authority.
- Yes!
- He made it here.
Now it's a face-off
with the Ferris wheel.
- And you can see it
in his face.
Dynamite determined to get
redemption on this obstacle.
- Come on, Ronald!
- And he's been moving fast.
He might be a little winded.
- But skips a handle!
- Now hang on for this drop.
- And he does hang on,
but now a dangerous move
to the other wheel.
- Makes it.
- That's where he fell last year.
- Already he's gone farther
and he looks much stronger.
- I gotta say, I'm confident
- in his upper body strength.
I like this faster approach.
- One at a time,
- one at a time!
- Just gotta survive
this last big drop.
- Nice... ooh!
- Oh, no!
- Oh!
- On the Ferris wheel!
- He wanted redemption,
but does not get it.
- Ah!
- Thank you guys for watching.
I love it.
- Dynamite's run blown up again
by the Ferris wheel.
- Hey, you know what,
- it's an improvement.
Last year, he barely made it
to the second wheel.
Tonight,
he made it to the end.
But he just couldn't hang on
through that final drop.
[Cheers and applause]
- Well, now up to the start,
it's the final member
of jj wood's group.
This is Ashley mcconville,
a college student
from largo, Florida.
This 20-year-old has
a lot of support back home,
but none more important
than her uncle David.
[Cheers and applause]
[Peaceful music]
- All right, David.
- Let's play war.
- Ready?
- Okay.
Ready.
- Together: - One, two, three.
- I love my uncle more than
I love any other human
on this planet.
- Oh, no.
- Eight.
- That means you won it.
- Oh, yeah.
- He's always just been
- that person
Who I can just go to
if I need to laugh
- or if I just want a friend
- to talk to
Or play a game of cards with.
- Yeah.
- [Chuckles] You're on a roll.
He always finds so much joy
in everything
and he's just so much fun
to be around.
- [Imitates buzzer]
- Nice job, David.
[Chuckles]
He has down syndrome
and he thinks the things I do
- are just the coolest things
- in the world.
- You wanna watch me
- do this stuff?
- Yeah, sure, go ahead.
[Upbeat music]
- He loves to see me
throw myself
through obstacles.
He loves getting
to see me fly through the air.
♪ ♪
- He thinks I'm a superhero,
- basically.
- Beat that wall!
- My uncle David
- has never gotten
- to see me compete in person.
- Beat that wall,
- beat that wall, beat that wall!
- So I'm super-excited
that he finally gets
to see me run a course live.
[Chuckles]
♪ ♪
- Uncle David, I'm gonna hit
this buzzer for you.
♪ ♪
[Cheers and applause]
- And there's David.
- He'll be cheering her on
- along with Ashley's parents
And other family members,
plus her brother,
sister-in-law, and sister.
- This is your game, Ashley!
- You got this!
- Well, there's jj woods,
- who invited her here
- Along with the third member
- of their group,
Ronald "dynamite" Washington.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- And a lot
- of these ninjas say,
- "watch out
- for Ashley mcconville."
She's been tearing it up
at local ninja competitions.
- Yeah, you got this,
- you got it!
- Let's see what she does
- on lunatic ledges.
- Really gotta generate power
- with that lower body there.
- And she knows how to do
- that.
She was a competitive gymnast
- before she started
- ninja training.
- Good use of the hips.
- The secret here
- is you wanna get off
- That first part
- as quickly as possible.
- Nice.
- That was smooth.
- She trains with
- the first family of ninja,
The bergstroms,
at their gym near tampa.
Gets through.
In fact,
over in the warmup area
- is her boyfriend,
- Caleb bergstrom.
He'll run later.
- Come on, ash.
- Let's go!
- Now mcconville
- facing ring chaser.
- Move it, move it, move it,
- move it, move it, move it.
- Brace for it.
- All right, here we go.
Here we go, go!
- [All groan]
- All right, that's okay.
- That's okay.
- It's all right.
- Gotta go
- for that smaller handle.
Only an eight-inch diameter.
She's 5'3".
Gotta generate enough swing
here to fly six feet across
to land on that hook.
- Only one chance on this.
- Put it right
- where it belongs.
- Whoo!
- [Cheers and applause]
- Got it!
- Nice.
- You can do this, Ashley.
- And she's through.
Jj's smiling.
He fell on that obstacle,
but his young apprentice,
- Ashley mcconville,
- survived it.
Now onto rib run.
- She's really gotta bound
through here on rib run.
Bound, bound, bound, bound!
- Oh, nice!
[Cheers and applause]
- And the crowd going wild
down in Florida.
- Remember,
- the top three women
Move on
to the semifinals.
- Ashley mcconville putting
- herself in good position
To be one of them.
- But here's a real test:
- The Ferris wheel.
- No one's gotten
- through this tonight.
- Gotta grab those handles,
go up across the top
or down along the bottom.
And she's going up,
showing confidence.
- Matt, we had heard
- this young woman
Was a rising star,
- and she's living up
- to the hype.
[Cheers and applause]
Nice hold-on.
- Survives the drop.
Has to reach over
to the second wheel.
Got it!
- One move at a time.
- Going under here.
- This is gonna start
- to spin towards her.
- And going low on the wheels
- may look easier,
- But it actually requires
- more moves.
This is not easy!
- Use the hips.
- Use the lower body.
- Ahh, she's starting
- to gas out.
She's gotta go up higher.
- At just 128 pounds,
she's having trouble
- controlling the momentum
- on this.
- Stay calm.
But see, as a gymnast,
- she understands, under duress,
- you gotta stay calm.
Fight through it!
- Hips!
- Go for the dismount!
- She's got it, Matt,
- she's got it.
- Come on.
- Good use of the hips.
- Come on.
- Watch that left arm,
- watch that left arm!
[Cheers and applause]
Okay, okay, Ashley!
- Yes!
[Cheers and applause]
- All: Beat that wall!
- Beat that wall!
- Ashley, you go, girl!
- Let's go!
- Well, you know uncle David
has to be so proud!
- Look at uncle David.
Hey, uncle David,
your niece is about to be
the first finisher tonight!
- Here she is, 14 1/2 feet
from her first buzzer!
- Come on, come on.
She's got this.
- 5'3... this is almost three
- times her height.
- Ashley mcconville!
- Fingertips.
- Yeah, that's all right!
- All right, you can do this!
- Two more tries.
Two more tries.
- Two more tries.
- She got her hand up there,
- akbar.
She knows she can do it.
- All you gotta do is hold on.
- And jj... you can see
the nerves for jj,
how much it matters.
Gotta dig deep
and explode up that wall.
- Twelve years
- of competitive gymnastics.
- Here we go!
- Just her second year
- competing...
- oh!
- Okay,
- she lost a little energy.
- Oh, it's okay!
- Come on.
- It's okay, it's okay,
- it's okay.
- It's okay.
- She has to be exhausted now.
- Remember, Ashley.
- Don't try to reach
- until you're ready.
- Final attempt.
- Ashley, I know you can do it.
- Everyone at home
- on the edge of their seat!
Uncle David is on the edge
of his seat watching!
- Nine women
- in "ninja" history
- Have hit a buzzer
- in qualifying.
Could she be the tenth?
- Come on!
Get it, girl, get it!
Yeah, yeah!
Yeah!
Okay!
[Buzzer blares]
[Upbeat music]
♪ ♪
[Cheers and applause]
- Her family's elated!
- That's how you do it!
- Jj's elated
- and her boyfriend's elated,
- too!
- [Laughs]
- Yes!
[Cheers and applause]
Hey, Ashley!
Look at uncle David!
- [Chuckling]
- Whoo!
- Hey,
- let me tell you something.
You truly do continue
to inspire.
Well done.
- Thank you so much.
- Congratulations.
- Matt, the world will know
- the name Ashley mcconville
After tonight.
Wow.
- Up next,
straight outta south Texas,
Abel Gonzales brings two of
his top students to the course
when "American ninja warrior"
returns.
.
- Welcome back to St. Louis.
- Now remember,
- at the end of the night,
We're flying right over there
to the power tower
for a showdown
between tonight's
two fastest finishers.
- O-m-g.
That is a monstrosity
of an obstacle.
Was it that big last year?
- While we were away,
four-time veteran
Jessica Clayton
led a group of ninjas
from Atlanta onto the course.
The it consultant
and mom of three
- threw kisses to her kids.
- [Cheers and applause]
- And then she took a knee
- and raised a fist
To support the ninjas
for black lives movement.
- And, Matt, she is strong.
She served our country well.
- The marine corps veteran
attacked the course,
- but when she missed
- the big ring on ring chaser...
- Come on, come on, come on,
- come on, come on, come on,
- Come on, Jessica...
- [all groan]
- She couldn't connect
- on the smaller one.
- Be careful... ooh.
[Air horn blares]
- Ahh!
- That was hard.
It's a big difference.
- One of the ninjas
- she brought with her,
- Deshawn Harris,
- was hyped from the start.
- [Shouts]
Let's go!
Let's go, baby!
- And look at him.
- He's so pumped, Matt.
He's so ready for this!
- The Atlanta
- special needs teacher
Had no problem on ring chaser.
- Look at him!
That's how you do it!
- And the former
- college football player
Rumbled across rib run.
- Let's go!
- That was close! Man!
[Cheers and applause]
- But his energetic run
finally ended
- on the Ferris wheel.
- Gotta reach out.
Come on, reach over!
[All groan]
- Just had to reach over, man.
- Just had to reach over.
- But this group
- had another football star,
32-year-old lashaunda dupree,
- who plays on a women's
- football team in Atlanta.
- I like this!
- Ooh, she got a little fire
- in her!
- She's also a personal
trainer to the stars
and had one of her clients,
actor Tyrese Gibson,
urging her
to be fast and furious.
[Cheering]
- The west point grad
- and former army captain
- Battled her way across
- the first...
- Yes! Let's go!
- Yeah!
- And the second obstacles.
- Nice!
Oh, hold on!
[Cheers and applause]
- Yes!
- Wow!
That's that west point grit!
- But at only 125 pounds,
- she couldn't generate
- any bounce on the third.
- Oh, she airballed!
- It's okay, l!
- You did it!
- They got me, but guess what?
Next year,
I'm coming back even stronger.
- Well, this season's
all about rising together,
and Abel Gonzales
is a perfect example of that.
He's a seven-time
"ninja" veteran
who overcame
his own tough childhood
- to become a leader
- in south Texas.
- Let's go, Abel!
- Yeah!
- And tonight,
- he's brought two of the ninjas
- He's been training
- and they're ready
To give a lift to a hard-hit
area of the country.
- I couldn't be more excited
- about competing
- Representing south Texas
- with Holly and Gloria
By my side.
I picked them because
- they're the perfect
- representation of this sport
And south Texas.
- Yeah!
- Beautiful, Holly.
- I know especially right now,
times are so hard.
I would love to inspire
my kids, my family,
but also my community.
[Upbeat music]
- Axios warrior academy is a
very unique and special place.
And it's really important
- because we're in one
- of the most obese environments
In the entire country.
But if I can help my students,
- I know that they're gonna
- help their friends;
- They're gonna help
- their family.
Some of them come in
- and they don't have anything
- that they're passionate about,
But when they try ninja,
- a lot of them just stick to it
- and they love it.
[Cheers and applause]
- I tell 'em,
- "look, I got this strong,
- I do all this stuff,
- because I eat healthy."
- And then they go home
- and they tell their parents
To go buy healthy food now.
- Your brain requires
- that healthy nutrition
To stay focused, as well.
- So we're eating healthy
- to have fun
And have a long, healthy life.
South Texas
is mostly hispanic
and being an athlete
on "ninja"
- is very uplifting
- for a lot of people.
It gives them an opportunity
to see that someone here
is doing something big.
- Someone from where they live,
- someone that looks like them.
One, two, three.
All: Axios!
- With south Texas being
hit really hard with covid,
- it's definitely something
- we could use right now.
- We're definitely gonna bounce
- back from this,
'cause we don't give up here.
[Cheers and applause]
- And a ton of support
- for Abel.
He's got his brothers
and other family members
- and some of the students
- he's coached
And fellow ninja, Matthew day.
[Countdown clock beeping]
Abel's area in south Texas
has been hard hit by covid-19
and, more recently,
a hurricane,
- so he wants
- to give his hometown
Something to smile about.
- And he's doing it so far.
He is moving quickly.
- Wasting no time
on lunatic ledges.
Speed is important this year.
- Only the top 12 will move on
- to the semifinals.
- And he's through.
- Yeah!
- There's Holly and Gloria
- on the sidelines.
- Come on, you got it.
- Moves quickly on
- to ring chaser.
- All right, here we go.
- Gotta be aggressive.
- He's gotta go fast,
- gotta go fast.
- And got it.
- Oh, nice.
- It fell right on...
- Right through his arm.
- Good job.
- Nice.
- And I like it,
- not wasting time
- getting that ring positioned,
Pulling back.
- So ideal.
- 14 inches in diameter
- is the big ring.
- Perfect.
- So that allows him
- to land it just like that.
- Great job by Abel Gonzalez.
- Yeah!
Right here.
- Abel, now 36 years old,
- gonna try
- to rumble across rib run.
- You gotta bust through!
- And boom, look at that!
- Oh, my!
- Right through rib run!
[Cheers and applause]
- And he has by far the best
time to this point tonight.
- Remember,
- the fastest two finishers
- Will move on to the power tower
- at the end of the night.
Abel could be one of them.
- And he's looking very smooth
here on the Ferris wheel.
- Holds on.
Now has to reach over
to the second wheel.
And Abel gets it.
This guy started
as a walk-on seven years ago.
- Trying
- to get a buzzer tonight.
- Matt, he's made all
- the right moves on this course.
- But here comes
- another big drop.
He holds on!
Wanted a good run
- for the people
- of the rio grande valley,
And he's doing it.
- Come on, come on, come on.
- Yes!
- Abel Gonzalez
- gonna get that buzzer.
Yes!
And he's got it!
[Buzzer blares]
[Cheers and applause]
- That's right, that's right!
Right here!
- You see him talking trash
- to the buzzer?
- You see him
- talking trash to the buzzer?
- Whoo!
- And that's gotta feel good,
- right?
- Hey, it feels great, man.
- It's great to be back.
- I love it.
- Abel Gonzalez
delivers some smiles
to the folks in south Texas.
Well done, my friend.
- Whoo!
.
- Welcome back to St. Louis
and our second week
of qualifying.
And while we were away,
the second member
of Abel Gonzalez's group
from south Texas
got her chance on the course.
Gloria orta's
a 20-year-old student
making her "ninja" debut,
and she paid tribute
to her Mexican heritage.
- [Speaking Spanish]
- But the nerves got
- to the young rookie
- And she couldn't grab the rope
- on the shrinking steps.
- Gloria's so fit!
- Nice, come on!
- [All groan]
Sha na na.
[Applause]
- Now up,
- the last member of the group,
Holly Cavazos.
She's a 29-year-old mom
of three from mission, Texas.
[All cheering]
She's waving to the family.
She is excited.
It's been a long journey
for her to get here,
and she did it with the help
of her friend and mentor,
Abel Gonzalez.
[Somber music]
- Growing up, home life
wasn't always stable.
There was violence at times.
My parents fought.
I didn't feel loved.
I left home.
I ended up in juvie
as a teen.
♪ ♪
I hit my rock bottom
when I was 17.
I was on the streets
with random people,
on drugs and alcohol,
whatever I could
get my hands on to escape.
I literally felt my life
slipping away from me.
♪ ♪
I had reached a point
in my life where I was
ready for a true change.
- You got it.
- Big swing, girl.
[All cheering]
I heard about
Abel's mobility class
at axios warrior academy.
- And since then,
- I've been all in.
- ♪ The best day
is yet to come ♪
- Oh!
- Holly has become
- one of my best friends.
[Laughter]
- It can't be easy
- having a family,
You know, three children,
- and then still go
- after "ninja" full-time.
- Big pull.
Nice.
- Holly's a really great mom.
- She not only takes care
- of the kids...
- Yeah!
- Whoo!
- But trains for
"American ninja warrior."
And it's just amazing
what she's able to pull off.
- ♪ The best day is
yet to come ♪
- I have been shaped
by my past,
- but I'm not defined
- by my past.
- ♪ We won't stop,
we won't stop, yeah ♪
- There's still
- so much more ahead,
And I'm so excited.
- ♪ The best day is
yet to come ♪
♪ ♪
- [All cheering]
- And there's her family.
Her husband and three kids
- plus her mom and her brother
- and sisters,
- All watching
- from back in Texas.
- I love you so much, Holly.
- Let's go, Holly!
- And on the sideline will be
- Abel and Gloria orta,
Who ran just minutes ago.
- You got it!
[Countdown clock beeping]
You got it, Holly!
- And she is on the course.
29-year-old mother of three,
sails through
the shrinking steps.
- Heading to
- the lunatic ledges.
- Matt, you know,
- I absolutely love this season.
- It's all about
- helping each other out,
And Abel gets to let
one of his prize pupils shine.
- As we showed you,
- Holly Cavazos
Has overcome some tough years,
but she's found a home
at Abel's gym.
- Nice.
- And now, she's out here
on "ninja warrior"
and she's living the dream!
- Whoo!
- Okay, all right.
- Shake it out, Holly.
Let's go "holl" or nothing
on ring chaser.
- This is
- a very technical obstacle.
May be tough for a rookie.
- Remember,
- only the top three women
Will move on from tonight.
Cavazos, 5'5".
- Gotta catch this ring.
- Come on, come on, come on,
- get it, get it!
- Oh!
- That's all right.
That's all right.
- Now she'll have to use
- the smaller ring
With the handle.
- And every fall
- we've seen here
Has been with
that small handle.
- Careful, careful, careful!
- Yeah, stay calm
in this situation.
- Hey, and aggressively flip
- them in there.
- Aggressive, aggressive.
- There we go.
- Got to keep your eye
- on the other hook,
- 'cause that's where you want
- to land.
- Wow.
- Yes!
- Great job out of the rookie.
- Okay!
Okay, Holly.
[All cheering]
- Holly Cavazos
through three obstacles!
Now facing the balance
obstacle, rib run.
- You need to be light
- on your feet
- And run right down
- the middle.
- Holly, hey.
- Do your taps, all right?
- You want to keep high knees,
- keep your feet high.
There it is, nice!
- Oh!
- [Air horn blares]
- Almost did the splits
- right there.
- Whoo!
- Great job!
- [Laughs]
- Nice job, nice job.
- This Texas mom makes it
to the fourth obstacle,
an impressive debut
for the rookie.
- Nice job, Holly!
- Whew!
- She was really stretching
with each step,
and those ribs started
flying out to the side.
And Holly, she had no chance
to stay out of the water.
[Upbeat music]
- Now it's time to get
those arms flapping.
It's seven-time "ninja"
veteran, Ethan Swanson.
You can see he's got
everyone flapping
the swan wings...
- Yeah!
- Let's go, Ethan!
- Including the group
of young Chicago ninjas
- he's brought, cam baumgartner
- and Jack mccallie.
- Let's go.
- But the swan wings
- aren't the only move
Swanson is becoming known for.
[Bright music]
- Nice!
- Sweet.
- I started doing a backflip
- every single day
On August 3rd, 2018,
and I'm still going strong.
♪ ♪
- I thought, you know, if I do
- one backflip every single day,
Then maybe I can do 'em
longer throughout life.
I've done some
off of buildings, over gaps,
- I've had some where people
- are throwing me up in the air
Doing a backflip.
[Cheers and applause]
- The most fun ones are
- when people do 'em with me,
- So if we're in a big event,
- I'll get everybody.
- "Hey, anybody wants
- to do a backflip,
Come over here and do it."
And so we'll have
50 people, 100 people.
[Cheering]
I just passed
a little over 700
- and I have not done
- my backflip
On a "ninja warrior"
course yet,
but I'm planning to tonight.
- I wanna backflip my way
- to another buzzer.
♪ ♪
[Cheers and applause]
- Says he's gonna do a flip
on top of the warped wall.
We'll see.
[Cheers and applause]
- And he'll have
- lots of support.
- He's got his family back
- in Illinois,
Plus his ninja buddies
Grant McCartney,
Tiana webberley,
and Michael torres.
- Back to the tower, swan.
Let's go.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- The swan coming off
his best season ever.
Fastest in both Cincinnati
qualifying and city finals,
then reached stage three
for the first time.
- And he's part of
- that Chicago ninja crew
With Michael torres
and flex labreck.
They push each other
to get better every year.
- Right into ring chaser!
- Racing out.
- Good handwork.
- Nice, good handwork.
- You see how he aggressive
- he was grabbing that ring?
- He was a stunt dunker
- for the bulls, man.
Good handwork and good lead.
Oh, my.
Akbar, the swan is flying.
Oh, no hesitation!
Right through it.
- Blink and you'll miss it,
- this one.
- Let's go!
- Matt, it's like rib run
- wasn't even moving.
[Cheers and applause]
- Okay, that's the fastest
- we've seen to this point.
- My goodness.
- Abel Gonzalez has
the top time so far at 1:36.
Swanson well ahead
of that pace.
- Oh, he's trying to get
- to the power tower once again.
- And he wants to do
the backflip on that wall.
[Cheers and applause]
Oh, he is blazing.
- He's got wings.
He's got real wings!
- He's off.
- He might as well go
- for that money.
- And he's going
- for the fastest time.
- Oh, he's going
- for the best time!
- He wants the power tower!
And he put himself
in great position to do it.
[Upbeat music]
- [Shouts]
♪ ♪
- Oh!
- Okay, give US that backflip.
[Cheers and applause]
- Nice.
731 backflips!
- Whoo!
Feels pretty dang good!
- Well done on that run.
Ethan Swanson
flew through that course
- with a time that's gonna
- be tough to beat.
- Yes, it is.
The swan came out
of the gate fast
and had tremendous footwork
on rib run.
He flapped all the way
to the buzzer
and kept his backflip streak
alive.
[Cheers and applause]
- Remember the top 12
advance to the semifinals
- and we've already got
- three finishers.
It's gonna be tough to move on
- if you don't hit a buzzer
- tonight.
And we've still got
some strong ninjas to come.
- [Exhales sharply]
- Wish me luck.
- Jamie rahn
hits the course next
on "American ninja warrior."
.
- Welcome back to St. Louis
in the dome
at america's center.
We're in the middle
of our second night
of qualifying action.
- And, Matt, I don't know how
- these athletes have done it
- With all that's going on
- in the world.
Their ninja game
has remained on point.
- Minutes ago,
the other two members
from Ethan Swanson's
Chicago group
got their chance
on the course.
First up was college student
Cameron baumgartner,
aka cam the bomb,
but he nearly blew up
on the very first obstacle.
No!
- You better not touch
- that water.
Get your Booty and scoot up.
- But after that,
cam the bomb was explosive.
- He is
- on a relentless pursuit.
- The 22-year-old
pre-med student
raced through the course
and finished just behind
his mentor, Swanson.
- Whoo!
- Cam the bomb, you the bomb,
- ain't you?
- The third member
- of this group
Was rookie Jack mccallie,
who's got sports in his blood.
His mom was the long-time
women's basketball coach
- at Duke,
- and Jack's the manager
- For the basketball team
- at Northwestern.
- Matt, this guy,
he went from hoop dreams
to ninja dreams.
- The 20-year-old
- drove down the Lane
On the shrinking steps...
- Let's go, Jack!
- Come on, let's go!
- But he was rejected
by the lunatic ledges.
All: Oh!
- You can't be shooting bricks
- here on "ninja warrior."
- Finally, it was the first
athlete from captain nbc
Jamie rahn's
all-Missouri squad.
Kansas City's Donovan metoyer
is known as the classy ninja.
Because he runs
in a three-piece suit.
- Matt, look at that flat top.
- He's just sharp!
- The Kansas City native cut
- through the course in style.
- And he is outta there!
- Yeah, Donovan, yeah!
- And then decided to go
for $10k on the mega wall.
- Oh, he's trying
- to buy some more suits!
- Though he came up short,
- he was able to button it up
- on the regular wall.
- If you look good,
you play good.
- Whoo!
- Now, it's the other guy from
Missouri who wears a suit...
A superhero suit, Jamie rahn!
Zuri, get him going.
- Captain nbc
is now a hometown hero
- after moving right here
- to St. Louis,
But after a scary accident,
he's lucky he can
compete at all this season.
[Upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- I just moved to St. Louis
- and now "ninja's"
- following me here.
It's awesome to have it
so close to home.
Welcome, guys.
This year, I didn't know
if I was competing.
- A couple weeks ago,
- I had a pretty nasty accident.
I bought a house
and I wanted to start building
ninja equipment, of course.
I was making a work bench
and as I was
cutting with the table saw,
basically it had this blade
cut across my thumb.
[Dramatic music]
♪ ♪
And lost part of the thumb
because of it.
I've been worried about
being able to use my thumb
to full capacity.
- I still can't open
- a ziploc bag.
[Upbeat music]
- But I can do ropes
- and num-chuks
And all that sort of stuff.
♪ ♪
I'm not where I want to be
and not where I have been.
- ♪ I was born to do this ♪
- But technique goes
a long way, so we'll see.
- We'll see what happens
- with it.
♪ ♪
[Cheers and applause]
- And that could be
- a real handicap.
You can see it right there,
the bandage on his left thumb.
Now that'll affect his grip.
- Go, Jamie!
- There's his wife, Kim, with
- their dogs doogie and bear.
And his parents watching
from back on the east coast,
as always,
wearing the green wigs.
[Cheers and applause]
- [Imitates
[countdown clock beeping]
- Oh, this is
- the show me state.
- You gotta show me
- what you got.
Come on, Jamie rahn.
- Excellent balance.
- And this guy's grip strength's
- so impressive,
But with that injured thumb,
it'll be tested here
on lunatic ledges.
- Makes the first grab
- and he's holding on well.
Now gotta grab for the second.
- Injured thumb?
- No problem there.
- More than enough swing.
- His fellow missourian,
- Donovan metoyer,
Just hit a buzzer,
offering some advice.
- Now ring chaser,
- another obstacle
- where he needs good hands.
Now look at that!
- And he caught it
- with the bad hand.
Didn't seem to affect him
at all.
And look at him centering that
mass to make this in one move.
- Pull back.
- You got this, come on.
- Ooh, ooh,
- that's a little dangerous.
- Center yourself.
Got it.
[Cheers and applause]
- And he's through.
- Come on, Jamie.
- Quick feet!
- And going straight
- into rib run.
- [Shouts]
[Cheers and applause]
- Here he goes...
- Oh, my goodness!
- Fights for it!
[Cheers and applause]
- Wow, I hope he didn't
- injure anything else.
- You good?
- Always good, man.
- Yeah, always good.
- Always good!
- Always good.
- Well, this is where Jamie
- usually excels.
Great with upper body.
But these Ferris wheels
- could again be a challenge
- with the thumb.
My guess is he goes over.
- Good, good!
Come on, Jamie! Come on!
- And look at that.
Arm over arm, akbar.
Efficiency.
Ride it down.
- Nice.
- Transfer over.
I really like
his approach here.
- Clearly,
- Jamie has thought it out.
- That's ten years of
ninja experience right there.
- And you can see that
bandaged thumb right there,
but he's not letting it
slow him down.
One last drop.
- And he hangs on.
- Good!
- Almost didn't compete
- this year,
But now closing in
on a buzzer.
- Hey-o! Let's go!
- And he's through.
Going straight for the buzzer.
[Cheers and applause]
Jamie rahn!
- There we go, baby!
[Cheers and applause]
- Yes!
- ♪ Born to do this ♪
- Jamie!
- How'd it feel competing
- in these special circumstances,
Being out here?
- It feels great, you know?
Just being able to come back
and be allowed to participate
- in something, you know,
- so wonderful.
- And I love it, man.
- I wouldn't be anywhere else.
[Cheers and applause]
- Good job, man.
- Thumbs up.
No pun intended!
- Both: Jamie!
- Jamie!
- Captain nbc!
The superhero delivers!
- [Whoops]
- Coming up,
- flex labreck's hit a buzzer
In qualifying
three straight years.
- ♪ I'm not done yet ♪
- Can she make it four
in a row tonight?
- ♪ I'm not done yet ♪
- And up next,
he did it two years ago.
- Oh, yes!
- Oh!
[Buzzer blares]
- Can Nick hanson be
the first to conquer
the mega wall this season?
He's next when "American
ninja warrior" returns.
.
- Hey, "ninja" fans!
- You can now watch full seasons
- of "American ninja warrior"
On the new nbcuniversal
streaming service, peacock.
- That's right.
You can see your favorite
TV shows, classic movies,
and "American ninja warrior"
all for free.
- Sign up today
And while we were away...
- You got it, man.
- Focus on those steps.
- The last member of Jamie
rahn's all-Missouri squad
- tried to make it
- three buzzers in a row.
Akil currie is
from right here in St. Louis
and calls himself
the chickasaw warrior
- to honor
- his native American roots.
- He's a natural athlete,
- but he has a big body, too.
6'2", 182 pounds.
- The 20-year-old rookie
- danced through
- the shrinking steps...
- Hey!
- There we go.
- But his inexperience showed
- on the lunatic ledges.
[All groan]
- It's okay, it's okay.
- A lack of technique there
- by the chickasaw ninja.
- Then six-time
- "ninja" veteran Nick hanson
Brought his all-Alaskan trio
to the course.
First up was Kyle worl,
a "ninja" rookie from Juneau.
He was recruited
by Nick hanson
because the two compete
together in native sports
like the knuckle hop
and the high kick.
- Look at that!
- Bro, yeah!
- Worl is also
- a language teacher
And he honored his people
- in the native language
- of tlingit.
- [Speaking tlingit]
- But once on the course,
the 29-year-old came up short
on lunatic ledges.
[All groan]
So close!
Christi Marie
from Fairbanks, Alaska,
- gave a wave
- with the state flag...
- Let's go, Alaska!
- And then a wave
to her three kids.
- Keeping Alaska on the map.
- And then the Alaska ninja
mom made it an adventure.
- Oh, my goodness!
- What a save!
- Nice, yes!
- After a great save
on the second obstacle...
- Yes, yes, yes!
- She was fingertips away
- from the ring on the third.
- Ooh!
Just missed it!
- But still managed
to stay alive.
- Nice!
Okay, christi Marie!
- But her heart-stopping
- performance
Finally ended on rib run.
- Alaska strong, Alaska fast.
- Get it!
- Oh.
- Ooh!
That's not the way
it was supposed to go.
- That water's cold.
- Well, now it's the leader
of the Alaska group.
Zuri, get him going.
- He calls himself
the eskimo ninja
and no one trains
in harsher conditions
than Nick hanson up in Alaska.
But the last frontier dealt him
a harsh blow this past year.
- Here goes.
- Go!
- Ninja training in Alaska
has never been easy.
- Go.
- Go, go.
- Oh!
- Yeah!
- Yes!
But this year,
it was unbelievable.
[Dramatic music]
- My entire ninja course
that I built
got completely flooded
by a fall storm.
Hey, Brad!
Bring your surfboard!
Hey, look
at these swells today, bro.
♪ ♪
- There was elders
- in our community
That were talking about
how they've never seen
a storm like this.
People were packing up things.
- I mean, it was
- literally evacuation mode
For our entire community.
♪ ♪
- We were thinking these waves
- were gonna come over the road.
It didn't, thankfully,
- but you could just see my
- ninja course getting hammered.
- And then I looked at it
- and said,
- "you know, this might be
- the only opportunity that I get
To train on my ninja course
with water underneath it."
[Upbeat music]
- So, uh...
- [Chuckles]
In 45 mile an hour winds
- I jumped onto my ninja course
- and played on it
- While it was being destroyed.
- [Laughs]
♪ ♪
Whoo!
- One of the good things that
- did come out of quarantine
Is that I've had a lot of time
to start rebuilding the course.
♪ ♪
- You know, the entire community
- got involved
To come and clear the debris
and move all of my obstacles
- so that I could
- continue to train.
- Hey!
- It's definitely been
- a challenge,
But, tonight, I wanna show that
alaskans can overcome anything.
♪ ♪
- He has a lot of support
in his home state of Alaska.
- You can see his girlfriend
- joanne there
Along with his mom, davida,
and so many friends ready to
see Nick tackle this course.
And then there
his best friend, gmac,
Grant McCartney,
the island ninja.
And there are his fellow
alaskans who we just saw.
- You got it, man!
18-footer, let's go!
- Oh, she's already telling
him to go for the mega wall.
He's done it before.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- Nick hanson's happy
to be indoors
and out of that 12 degree
below Alaska weather.
- Well, Matt, we've seen him
- over the last six years.
He is a big-time,
prime-time player.
Heck, we even had
to eat akutaq ice cream
from him last year.
- I think ice cream is a loose
- descriptor of what we ate.
- [Laughs]
- But we would do it
for Nick hanson.
- Well, there's no akutaq
- here tonight,
But I wanna see what he's got.
- On now to ring chaser.
- There you go, there you go!
- Great handwork.
- Look at that!
- Got that hand!
- Yeah, he was way ahead
- of that ring.
- I like it.
Very efficient, though.
Nick looking
completely in control.
[Cheers and applause]
And he's through.
- Yeah!
- Let's go, Nick!
- Now facing rib run.
And Nick has great footwork
from all his years competing
in the world
eskimo-Indian games.
- Going down the middle.
- Got it.
[Cheers and applause]
Nick hanson now
on the Ferris wheel.
- Well, that top time is going
- to escape him.
- He's not gonna beat
- Ethan Swanson.
- Well, now he can save himself
- for that mega wall.
- Be strong, son!
Be strong!
- One at a time.
You got it, Nick!
- Matt, he's so far so good
- for Nick hanson.
- Of course,
- everything he's been through,
Losing that home course
to that big storm.
- He's looking good to be
- in the shape that he's in.
- I think a little issue
- getting the wheel moving.
Now he's got it.
Watch the drop.
Hangs on.
- And Nick is...
- He's extending, akbar.
That grip could be giving out.
- Yeah,
- and you're starting to see.
- And he's kind
- of eyeballing it.
- This is his first time
- on Ferris wheel.
- Oh, boy.
- Nick could be in trouble here.
- Oh, I'm not
- liking this, Matt.
I'm not liking this.
- Nick's 5'10",
170 pounds,
and he's feeling every one
of those pounds right now.
- Told US that he hasn't
- been able to train
As much as he'd like.
His cardio's not
where he wanted it to be.
I'm afraid of this jolt.
Ooh.
- Come on, Nick!
- This is like
- an iceberg breaking!
- But he hangs on!
He has really been fighting
on this obstacle.
- Does he have enough left
- for the dismount?
- Come on, Nick!
- Oh... ooh!
- Survived it!
[Cheers and applause]
Nick looking winded.
- I don't think
- he's got anything left
For the mega wall,
- but he's not moving toward
- either wall right now.
- You got it, Nick.
- Whenever you're ready, man.
- Do your thing.
- I think he's gonna try it!
- Yeah!
He's going for the mega wall!
- Yeah, Nick!
- Now, he did get it
two years ago in la.
[Cheers and applause]
- Oh, yes!
- Oh!
[Buzzer blaring]
- Let's go!
[Cheers and applause]
- That was epic, Matt.
- Nobody has gotten
- the mega wall yet this season.
Can Nick be the first?
- Matt, this is where
- Nick hanson's gotta suck it up.
$10,000?
Come on.
All: Beat that wall!
Beat that wall!
- Nick hanson,
18 feet away from $10,000.
- Let's go, man!
Let's go!
- Come on, now.
- Come on.
- Hustle, hustle, hustle.
- Come on!
- Let's go!
- Yeah!
- Whoa, whoa!
[Buzzer blaring]
[Cheers and applause]
- The first mega wall
of the season.
Nick hanson!
- Come on!
- Let's go, baby!
- Whoo!
- I love the passion
out of Nick hanson.
Oh, what an effort.
What an effort!
- [Screams]
- And that one... i could feel
- that from your gut.
I mean, I could feel that.
- Where's that primal scream
- coming from?
- [Shouts]
My inupiat culture, bro.
- Yeah.
- That's akutaq talking!
- And you continue
to inspire so many, buddy!
- Thank you, Jesus!
- We salute you, Nick hanson.
- Wow.
- Whoo!
- My goodness,
it looked like he was out
of gas on the Ferris wheel
- and needed a one-foot landing
- just to survive,
- But he found that extra boost
- of energy
And got his second career
mega wall.
Most impressive.
- Nick, congratulations.
- I saw you getting
- a little emotional.
How are you feeling?
- [Chuckles]
- I mean, I was so gassed.
I was so pumped.
- But, you know, you put
- a mega wall in front of US
- And you give US
- the opportunity to do it.
I can't pass up a challenge.
- You got your family
- and your friends here.
- Oh, my gosh.
- Grant is hyped down here
- in the corner.
Grant, I gotta ask you,
did you think he had
a mega wall in him?
- I kicked this chair,
sending it out of the way,
and I said, "get up!
Come on, bro!"
I know.
I've seen him do it before.
I know he's got it in him.
- Bro, I have faith in my boy.
- I know he had it.
- You love to see it.
Love to see it, Nick.
- You did your thing.
- Congrats.
Enjoy that 10 grand.
- We'll figure out where you're
- gonna spend it soon enough.
Guys, back to you.
- Well, watching that mega wall
run closely was Daniel Gil.
He's done it twice before.
Oh, my!
- Oh, superb!
Oh, my goodness!
- Can he do it again tonight?
He's coming up
on "American ninja warrior."
.
[Dramatic music]
- Welcome back to St. Louis.
While we were away,
- one of last year's
- top rookies, Caleb bergstrom,
- Brought his all-Florida squad
- to the course.
♪ ♪
First up was 19-year-old
David hutchinson,
who came in cap and gown
to honor those like him
- who missed
- their high school graduation
Because of covid-19.
- Class of 2020,
you guys are amazing.
You guys worked so hard.
- Congratulations
- to all you guys.
- After graduating
to the course,
- hutch, who trains
- with the bergstrom family...
- Let's go, hutch!
- Had a close call
on the second obstacle.
- That was close!
Man!
[Cheers and applause]
- Only to go down
- on the third.
- Ooh!
Oh, my goodness!
- Great job, hutch!
- Up next
was Caitlyn bergstrom,
who heard the cheers
from her big ninja family,
the bergstrom bunch,
back in the tampa area.
- Caitlyn made it all the way to
- Vegas last year as a rookie,
- And she came out strong again
- tonight...
- Whoo!
- Good, caity, come on.
- Making an amazing save
- on rib run.
- Oh... ooh!
- Hold on!
- You see that grab?
- You see that fight?
[Cheers and applause]
- Then faced the obstacle
- that took her out
In the Atlanta finals
last year, the Ferris wheel.
- No!
- And tonight, she battled
to almost the exact same spot.
- I think that's too low.
She's gotta go one higher,
but she's gonna go for it.
- Oh!
- But it still put her
- In the top three
- among the women tonight.
- That was a heck of a run,
- absolutely.
[Cheers and applause]
- And now, - Caitlyn's dried off
- And she's gonna give
- her younger brother Caleb
A send-off.
- Whoo!
[Cheers and applause]
- These two do swing dancing
and acro-yoga together.
- Oh, okay,
now that's an intro!
- So impressive last year.
As a 19-year-old rookie,
he made it up the mega wall.
[Cheers and applause]
Now 20 years old,
5'10, 165 pounds,
made it to the national finals
in his first season.
Has high hopes
for this year.
- And there we see the rest
- of the bergstrom clan
All cheering on baby bergie
from back home in Florida.
His girlfriend,
Ashley mcconville,
watching backstage.
She finished the course
earlier tonight.
- That right there
- puts the pressure on
- When your girlfriend hits
- a buzzer.
- Come on.
- [Countdown clock beeping]
- Well, even before that,
big expectations for Caleb.
- We're seeing
- some of these young kids...
The athleticism is insane.
- The question is,
- can they handle the pressure
On the big stage?
- He did last year.
- Can he do it again tonight?
- The youngest ever to get up
- the mega warped wall.
- The guy's got
- a lot of talent, Matt.
- Easy transitions here.
- You wonder, this time
- in the back of his mind,
- A shot on that power tower
- or is he just...
- Gotta go, gotta go!
- Oh, no!
- Oh, my goodness!
- Oh, my goodness!
[Dramatic music]
♪ ♪
Whoa.
What the ninja?
I am befuddled
at what just happened.
- Caleb bergstrom,
a Vegas finalist last year,
out on just the third obstacle
here tonight.
Shocking exit.
- He was clearly going
for speed on this run.
Watch his hands
on ring chaser.
He skips a bar here.
But with his eyes on the ring,
his right wrist slams
into the bar right there
and it knocks him clean off.
♪ ♪
- Clearly disappointed.
Expected to go far
in this competition,
but Caleb bergstrom's season
is over.
♪ ♪
Well, earlier tonight, we saw
hockey player Barry goers,
and, minutes ago,
Jake Murray's other
Colorado pick, Glenn albright,
got his shot on the course.
- Okay, I see you!
- Albright is a meat cutter
- at a barbecue restaurant
- back in Denver,
And he brought some tasty ribs
- for Jake and Barry
- on the sidelines.
- Come on, baby, you got it!
- Come on!
- Albright sliced his way
through the early obstacles.
- Okay!
- And, fittingly,
The meat cutter
carved up rib run...
- Yeah!
- Boom! Nice.
- Let's go!
- Yeah, Glenn!
- Before he was finally
cut down on the Ferris wheel.
- That handle
- was too hot for him.
He got burned.
[Cheers and applause]
- And now here he comes,
the final member
of this Colorado crew,
the wild man, Jake Murray.
He's known for crazy stunts
like eating corn dogs
and wearing straitjackets,
- but now he's got
- a crazy new side business
Off the course.
♪ ♪
- Last spring,
I picked up a new hobby.
I've ended up making
some cat towers.
[Cat meows]
No, this is not any sort
of mid-life crisis.
[Cat yowls]
- It takes
- Patience and perseverance,
Just like "ninja warrior."
- I don't want
- to call myself a genius,
But I Bob rossed the ceiling
of one of the rooms
and made a little cloud sky.
[Harp plays]
My ideas?
- It's crazy.
- They just pop into my head,
Like, when I'm skateboarding.
Usually when I'm at ease.
You know, I put
a few extra touches on it
that I think sets them apart
from anything you'll find
at the big stores.
[Meows]
But tonight,
it's ninja time,
- and there's another tower
- I'm focusing on.
[Quirky upbeat music]
- And the tower he's talking
about is the power tower.
And he can get there,
- if he's one of
- the two fastest tonight.
- Well, that could be
- really important.
His two Colorado buddies,
goers and albright,
may not make it
into the top 12.
- But if Jake wins
- on the power tower,
He would save them,
- and they'd go
- to the semifinals,
So you know they're watching
this run closely,
as is Jake's family,
including his parents
in south Dakota
- and his girlfriend, Carissa,
- who's in Colorado.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- Jake likes
- to go fast anyway,
And he can save his buddies?
You know he's gonna
let it fly here.
- Well, look at him, just
- flying
Across lunatic ledges
in one move.
- Oh, he's ballin' out!
- Ethan Swanson currently
with the fastest time at 1:04.
- But Murray's already
- on the third obstacle
In under 20 seconds.
- But keep in mind,
- Daniel Gil's still to come,
And he is a speed demon.
Jake knows this.
Oh, no hesitation!
Right through it.
Cat-like reflexes.
- [Laughs] Yes.
- Under 30 seconds here
to the fifth obstacle.
He's gunning
for the fastest time.
- Now this is where he's gotta
- go up if he wants that speed.
- Come on.
- Good.
Don't forget to breathe.
- Please don't forget
- to breathe.
- He's got something
- to prove here.
- Oh, look at him
reaching over.
- 20 seconds left.
- Drops down.
- Mm.
- Will he go for the mega wall?
- Oh, oh...
- No, he won't.
He's going for the time.
- Oh, under a minute!
Hey!
- [Shouts]
Whoo!
- And Jake Murray has done it!
- Yes!
[Cheers and applause]
- You have the fastest time
of the night at 54.5 seconds.
- Oh, sweet!
- Well, that means Jake is in
- line to go to the power tower.
If he wins there,
- he'll get
- his two Colorado buddies
Into the semifinals with him.
- Yeah!
Watch him swing straight
across lunatic ledges.
That's the best we've seen
anyone on that obstacle,
and he just kept running.
Finishes in under a minute!
A perfect performance
from Jake Murray.
- Right now, Jake's in line
for the power tower,
- where he'd face off
- with his buddy Ethan Swanson
At the end of the night.
But some fast ninjas
still to run.
And, up next, flex labreck's
got her eye on another buzzer.
- I'm a nervous wreck
- before I go.
Um, I am just a puddle and
I feel like I could throw up.
But that's okay.
- I'm just gonna take it
- one obstacle at a time
And I'm hoping that I'm gonna
hit the buzzer and move on.
- We'll see flex run
when "American ninja warrior"
returns.
.
- Welcome back to St. Louis.
While we were away,
- the remaining members of
- roo yori's cats and dogs squad
Got their chance
on the course.
Wild and crazy
22-year-old Jackson twait
rolled out to the start...
- Whoo!
- And paused to show some love
to his beloved cat, Hades.
- And a little heel click.
He's ready.
- With lots of support
- from back in his home state
- of Iowa,
This recent college graduate
used cat-like reflexes...
- Okay, twait!
- To claw his way
- through the course.
- He's not twaitin' around.
- He's going for it.
- And he finished
- with one of the fastest times
- of the night.
- Whoo!
[Cheers and applause]
Let's go!
[Cheers and applause]
- Twait's buddy, roo yori,
is a dog guy.
In fact, he trains with
his dogs, Johnny and juju.
- Oh, look at the dogs.
[Laughs]
- They were watching
- from back in Minnesota
As the five-time "ninja"
veteran hit the course.
Even at 43 years old,
this old dog
learned a new trick
as he fetched the ring.
- Bayaka!
- Nice.
- He even felt young enough
to try the 18-foot mega wall.
- Go get that money!
- Though he came up short,
- he still made it up
- the regular wall
And hit the buzzer
like his cat buddy, twait.
[Cheers and applause]
- Yeah!
- Then "ninja" great
Jesse "flex" labreck's
midwestern group
kicked off their runs.
First up was 6' tall
Brittany holterman
- who's been training with flex.
- Go, britt!
- Brittany comes in tonight as
the tallest female competitor.
- With her wife, family,
- and friends
- Watching from back
- in Milwaukee,
- The former college
- basketball star at Dayton
Couldn't make the grab
on ring chaser.
[All groan]
- And then couldn't
- make the jump
To the second hook.
- Airball!
- Labreck's fiancé,
- Chris digangi,
- Is coming off
- his best season ever,
- Making it to stage three
- last year,
But it didn't stop flex
from being nervous.
- Eyes getting
- a little glassy and teary.
- But she didn't
- need to worry.
- The Chicago native showed
- his veteran savvy...
- Oh, this is impressive.
- And made it to the buzzer,
joining our growing list
of finishers.
[Cheers and applause]
- Chicago!
Whoo!
- Well, now, it's flex's turn.
- She's gone from the sideline
- to the start line.
- Always one
- of the most anticipated runs
Whenever she's on the course.
Flex labreck.
And there's the flex.
- She's bringing both barrels
to the gun show.
- And she's got her dad
- and stepmom watching
From back in Maine.
- We're happy to see you.
- Oh, my god!
- Go get 'em, yes!
- Yes!
- Plus her training partners
- in Illinois,
Brian redard and Tori clement.
- You got it, dude,
- you got it!
[Dramatic music]
- "We love you, flex!"
- Oh, everybody loves when
flex labreck hits the course.
- This is the former track
star's fifth season competing,
tied with Jessi graff
and Michelle warnky-buurma
- for the most buzzers
- by a woman in "ninja" history.
Hoping to break
that tie tonight.
- You got it, Jesse!
- Whoo!
- And Chris just hit a buzzer.
- You got this, baby!
- These two frequently make it
- to the same spot on
- the course,
So that bodes well for flex.
But first order of business:
- Secure her spot
- in the semifinals.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- If she reaches
- the fifth obstacle, she's in.
She'd join Ashley mcconville
and Caitlyn bergstrom
in the women's top three.
- Go on, sweetie!
- You got it!
- You know she wants more,
- though.
- Yeah, we saw Ashley
- finish the course earlier.
- Let's make it two women
- to hit the buzzer tonight.
- Good.
Trust it!
- Yes!
- Move right up! Come on!
- Flex and Chris had
- to postpone their wedding
Because of the pandemic.
A buzzer might help
make up for it.
- Yeah, Jesse!
- But now ring chaser.
So much easier
if you grab the big ring.
- Got it!
- Ooh, got it.
- Great move.
- She's the first woman
to catch the ring this year.
- Flex labreck, so focused.
Always rises to the moment.
- Nice.
- Needs the dismount.
And she's through.
- Yeah!
- Let's go, let's go.
- But now, here comes
- the always-dangerous
- balance obstacle rib run.
So here we go.
- If the former university
- of Maine track star
Can get through this,
she'll be moving on
to the semifinals.
And she's done it!
- Yes! You got it!
- Yes! Let's go!
- So she's in the top three
- among the women,
Joining Ashley mcconville
and Caitlyn bergstrom,
but flex wants more.
Wants her fourth straight
finish in qualifying.
- I know she can handle
the Ferris wheel.
I think she's gonna...
- looking strong.
- Nice.
- Great, just locked on.
Such power out of flex.
- Matt, can I just say,
she's never had a bad run.
She's never fallen
before the fifth obstacle.
- But... and she looks
so calm and focused
and Chris seems so nervous.
They really do.
I love this couple.
- Everything you got!
- Come on!
- Go for the dismount.
There she goes.
For the record.
Right for that buzzer.
And she's got it!
- Nice.
[Buzzer blares]
- She now has more buzzers
than any other woman
in "ninja" history.
[Cheers and applause]
- Let's go!
Yes!
[Cheers and applause]
[Upbeat music]
- Flex, it's been an insane
time with the lockdown,
with everything going on.
- What's it like being out here
- and competing
And getting that buzzer?
- It feels so good.
- And thinking that something
- that is, like,
So big to US was
not gonna happen was just...
It was so tough.
And then being told that
we were gonna get to do it,
it was just something
that we all needed.
- Wow, you know,
- she's always so consistent.
She made the grab
on ring chaser,
- sailed across rib run
- so quickly
She even skipped
the final step,
and, when she raced up
the wall, flex made history
as the first woman
to ever to hit five buzzers.
- All: - Beat that wall!
- Last year,
he took down the mega wall...
And had the fastest time.
- Whoo!
- Can he pull it off
- again tonight?
Daniel Gil's up next
on "American ninja warrior."
.
- Welcome back
to the dome here in St. Louis.
- We're nearing the end
- of our second qualifying night
On "American ninja warrior."
While we were away,
"ninja" superstar Daniel Gil
introduced two of the ninjas
- he trains with
- down in Houston.
First up was Josh Norton,
aka janitor Josh.
He's a janitor
at Houston's iron sports gym
- where Gil also works.
- Whoo!
- Mop the floor
- with this course!
- Come on, Josh!
- Let's go!
- Norton knew he needed
- to finish
- If he wanted to be
- in the top 12...
[Cheers and applause]
- But the pressure
- may have gotten to him.
- Oh, he fumbled!
- Because the janitor
clocked out on ring chaser.
[All groan]
- Yeah, we've got a splash
on aisle three.
We need to mop that up.
- Whoo!
- Then it was Texas a&m
- college student
Gabriel hotchkiss,
who just turned 19.
- I'm the youngest competitor
- on season 12
Of "American ninja warrior."
- I've trained super, super hard
- for this moment.
We'll see what I can do.
- There it is, nice.
- Breathe.
- Despite being a rookie,
the 5'5" former gymnast
- bounded through the course
- like a veteran.
- Good.
- Keep breathing.
- And with his coach
- cheering him on,
Hotchkiss hit the buzzer
in his very first time
on the course.
[Cheers and applause]
- Hey, rookie!
- Welcome to
- "American ninja warrior."
- Thank you.
- Well, now it's time
- for their leader
To take on the course.
- He's the final runner
- of the night.
We're talking, of course,
about Daniel Gil.
The last time we saw him,
- he came up
- just a few seconds short
Of winning $1 million.
Now last year's runner-up
is back
and motivated
like never before.
[Applause]
- This year,
- I am literally feeling
- stronger than I ever have,
Especially after coming so
close to $1 million last year.
- ♪ And you can try
to shake me ♪
- Oh, the clock running down!
- I don't know
- if he can do it.
[Buzzer blares]
- Coming three seconds short
- hurt a lot more
- than I thought it would.
- ♪ And now
I'm battle-tested ♪
- But I've been able
to turn that into a story
- that I get to share
- with so many people
All over the country
from church groups
to schools to gym events.
- Discover what
- your passions are,
- And do not quit, no matter
- how difficult it gets,
Once you find it.
- I tell them that
- we all make mistakes,
We all fail,
- but you have to
- learn to get back at it
As quickly as you can.
- So you better believe
- that, this year,
I will make the most of it,
- and I'm coming
- for every single buzzer.
♪ ♪
- Lots of support for Daniel
- back in Texas.
He's got his wife, Abby,
his parents and siblings,
along with the family
of Gabriel hotchkiss.
- Let's go, Daniel!
- Hotchkiss just hit a buzzer.
- Come on!
- He's moving on,
- but Josh Norton would need Gil
- To get to the power tower
- and win
To keep his season alive.
- But Gil told US
- he wants that mega wall.
He saw Nick hanson
get his second mega wall
earlier tonight.
- Well, Gil would be the first
- to get it three times.
[Countdown clock beeping]
He'll need to beat
Ethan Swanson's time of 1:04
- if he wants to get
- to the power tower.
- He's already showing off
- that speed, Matt.
- He moves fast
- like he's on the autobahn,
But that's Daniel Gil.
He's got good hair
and good speed.
- Well, he moves fast.
- He has confidence,
And moves on now
to the ring chaser.
- Come on.
- Showing off.
- He's so fast,
- he's waiting for the ring.
- The last two years, he was
the fastest in qualifying
and he got the mega wall.
Can he pull off
that double play tonight?
- Oh, come on... oh, nice.
- Oh, my, he's flying!
- Just the Ferris wheel
- between him
- And another run
- at the mega wall.
- He is not waiting around,
- Matt, and he's going for it.
- About 30 seconds if he wants
- to beat Swanson's time.
[Cheers and applause]
Well, Daniel Gil...
- Come on!
- This is gonna be close.
- He's going so fast,
he may need to catch his breath
before the mega wall.
- Survives the drop.
- Nice.
- Still needs the dismount.
- He's through!
- And he ain't playing.
- He's going straight
- for the mega wall.
- Taking a minute
- to gather himself,
And the seconds ticking away.
Not gonna be fast enough
to get to the power tower.
He's betting it all
on this mega wall.
- Can he do it three years
- in a row?
- He better get it,
he better get it.
- Comes up short!
Only gets one attempt
on the regular wall now,
but gets it!
Daniel Gil gambled,
- wanted his third straight
- mega wall,
But did not get it
or get one of
the two top times.
- Whoo!
- But still, he's moving on
- to the semifinals.
- Tell me the strategy.
- Strategy was go fast,
get to the walls
with a good time,
get $10k,
and then finish the course.
- Daniel, congratulations.
You're moving on.
[Cheers and applause]
- Well, let's take a look
- at his mega wall miss
And how it compares
to his past success.
In 2018 and 2019,
look how close he got
to the shield.
And he was able to get
a big lift on his last step.
But this year, that last step
is much lower
and he gets no push-off.
[All groan]
- So it's gonna be
- our two fastest finishers,
Jake Murray and Ethan Swanson,
on the power tower.
Both these guys can save
their teammates if they win.
And this new power tower
is a beast
with an exhausting climb,
then a slide down
and a run across angled steps,
only to climb back up
- and take on
- four dangerous swings
Across the dropping shelves
40 feet high
on their way to the buzzer.
And it's next
on "American ninja warrior."
.
[Cheers and applause]
- Welcome back to St. Louis,
- where we're gonna end
- the night on a high note...
40 feet high, in fact.
It's a duel
on the power tower,
a head-to-head race
on our most intimidating
obstacle.
We've seen some epic showdowns
on the power tower
and tonight is no exception.
A showdown
between speed demons.
Out of Colorado,
the "wild man," Jake Murray,
squaring off against
Ethan "the swan" Swanson.
- Oh, boy.
- And Jake can save
- his Colorado crew,
- Glenn albright
- and Barry goers,
- And bring them
- to the semifinals if he wins.
For Ethan, cam baumgartner's
already in the top 12.
- He's safe,
- but Ethan can keep
- Jack mccallie's
- "ninja" dream alive.
- Jake's gonna have
- his girlfriend Carissa
Watching from Colorado.
- [Chuckling]
- I can't even watch.
Oh, my gosh.
- And Ethan's parents
- will be cheering him on
Back in Illinois.
- Ethan does have the edge
- in experience.
He was on the power tower
last year.
[Dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Power tower looks dazzling
- up there, you know?
40 feet off the ground.
- Some people look
- at the power tower
And are nervous seeing
how high it is.
- It's kind of scary,
but I like the risk involved.
- And Swanson
with the one-handed save!
- Forty feet in the air,
flying around, doing stuff?
That's where I feel at home.
- To go against Jake Murray,
- one of my best friends?
[Laughs]
He's a maniac.
- I have no idea
- what he's gonna pull up there.
- The always-unpredictable
Jake Murray.
- I've done some pretty crazy
- stuff in my life.
- I mean, the Fanny pack with
- the goggles and the corn dog,
That's probably
the most iconic.
This season,
I love the new rule.
I wanna do as well as I can
- so that both guys
- that are on my team
Can run the course again.
- He's super-fast and I hope
- I can hang with him.
- He is a speed demon.
- Me and Ethan
- are pretty tight,
- So I know that
- the competition is stiff.
- The swan, explosive.
- It's gonna be
a difficult race.
♪ ♪
- These two about as evenly
matched as ninjas get, akbar.
- Both these guys can move fast.
- Yes, they can.
Don't blink or you'll miss it.
[Cheers and applause]
[Countdown clock beeping]
This is like scaling up
the pyramid of giza.
Look at them go!
- These 4 1/2-foot steps.
Swan and Jake
very evenly matched.
- Now to the fire pole.
- Uh-oh, and look at this!
- Selling out!
- This is a dead heat!
- They are going crazy!
- Swanson flying through
- the floating steps.
They are going at it!
- Off to the two Poles.
Oh, but Swanson's having
trouble climbing up.
- Uh-oh.
- Swanson's falling behind.
- Swan struggling as Jake
- first to the dropping shelves.
- But this is where
- you can make up ground.
Ethan's gotta sell out.
- Look at Jake move!
- He's gotta make that leap!
- Oh, my!
- Swanson coming from behind!
- Jake has done it!
Wow.
- Glenn and Barry,
you guys are going
to the semifinals!
[Dramatic music]
Jake Murray delivers.
The swan was flying,
but just couldn't keep up
- with the wild man,
- Jake Murray.
- You crushed it, man.
- Let's check
- this one out again.
- This one was close
- through the first half
- Of the obstacle,
- but when they reach the Poles,
Watch Swanson.
He goes for one pole,
and his hand misses
and he spins around.
Jake used both Poles
and climbed straight up.
- Swanson couldn't catch him
- after that.
- We're gonna come down
- the safe way,
- 'cause it's really scary over
- there... sike!
- Hold on, wait.
- What's this?
- Whoa!
- Whoa-ho.
Don't hurt yourselves!
So Jake and his teammates
are moving on.
You had to be a fast finisher
- to make it
- into the top 12 this week,
And behind Jake and Ethan
are Jackson twait
and Daniel Gil.
Other finishers include
Cameron baumgartner
and captain nbc, Jamie rahn,
- along with
- "ninja" power couple
Chris digangi
and Jesse "flex" labreck.
- Joining flex
- among the top three women
Are Florida natives
Ashley mcconville
and Caitlyn bergstrom.
- Well, that wraps it up
- for tonight,
But next week it's another
all-star group of ninjas.
We'll see the superhero
stunt woman, Jessie graff.
- Yeah, plus the Phoenix,
- Philadelphia's
- najee Richardson.
- Can't wait for it.
- For akbar gbajabiamila
- and Zuri hall,
I'm Matt iseman.
We'll see you next time
on "American ninja warrior."
- Welcome to
downtown St. Louis!
- We're inside
- the dome at america's center,
Our home for this season
of "American ninja warrior."
- Hello, everyone.
- I'm Matt iseman.
- And I'm akbar gbajaiamila.
And I am fired up and ready
for week two of "ninja."
- Well, last week
- we kicked off the season
With new safety guidelines
in place.
No crowds, no family members
on the sideline.
- Yeah, and I really think
- that the ninjas have adapted
- well to this new environment.
We saw some great runs
in this new format
where our top stars
brought along other ninjas
from their community.
- And, akbar, it's another
- stacked lineup of competitors.
- Yeah, Matt.
- We are gonna see
- some of the best,
- Including one of our strongest
- women competitors,
Jesse "flex" labreck.
- [Grunts]
- She reached new heights
- last season.
- Yes!
Labreck!
- This year, our stars
have invited two others
and flex has a formidable
group from the midwest,
including her fiancé,
national finalist
Chris digangi.
- We are ready to flex.
- We've also got the man who
almost won it all last year,
worship leader Daniel Gil.
- He's gonna be climbing
for a million dollars!
- And he's bringing
a rookie and a janitor
and giving them
their chance to shine.
- These are two of
- the strongest Houston ninjas
That I know of.
- Plus, fan favorite,
stuntman jj woods
returns after a year off.
- I'm back, baby!
- And he's recruited
- two of the best
- from the state of Florida.
- I am so excited to see
just how far we can go.
- We'll also see
the eskimo ninja, Nick hanson.
A storm destroyed his course
in Alaska,
but it won't stop him.
And he's got two other ninjas
from his home state.
- Tonight, we're doing it
- for Alaska.
♪ ♪
- And as always, keeping track
- of the action on the sideline,
The third member of our team,
Zuri hall.
- Thanks, guys.
- This is where every ninja
- will start their run
Down six tough obstacles,
and that includes the one
everyone is talking about
from last week, ring chaser.
- Nice, got it!
- Got it!
- Competitors have
to catch that 14-inch ring,
and if they miss...
- Missed the ring.
- Oh, watch out.
- They'll have to finish with
a much smaller
eight-inch ring...
- Got it!
- Oh, okay!
- Get through
- two more obstacles
- And they'll face
- the warped wall.
- Yes!
- Nice!
- And starting tonight,
there's something big
- waiting for
- our two fastest finishers:
The power tower.
The 40-foot monster is back
with a couple of new twists.
Our two fastest finishers
- will race at the end
- of the night.
- The winner gets to bring
- the other two members
Of their group
to the semifinals.
We'll see you back here
at the end of the night.
- So let's get it going.
- This year,
- our top ninjas got to bring
- Two people
- from their community.
Here's our first one,
Cassie dierks,
a rookie from new Mexico.
- Come on, Cassie!
- She was invited
by the k9 ninja, roo yori.
- Roo's a five-time
- "ninja" veteran
- Who's known
- for his work rescuing dogs,
But in the spirit
of this special season,
the k9 ninja's brought along
a couple of cat people.
[Dogs barking]
- Thank you, thank you.
- I know that
- there's this rivalry
- Between cats - and dog people.
[Cat meows]
- But I think
- if we come together,
- We're gonna be unstoppable.
- [Cats meowing]
- We are all animal people
and it's definitely a fun
and light-hearted atmosphere.
We've tried to do some fun
- cat- and dog-themed training,
- like...
- Maybe we'll have someone
- hold a laser pointer
- And put it at the top
- of the warped wall.
- Good boy, Jackson.
- Climb some trees,
- maybe play a little tug-of-war
- to get the grip strength up.
[Cats meowing]
- My business
is catopia cat cafe,
located in Albuquerque,
new Mexico.
Cat cafes are
a great place to relax,
- take a load off,
- just chill out with some cats.
- There's generally, like,
15-20 rescue cats
that stay there.
[Meows]
- In the year and a half
- that we've been in business,
We've found homes for 180 cats.
- I think cats are the perfect
- inspiration for being a ninja
Because they're super agile,
they have great balance,
and they're just
super-great athletes.
Hi.
- Tonight,
- we're gonna be the cat's meow.
♪ ♪
- Do it for xanthippe!
- Whoo!
- There's roo and Jackson
sporting the adopt a cat shirt
which features
Cassie's own cat, xanthippe.
And there's xanthippe herself,
watching from new Mexico
- along with Cassie's family
- and boyfriend.
- Oh, man.
- This is amazing.
This is the first time
- I think we've seen a cat
- on the sidelines.
Is xanthippe excited?
- I can never tell
- with cats, Matt.
[Purring]
[Countdown clock beeping]
- All right, come on, Cassie.
- Here we go!
First obstacle,
the shrinking steps.
- Look at this cat.
- The cat is actually watching
- Cassie on the course!
Are you kidding me?
- Look at the cat keeping up
- with Cassie!
- Xanthippe can now watch her
- try lunatic ledges.
She's got to pounce out
and grab the first ledge,
then swing to the second.
- There you go. Nice!
- Come on.
- Cassie's a 21-year-old
rookie from Albuquerque.
5'7".
Needs some agility here.
Catlike agility.
- Yeah, Matt.
- She's gotta go.
- She's gotta generate
- enough power
And then make that transfer.
- Losing a little steam here.
- Big swing, big swing,
- big swing!
- Pop!
- Get it!
- Ahh!
- Oh, no!
- Oh, she missed it.
- She's in the water.
You know cats hate that.
- Whoo!
- Good job, Cassie!
- Cats have nine lives.
She only had one.
Cassie dierks is out
and xanthippe...
[Meows sadly]
Can't even look.
- Matt, they say cats
always land on their feet,
- but Cassie actually kicked
- the ledge away
With her right foot here
and just missed the bar
with her right hand.
You gotta be kitten me!
- A fun way to start.
- And here's a reminder
- of how this season will work.
Tonight's the second of
our four nights of qualifying.
The top 12 individuals
and top three women
will move on to one
of our two semifinals
- and only the best will advance
- to the finals
Where the winner takes home
$100,000.
♪ ♪
Well, our next athlete
knows all about winning.
- He comes from a competitive
- hockey background.
And look at this...
Dressed in his Jersey
and gear.
This is former
pro hockey player Barry goers.
He's the first member of
Jake Murray's Colorado group.
They have serious skills,
but they also know
how to have fun.
♪ ♪
- I picked some of the most
fun people from Colorado.
Barry's a former
pro hockey player,
I grew up skateboarding
and rock climbing,
and Glenn is the man
on the grill.
- How do you guys like
- your ribs?
- Extremely well-done.
- All right.
- [Chuckling]
- Char it.
- Jake's such a nice guy.
- Three, two, one, crush.
- The best advice he gave me
- was just have fun with it.
- Nice, Barry.
- Don't overthink things.
Kinda just do it.
- It's very interesting
seeing someone from hockey
come over to ninja,
but he's very powerful
and I would assume
that comes from hockey.
- Whoo!
- [Cheering]
- I played pro hockey
- for eight years,
- Four years with the
- wilks-barre/scranton penguins,
- The ahl team
- of the Pittsburgh penguins.
I definitely always had
to prove myself on the ice
- and, for me, that was
- just playing fearless.
- Goers... beautiful one.
And then he scores!
A three-point game
for the defenseman.
- I really miss having a team
- from the time
- I was playing hockey,
And to find guys
like Jake and Glenn...
- Hit me!
[Upbeat music]
- Who have really become
- my new team,
It's been awesome.
- I love you guys.
- Hi, hi!
- Barry's getting
- a lot of support.
That's his wife and two sons,
plus his parents who are also
watching from Colorado.
- And, look, from Pennsylvania,
- it's tux,
The mascot for the
wilks-barre/scranton penguins.
Goers played for them
for several years.
- You think he's gonna run
- the course in his gear?
- [Chuckling]
- There he goes.
Drop the gloves.
He's getting ready
for a fight.
- Oh,
- this hockey player's fit.
He's ready to go.
- Let's go, Barry!
- Jake murry
- and Glenn albright
Will have his back
on the sidelines.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- There's daddy.
- You got it, babe!
- Let's see if Jake was right
- about Barry.
- Well, - we know hockey players
- Have a strong lower body
- from skating,
But how's his upper body gonna
handle this ninja course?
- Nice.
- Off to a quick start here
- on lunatic ledges.
- And makes the grab
- on the second ledge.
- Good job, babe.
- Oh, good job.
- You can see him using his hips
- controlling those ledges.
But now ring chaser.
- Has to try to catch the ring
- rolling down the track.
- All right, go, go, go, go!
- Fast hands!
[All groan]
- I thought
- he would've got that!
- I think he needed
- his hockey stick for that one.
Now the difficulty goes up
with this smaller handle.
- Matt, this is just a little
- bit bigger than a puck.
- He's gotta nail it
- on that hook.
- Yes!
And he's got it!
- Whoo!
- Barry goers is going.
- Good job, Barry.
- Whoo-hoo!
- But now the balance obstacle,
- rib run.
No hesitation!
- He didn't stop
- and look at it.
- And no break.
Goes right into the fifth
obstacle, the Ferris wheel.
And... oh, almost a quick exit.
Needs to grab those handles
- and work his way across
- the two wheels.
- He's gotta really carry
all 165 pounds
around this Ferris wheel.
- This rookie
- is just attacking this course.
- Matt, he's a hockey player.
- Come on, dog.
- You know they like to fight.
- He's fighting
- with this course.
- Now has to reach over
- to the second wheel.
- Come on, babe, good job.
- [Cooing]
- Going down a little bit.
- Use that grip!
- Oh, oh!
- No!
And Barry goers knocked out.
- [Grimaces]
- Ooh.
- I think this Ferris wheel's
gonna knock out a few ninjas
tonight.
Matt, Barry got deked
by the first ring
but went top shelf
with the second.
He skated right through
rib run like it was nothing,
but it was game over when
he reached the Ferris wheel.
♪ ♪
- Tonight,
captain nbc has made his home
right here in St. Louis,
and he's got a couple
of Missouri men
- ready to represent
- the midwest.
- This is as American
- as it gets.
- Abel Gonzales is the pride
of south Texas,
- and he's bringing two
- of his prize pupils
To make their "ninja" debut.
- So they were on my side
- and I can't wait
- To be on their sides
- as a proud coach.
- And up next,
jj woods and others
share the powerful message
behind the ninjas
for black lives movement.
- ♪ How the water rises ♪
♪ and the mountains shake ♪
♪ our love will remain ♪
- Even though there is a lot
- of darkness out there,
Light always rises to meet it.
- When "American
ninja warrior" returns.
.
- Welcome back to St. Louis
- and our second night
- of qualifying
On "American ninja warrior."
This special season,
our veteran stars
got to invite two other
athletes to join them:
Athletes they've trained with
- or have
- a special connection to.
And one group got their shot
while we were away
- as last year's breakout star
- Taylor amann
- Led a group of pole vaulters
- onto the course.
First up, Nicole breske
hopes to qualify
- for next year's Olympics
- in pole vaulting,
- And this rookie was flexing
- at the start.
- Ooh, she is a beast!
- But the Florida state grad
- stalled out
At the lunatic ledges.
- Oh, no!
- Oh!
Next, it was Zane paksi,
who at just 5'1"
set the pole vault record
at olivet college in Michigan.
- I see you, big boy!
- Paksi survived
a couple of hard shots
on the lunatic ledges.
- Oh!
- But he couldn't survive
- a stumble on rib run.
- Oh!
- His foot grazed the water
and his night was over.
- Oh, no, Matt.
- Oh, no!
- Just barely got wet.
- [Chuckles]
[Cheers and applause]
- Well, now, it's
- the third member of the group.
This is Taylor amann.
- She was a conference champion
- pole vaulter
At the university
of Wisconsin.
Throwing some love to her
family back in her home state.
- You got this!
- You got it.
- Also cheering her on,
- a couple
- of other Wisconsin ninjas.
- You got this, Taylor.
- Yep.
- Let's go two.
- Let's go, Taylor!
- You got this!
- You got this!
- And her fellow pole vaulters
- who just ran
Now on the sideline for her.
- Amann had a breakout season
- last year,
Was the top woman
in Oklahoma city,
- and qualified for the national
- finals as a rookie.
[Countdown clock beeping]
5'7", 125, akbar.
- Yeah, she was a big-time
college pole vaulter.
Was an all-American
her senior year.
- Swing.
- Big swing, big swing!
- Now the lunatic ledges.
- Remember, the top three women
- from tonight
- Will move on
- to the semifinals.
- But you probably'll need
- to get to that fifth obstacle
- If you want one
- of those spots.
- She showed US a lot
- of athleticism.
Made it up the warped wall
in the city finals.
And she goes fast.
She has a good pace.
We know pace can be key.
- But she's taking
a few extra swings here.
- Now she's through.
- Whoo.
- Come on, Taylor.
- Let's go.
- Before
the covid-19 pandemic,
- she started
- to take boxing classes
- To really step up
- her training.
- Well, she's gonna need quick
- hands on this next obstacle,
Ring chaser.
- Good racing.
- Can she grab it?
Not fast enough.
- I thought
- she was gonna punch for it.
- That boxing skills
- would've came in play for that
With the hand speed.
- And now watch
- how she builds up momentum.
Will she use that bar?
- Yup.
- One move.
- Yeah, she's going.
- Perfect.
- Matt, do you see
- how confident she was?
- Great.
- Didn't have to eye it up.
- She saw it, locked on to it,
- and boom.
- There you go.
- Good job, Taylor!
Whoo!
[Cheers and applause]
- Let's watch the footwork
- here on rib run.
- Quick feet, quick feet.
- Quick feet, Taylor,
- quick feet.
- Well, as a pole vaulter,
she should be good
with her footwork.
- Come on, nice, nice, nice.
- Keep going!
- Oh, no!
- Oh!
Uh-oh.
[All groan]
- Taylor amann splashes down.
You can see,
- just getting spread out,
- lost her momentum,
And down she goes.
- She looked strong
- through three obstacles,
But on the fourth,
her legs were
flying side-to-side.
That pushes the ribs out
and she had no chance.
- We'll have to see
- if that keeps her
In the women's top three.
- Well, now,
- it's time to welcome back
A "ninja" favorite.
Zuri, get 'em going.
- Guys, we have all missed
this next ninja.
Jj woods has been
a fan favorite for years,
but a nasty fall kept him
from the course last season.
But jj wanted
to return this year.
He's been one of the leaders
of a ninja movement
for racial justice.
[Uplifting music]
- Myself,
- like so many other ninjas,
- We're gonna be wearing
- this shirt:
Ninjas for black lives.
And it's to promote knowledge,
growth, and unity.
- ♪ Yeah ♪
- Ignoring race
doesn't fix racism;
it makes it worse.
♪ ♪
- Athletes in general,
- you know,
- We're supposed to
- be role models,
But then there's this idea
- that we're not supposed
- to have opinions,
But I think that's changing
- and I think that
- that's really important.
- You know,
I spent so much of my life
trying to be the opposite
of what america thinks I am,
and, in that moment,
it was for nothing.
- ♪ We will never break ♪
♪ we will never break ♪
- I grew up in the south.
It was very racist, you know?
And I just grew up that way.
- You just kind of learn,
- "okay, yeah, that's normal.
- Whatever," - and you go on.
- But realizing
- you shouldn't be
- Used to this,
- that's a horrible thing.
- Nobody should have to explain
- that to their children.
- Hearing about this stuff,
- it's tricky
And it makes US feel bad,
because it makes US realize
that maybe the world isn't
as fair as we thought.
But if we don't know that,
if we don't hear that,
then how can we change that?
- [Squealing and giggling]
- It's been deeply personal.
- It wasn't until I had a kid,
- until I saw kofi,
And I thought about the way
I wanted him to be treated
that this work really started
to become impossible
to not do.
- ♪ How the water rises ♪
♪ and the mountains shake ♪
♪ our love will remain ♪
- We have a platform where
we can create some real change
- and we can really make
- a difference here.
That is the future
that ninjas for black lives
is working for.
♪ ♪
- Even though there is a lot
- of darkness out there,
Light always rises to meet it.
♪ ♪
[Cheers and applause]
- Well said by jj woods.
Jj woods has always been about
something bigger than himself.
- Uncle!
- And there's a great example
- of that.
- That's his friend's daughter,
- Zoey
- Battling cancer
- at a hospital in New York.
She calls him uncle jj
and she means
the world to him.
Also has his parents
along with other
family members watching.
- [Laughs]
- Let's go, jj!
- Jj's brought along
- a couple of ninjas
- From his home state
- of Florida,
Ashley mcconville
and Ronald Washington.
We'll see them in just a bit.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- This was a guy who made
- a lot of noise.
- Four times he made it
- to the national finals.
- But like many,
- with most ninja gyms closed,
- Hasn't been able
- to train on obstacles
As much as he'd like.
- This is a bigger jj woods.
He's put on 22 pounds.
- He's really gotten
- into the power lifting.
- Oh, he is jacked, akbar.
- Look at those shoulders.
Looks like he's got
cannonballs under that shirt.
- And just look at the smile
- on the face of Zoey.
So excited to watch jj.
Now ring chaser.
There goes jj.
Gotta move fast.
- Missed it.
So now, he'll have to use
that smaller ring behind him.
He'll need to jump it
six feet over to that hook.
- That's a lot of weight.
- 197 pounds.
- Watch that hook!
- Missed it.
- [All groan]
- Dang!
- [Chuckles]
- That smaller handle,
- you have to be
- so much more precise.
- Matt, jj woods at 197 pounds,
he needed that big ring.
Check this out.
Jj just didn't move
fast enough on the bars
to catch the ring,
and with that smaller ring,
it's a lot harder
to land it on the hook.
- Though he didn't
- hit a buzzer,
He was able to get
his important message across,
and that right there is a win.
- [Sighs]
Still good to be back.
- And, guys, a lot of our
big-name ninjas are coming up.
Will any of them
take down our mega wall?
That buzzer right there
is worth 10,000 bucks.
No one could reach it
last week.
- Oh, so close.
- Ooh!
- But some of our best
- will get their shot tonight...
[Buzzer blares]
- When "American ninja warrior"
- returns.
.
- Welcome back to St. Louis
- where we're in the second week
- of qualifying
Here on
"American ninja warrior."
And up next
is Fort Lauderdale's
Ronald "dynamite" Washington.
- You can see he's got
- a lot of support
From back in his home state.
- They're here in spirit, bro!
- You've got this.
- He's a member of jj woods'
crew from south Florida,
and like jj,
he's wearing the ninjas
for black lives t-shirt
but also a blue headband
for law enforcement.
- Washington works
- in law enforcement
As a fish & wildlife officer,
and, like jj,
he's also got a message.
- Shout out
- to black lives matter
Because all of them do,
and blue lives, too.
Let's go.
[Shouts]
- You can see why
they call him dynamite.
That's his wife
who's expecting any day now.
- Go, Ronald!
- As well as his father
- and brother there
And a young man named cedrick
that he mentors.
- Let's go!
- He is all jacked up,
- and I'll tell you why.
Last year in Atlanta,
- he made it
- to the fifth obstacle,
Ferris wheel.
[Electricity crackles]
First the lights went out...
He kept going,
but, a few seconds later,
he went out.
- Oh.
- [Air horn blares]
- Well, the Ferris wheel
- is back tonight,
Down as the fifth obstacle,
so he wants revenge.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- He started a career
- in law enforcement
Right out of high school.
A dedicated officer.
- You know, he puts his life
- at risk all the time
Dealing with alligators
- and all sorts
- of other crazy stuff.
- Here he is
- on lunatic ledges.
- I like it.
- A confident approach.
5'11, 170.
- Well, Matt, here's a man
- that loves
- a risky proposition.
His nine to five is risky
and ninja is risky.
- Moving on to ring chaser.
This is where jj fell earlier.
- Quick, quick, quick,
- quick, quick!
- Come on, go get it,
- go get it, go get it!
Nice!
- Oh, so smooth.
- You gotta risk it
to get the biscuit,
and he just got the biscuit.
- Nice!
- And he's got it.
- Smooth!
- Get outta there!
- A smooth run.
- Whoo!
Good job, Ronald!
- Aw, and he's getting close
- to that Ferris wheel.
- But first,
gotta survive rib run.
- Nice.
- Look at that, Matt.
- He is coming out
- with authority.
- Yes!
- He made it here.
Now it's a face-off
with the Ferris wheel.
- And you can see it
in his face.
Dynamite determined to get
redemption on this obstacle.
- Come on, Ronald!
- And he's been moving fast.
He might be a little winded.
- But skips a handle!
- Now hang on for this drop.
- And he does hang on,
but now a dangerous move
to the other wheel.
- Makes it.
- That's where he fell last year.
- Already he's gone farther
and he looks much stronger.
- I gotta say, I'm confident
- in his upper body strength.
I like this faster approach.
- One at a time,
- one at a time!
- Just gotta survive
this last big drop.
- Nice... ooh!
- Oh, no!
- Oh!
- On the Ferris wheel!
- He wanted redemption,
but does not get it.
- Ah!
- Thank you guys for watching.
I love it.
- Dynamite's run blown up again
by the Ferris wheel.
- Hey, you know what,
- it's an improvement.
Last year, he barely made it
to the second wheel.
Tonight,
he made it to the end.
But he just couldn't hang on
through that final drop.
[Cheers and applause]
- Well, now up to the start,
it's the final member
of jj wood's group.
This is Ashley mcconville,
a college student
from largo, Florida.
This 20-year-old has
a lot of support back home,
but none more important
than her uncle David.
[Cheers and applause]
[Peaceful music]
- All right, David.
- Let's play war.
- Ready?
- Okay.
Ready.
- Together: - One, two, three.
- I love my uncle more than
I love any other human
on this planet.
- Oh, no.
- Eight.
- That means you won it.
- Oh, yeah.
- He's always just been
- that person
Who I can just go to
if I need to laugh
- or if I just want a friend
- to talk to
Or play a game of cards with.
- Yeah.
- [Chuckles] You're on a roll.
He always finds so much joy
in everything
and he's just so much fun
to be around.
- [Imitates buzzer]
- Nice job, David.
[Chuckles]
He has down syndrome
and he thinks the things I do
- are just the coolest things
- in the world.
- You wanna watch me
- do this stuff?
- Yeah, sure, go ahead.
[Upbeat music]
- He loves to see me
throw myself
through obstacles.
He loves getting
to see me fly through the air.
♪ ♪
- He thinks I'm a superhero,
- basically.
- Beat that wall!
- My uncle David
- has never gotten
- to see me compete in person.
- Beat that wall,
- beat that wall, beat that wall!
- So I'm super-excited
that he finally gets
to see me run a course live.
[Chuckles]
♪ ♪
- Uncle David, I'm gonna hit
this buzzer for you.
♪ ♪
[Cheers and applause]
- And there's David.
- He'll be cheering her on
- along with Ashley's parents
And other family members,
plus her brother,
sister-in-law, and sister.
- This is your game, Ashley!
- You got this!
- Well, there's jj woods,
- who invited her here
- Along with the third member
- of their group,
Ronald "dynamite" Washington.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- And a lot
- of these ninjas say,
- "watch out
- for Ashley mcconville."
She's been tearing it up
at local ninja competitions.
- Yeah, you got this,
- you got it!
- Let's see what she does
- on lunatic ledges.
- Really gotta generate power
- with that lower body there.
- And she knows how to do
- that.
She was a competitive gymnast
- before she started
- ninja training.
- Good use of the hips.
- The secret here
- is you wanna get off
- That first part
- as quickly as possible.
- Nice.
- That was smooth.
- She trains with
- the first family of ninja,
The bergstroms,
at their gym near tampa.
Gets through.
In fact,
over in the warmup area
- is her boyfriend,
- Caleb bergstrom.
He'll run later.
- Come on, ash.
- Let's go!
- Now mcconville
- facing ring chaser.
- Move it, move it, move it,
- move it, move it, move it.
- Brace for it.
- All right, here we go.
Here we go, go!
- [All groan]
- All right, that's okay.
- That's okay.
- It's all right.
- Gotta go
- for that smaller handle.
Only an eight-inch diameter.
She's 5'3".
Gotta generate enough swing
here to fly six feet across
to land on that hook.
- Only one chance on this.
- Put it right
- where it belongs.
- Whoo!
- [Cheers and applause]
- Got it!
- Nice.
- You can do this, Ashley.
- And she's through.
Jj's smiling.
He fell on that obstacle,
but his young apprentice,
- Ashley mcconville,
- survived it.
Now onto rib run.
- She's really gotta bound
through here on rib run.
Bound, bound, bound, bound!
- Oh, nice!
[Cheers and applause]
- And the crowd going wild
down in Florida.
- Remember,
- the top three women
Move on
to the semifinals.
- Ashley mcconville putting
- herself in good position
To be one of them.
- But here's a real test:
- The Ferris wheel.
- No one's gotten
- through this tonight.
- Gotta grab those handles,
go up across the top
or down along the bottom.
And she's going up,
showing confidence.
- Matt, we had heard
- this young woman
Was a rising star,
- and she's living up
- to the hype.
[Cheers and applause]
Nice hold-on.
- Survives the drop.
Has to reach over
to the second wheel.
Got it!
- One move at a time.
- Going under here.
- This is gonna start
- to spin towards her.
- And going low on the wheels
- may look easier,
- But it actually requires
- more moves.
This is not easy!
- Use the hips.
- Use the lower body.
- Ahh, she's starting
- to gas out.
She's gotta go up higher.
- At just 128 pounds,
she's having trouble
- controlling the momentum
- on this.
- Stay calm.
But see, as a gymnast,
- she understands, under duress,
- you gotta stay calm.
Fight through it!
- Hips!
- Go for the dismount!
- She's got it, Matt,
- she's got it.
- Come on.
- Good use of the hips.
- Come on.
- Watch that left arm,
- watch that left arm!
[Cheers and applause]
Okay, okay, Ashley!
- Yes!
[Cheers and applause]
- All: Beat that wall!
- Beat that wall!
- Ashley, you go, girl!
- Let's go!
- Well, you know uncle David
has to be so proud!
- Look at uncle David.
Hey, uncle David,
your niece is about to be
the first finisher tonight!
- Here she is, 14 1/2 feet
from her first buzzer!
- Come on, come on.
She's got this.
- 5'3... this is almost three
- times her height.
- Ashley mcconville!
- Fingertips.
- Yeah, that's all right!
- All right, you can do this!
- Two more tries.
Two more tries.
- Two more tries.
- She got her hand up there,
- akbar.
She knows she can do it.
- All you gotta do is hold on.
- And jj... you can see
the nerves for jj,
how much it matters.
Gotta dig deep
and explode up that wall.
- Twelve years
- of competitive gymnastics.
- Here we go!
- Just her second year
- competing...
- oh!
- Okay,
- she lost a little energy.
- Oh, it's okay!
- Come on.
- It's okay, it's okay,
- it's okay.
- It's okay.
- She has to be exhausted now.
- Remember, Ashley.
- Don't try to reach
- until you're ready.
- Final attempt.
- Ashley, I know you can do it.
- Everyone at home
- on the edge of their seat!
Uncle David is on the edge
of his seat watching!
- Nine women
- in "ninja" history
- Have hit a buzzer
- in qualifying.
Could she be the tenth?
- Come on!
Get it, girl, get it!
Yeah, yeah!
Yeah!
Okay!
[Buzzer blares]
[Upbeat music]
♪ ♪
[Cheers and applause]
- Her family's elated!
- That's how you do it!
- Jj's elated
- and her boyfriend's elated,
- too!
- [Laughs]
- Yes!
[Cheers and applause]
Hey, Ashley!
Look at uncle David!
- [Chuckling]
- Whoo!
- Hey,
- let me tell you something.
You truly do continue
to inspire.
Well done.
- Thank you so much.
- Congratulations.
- Matt, the world will know
- the name Ashley mcconville
After tonight.
Wow.
- Up next,
straight outta south Texas,
Abel Gonzales brings two of
his top students to the course
when "American ninja warrior"
returns.
.
- Welcome back to St. Louis.
- Now remember,
- at the end of the night,
We're flying right over there
to the power tower
for a showdown
between tonight's
two fastest finishers.
- O-m-g.
That is a monstrosity
of an obstacle.
Was it that big last year?
- While we were away,
four-time veteran
Jessica Clayton
led a group of ninjas
from Atlanta onto the course.
The it consultant
and mom of three
- threw kisses to her kids.
- [Cheers and applause]
- And then she took a knee
- and raised a fist
To support the ninjas
for black lives movement.
- And, Matt, she is strong.
She served our country well.
- The marine corps veteran
attacked the course,
- but when she missed
- the big ring on ring chaser...
- Come on, come on, come on,
- come on, come on, come on,
- Come on, Jessica...
- [all groan]
- She couldn't connect
- on the smaller one.
- Be careful... ooh.
[Air horn blares]
- Ahh!
- That was hard.
It's a big difference.
- One of the ninjas
- she brought with her,
- Deshawn Harris,
- was hyped from the start.
- [Shouts]
Let's go!
Let's go, baby!
- And look at him.
- He's so pumped, Matt.
He's so ready for this!
- The Atlanta
- special needs teacher
Had no problem on ring chaser.
- Look at him!
That's how you do it!
- And the former
- college football player
Rumbled across rib run.
- Let's go!
- That was close! Man!
[Cheers and applause]
- But his energetic run
finally ended
- on the Ferris wheel.
- Gotta reach out.
Come on, reach over!
[All groan]
- Just had to reach over, man.
- Just had to reach over.
- But this group
- had another football star,
32-year-old lashaunda dupree,
- who plays on a women's
- football team in Atlanta.
- I like this!
- Ooh, she got a little fire
- in her!
- She's also a personal
trainer to the stars
and had one of her clients,
actor Tyrese Gibson,
urging her
to be fast and furious.
[Cheering]
- The west point grad
- and former army captain
- Battled her way across
- the first...
- Yes! Let's go!
- Yeah!
- And the second obstacles.
- Nice!
Oh, hold on!
[Cheers and applause]
- Yes!
- Wow!
That's that west point grit!
- But at only 125 pounds,
- she couldn't generate
- any bounce on the third.
- Oh, she airballed!
- It's okay, l!
- You did it!
- They got me, but guess what?
Next year,
I'm coming back even stronger.
- Well, this season's
all about rising together,
and Abel Gonzales
is a perfect example of that.
He's a seven-time
"ninja" veteran
who overcame
his own tough childhood
- to become a leader
- in south Texas.
- Let's go, Abel!
- Yeah!
- And tonight,
- he's brought two of the ninjas
- He's been training
- and they're ready
To give a lift to a hard-hit
area of the country.
- I couldn't be more excited
- about competing
- Representing south Texas
- with Holly and Gloria
By my side.
I picked them because
- they're the perfect
- representation of this sport
And south Texas.
- Yeah!
- Beautiful, Holly.
- I know especially right now,
times are so hard.
I would love to inspire
my kids, my family,
but also my community.
[Upbeat music]
- Axios warrior academy is a
very unique and special place.
And it's really important
- because we're in one
- of the most obese environments
In the entire country.
But if I can help my students,
- I know that they're gonna
- help their friends;
- They're gonna help
- their family.
Some of them come in
- and they don't have anything
- that they're passionate about,
But when they try ninja,
- a lot of them just stick to it
- and they love it.
[Cheers and applause]
- I tell 'em,
- "look, I got this strong,
- I do all this stuff,
- because I eat healthy."
- And then they go home
- and they tell their parents
To go buy healthy food now.
- Your brain requires
- that healthy nutrition
To stay focused, as well.
- So we're eating healthy
- to have fun
And have a long, healthy life.
South Texas
is mostly hispanic
and being an athlete
on "ninja"
- is very uplifting
- for a lot of people.
It gives them an opportunity
to see that someone here
is doing something big.
- Someone from where they live,
- someone that looks like them.
One, two, three.
All: Axios!
- With south Texas being
hit really hard with covid,
- it's definitely something
- we could use right now.
- We're definitely gonna bounce
- back from this,
'cause we don't give up here.
[Cheers and applause]
- And a ton of support
- for Abel.
He's got his brothers
and other family members
- and some of the students
- he's coached
And fellow ninja, Matthew day.
[Countdown clock beeping]
Abel's area in south Texas
has been hard hit by covid-19
and, more recently,
a hurricane,
- so he wants
- to give his hometown
Something to smile about.
- And he's doing it so far.
He is moving quickly.
- Wasting no time
on lunatic ledges.
Speed is important this year.
- Only the top 12 will move on
- to the semifinals.
- And he's through.
- Yeah!
- There's Holly and Gloria
- on the sidelines.
- Come on, you got it.
- Moves quickly on
- to ring chaser.
- All right, here we go.
- Gotta be aggressive.
- He's gotta go fast,
- gotta go fast.
- And got it.
- Oh, nice.
- It fell right on...
- Right through his arm.
- Good job.
- Nice.
- And I like it,
- not wasting time
- getting that ring positioned,
Pulling back.
- So ideal.
- 14 inches in diameter
- is the big ring.
- Perfect.
- So that allows him
- to land it just like that.
- Great job by Abel Gonzalez.
- Yeah!
Right here.
- Abel, now 36 years old,
- gonna try
- to rumble across rib run.
- You gotta bust through!
- And boom, look at that!
- Oh, my!
- Right through rib run!
[Cheers and applause]
- And he has by far the best
time to this point tonight.
- Remember,
- the fastest two finishers
- Will move on to the power tower
- at the end of the night.
Abel could be one of them.
- And he's looking very smooth
here on the Ferris wheel.
- Holds on.
Now has to reach over
to the second wheel.
And Abel gets it.
This guy started
as a walk-on seven years ago.
- Trying
- to get a buzzer tonight.
- Matt, he's made all
- the right moves on this course.
- But here comes
- another big drop.
He holds on!
Wanted a good run
- for the people
- of the rio grande valley,
And he's doing it.
- Come on, come on, come on.
- Yes!
- Abel Gonzalez
- gonna get that buzzer.
Yes!
And he's got it!
[Buzzer blares]
[Cheers and applause]
- That's right, that's right!
Right here!
- You see him talking trash
- to the buzzer?
- You see him
- talking trash to the buzzer?
- Whoo!
- And that's gotta feel good,
- right?
- Hey, it feels great, man.
- It's great to be back.
- I love it.
- Abel Gonzalez
delivers some smiles
to the folks in south Texas.
Well done, my friend.
- Whoo!
.
- Welcome back to St. Louis
and our second week
of qualifying.
And while we were away,
the second member
of Abel Gonzalez's group
from south Texas
got her chance on the course.
Gloria orta's
a 20-year-old student
making her "ninja" debut,
and she paid tribute
to her Mexican heritage.
- [Speaking Spanish]
- But the nerves got
- to the young rookie
- And she couldn't grab the rope
- on the shrinking steps.
- Gloria's so fit!
- Nice, come on!
- [All groan]
Sha na na.
[Applause]
- Now up,
- the last member of the group,
Holly Cavazos.
She's a 29-year-old mom
of three from mission, Texas.
[All cheering]
She's waving to the family.
She is excited.
It's been a long journey
for her to get here,
and she did it with the help
of her friend and mentor,
Abel Gonzalez.
[Somber music]
- Growing up, home life
wasn't always stable.
There was violence at times.
My parents fought.
I didn't feel loved.
I left home.
I ended up in juvie
as a teen.
♪ ♪
I hit my rock bottom
when I was 17.
I was on the streets
with random people,
on drugs and alcohol,
whatever I could
get my hands on to escape.
I literally felt my life
slipping away from me.
♪ ♪
I had reached a point
in my life where I was
ready for a true change.
- You got it.
- Big swing, girl.
[All cheering]
I heard about
Abel's mobility class
at axios warrior academy.
- And since then,
- I've been all in.
- ♪ The best day
is yet to come ♪
- Oh!
- Holly has become
- one of my best friends.
[Laughter]
- It can't be easy
- having a family,
You know, three children,
- and then still go
- after "ninja" full-time.
- Big pull.
Nice.
- Holly's a really great mom.
- She not only takes care
- of the kids...
- Yeah!
- Whoo!
- But trains for
"American ninja warrior."
And it's just amazing
what she's able to pull off.
- ♪ The best day is
yet to come ♪
- I have been shaped
by my past,
- but I'm not defined
- by my past.
- ♪ We won't stop,
we won't stop, yeah ♪
- There's still
- so much more ahead,
And I'm so excited.
- ♪ The best day is
yet to come ♪
♪ ♪
- [All cheering]
- And there's her family.
Her husband and three kids
- plus her mom and her brother
- and sisters,
- All watching
- from back in Texas.
- I love you so much, Holly.
- Let's go, Holly!
- And on the sideline will be
- Abel and Gloria orta,
Who ran just minutes ago.
- You got it!
[Countdown clock beeping]
You got it, Holly!
- And she is on the course.
29-year-old mother of three,
sails through
the shrinking steps.
- Heading to
- the lunatic ledges.
- Matt, you know,
- I absolutely love this season.
- It's all about
- helping each other out,
And Abel gets to let
one of his prize pupils shine.
- As we showed you,
- Holly Cavazos
Has overcome some tough years,
but she's found a home
at Abel's gym.
- Nice.
- And now, she's out here
on "ninja warrior"
and she's living the dream!
- Whoo!
- Okay, all right.
- Shake it out, Holly.
Let's go "holl" or nothing
on ring chaser.
- This is
- a very technical obstacle.
May be tough for a rookie.
- Remember,
- only the top three women
Will move on from tonight.
Cavazos, 5'5".
- Gotta catch this ring.
- Come on, come on, come on,
- get it, get it!
- Oh!
- That's all right.
That's all right.
- Now she'll have to use
- the smaller ring
With the handle.
- And every fall
- we've seen here
Has been with
that small handle.
- Careful, careful, careful!
- Yeah, stay calm
in this situation.
- Hey, and aggressively flip
- them in there.
- Aggressive, aggressive.
- There we go.
- Got to keep your eye
- on the other hook,
- 'cause that's where you want
- to land.
- Wow.
- Yes!
- Great job out of the rookie.
- Okay!
Okay, Holly.
[All cheering]
- Holly Cavazos
through three obstacles!
Now facing the balance
obstacle, rib run.
- You need to be light
- on your feet
- And run right down
- the middle.
- Holly, hey.
- Do your taps, all right?
- You want to keep high knees,
- keep your feet high.
There it is, nice!
- Oh!
- [Air horn blares]
- Almost did the splits
- right there.
- Whoo!
- Great job!
- [Laughs]
- Nice job, nice job.
- This Texas mom makes it
to the fourth obstacle,
an impressive debut
for the rookie.
- Nice job, Holly!
- Whew!
- She was really stretching
with each step,
and those ribs started
flying out to the side.
And Holly, she had no chance
to stay out of the water.
[Upbeat music]
- Now it's time to get
those arms flapping.
It's seven-time "ninja"
veteran, Ethan Swanson.
You can see he's got
everyone flapping
the swan wings...
- Yeah!
- Let's go, Ethan!
- Including the group
of young Chicago ninjas
- he's brought, cam baumgartner
- and Jack mccallie.
- Let's go.
- But the swan wings
- aren't the only move
Swanson is becoming known for.
[Bright music]
- Nice!
- Sweet.
- I started doing a backflip
- every single day
On August 3rd, 2018,
and I'm still going strong.
♪ ♪
- I thought, you know, if I do
- one backflip every single day,
Then maybe I can do 'em
longer throughout life.
I've done some
off of buildings, over gaps,
- I've had some where people
- are throwing me up in the air
Doing a backflip.
[Cheers and applause]
- The most fun ones are
- when people do 'em with me,
- So if we're in a big event,
- I'll get everybody.
- "Hey, anybody wants
- to do a backflip,
Come over here and do it."
And so we'll have
50 people, 100 people.
[Cheering]
I just passed
a little over 700
- and I have not done
- my backflip
On a "ninja warrior"
course yet,
but I'm planning to tonight.
- I wanna backflip my way
- to another buzzer.
♪ ♪
[Cheers and applause]
- Says he's gonna do a flip
on top of the warped wall.
We'll see.
[Cheers and applause]
- And he'll have
- lots of support.
- He's got his family back
- in Illinois,
Plus his ninja buddies
Grant McCartney,
Tiana webberley,
and Michael torres.
- Back to the tower, swan.
Let's go.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- The swan coming off
his best season ever.
Fastest in both Cincinnati
qualifying and city finals,
then reached stage three
for the first time.
- And he's part of
- that Chicago ninja crew
With Michael torres
and flex labreck.
They push each other
to get better every year.
- Right into ring chaser!
- Racing out.
- Good handwork.
- Nice, good handwork.
- You see how he aggressive
- he was grabbing that ring?
- He was a stunt dunker
- for the bulls, man.
Good handwork and good lead.
Oh, my.
Akbar, the swan is flying.
Oh, no hesitation!
Right through it.
- Blink and you'll miss it,
- this one.
- Let's go!
- Matt, it's like rib run
- wasn't even moving.
[Cheers and applause]
- Okay, that's the fastest
- we've seen to this point.
- My goodness.
- Abel Gonzalez has
the top time so far at 1:36.
Swanson well ahead
of that pace.
- Oh, he's trying to get
- to the power tower once again.
- And he wants to do
the backflip on that wall.
[Cheers and applause]
Oh, he is blazing.
- He's got wings.
He's got real wings!
- He's off.
- He might as well go
- for that money.
- And he's going
- for the fastest time.
- Oh, he's going
- for the best time!
- He wants the power tower!
And he put himself
in great position to do it.
[Upbeat music]
- [Shouts]
♪ ♪
- Oh!
- Okay, give US that backflip.
[Cheers and applause]
- Nice.
731 backflips!
- Whoo!
Feels pretty dang good!
- Well done on that run.
Ethan Swanson
flew through that course
- with a time that's gonna
- be tough to beat.
- Yes, it is.
The swan came out
of the gate fast
and had tremendous footwork
on rib run.
He flapped all the way
to the buzzer
and kept his backflip streak
alive.
[Cheers and applause]
- Remember the top 12
advance to the semifinals
- and we've already got
- three finishers.
It's gonna be tough to move on
- if you don't hit a buzzer
- tonight.
And we've still got
some strong ninjas to come.
- [Exhales sharply]
- Wish me luck.
- Jamie rahn
hits the course next
on "American ninja warrior."
.
- Welcome back to St. Louis
in the dome
at america's center.
We're in the middle
of our second night
of qualifying action.
- And, Matt, I don't know how
- these athletes have done it
- With all that's going on
- in the world.
Their ninja game
has remained on point.
- Minutes ago,
the other two members
from Ethan Swanson's
Chicago group
got their chance
on the course.
First up was college student
Cameron baumgartner,
aka cam the bomb,
but he nearly blew up
on the very first obstacle.
No!
- You better not touch
- that water.
Get your Booty and scoot up.
- But after that,
cam the bomb was explosive.
- He is
- on a relentless pursuit.
- The 22-year-old
pre-med student
raced through the course
and finished just behind
his mentor, Swanson.
- Whoo!
- Cam the bomb, you the bomb,
- ain't you?
- The third member
- of this group
Was rookie Jack mccallie,
who's got sports in his blood.
His mom was the long-time
women's basketball coach
- at Duke,
- and Jack's the manager
- For the basketball team
- at Northwestern.
- Matt, this guy,
he went from hoop dreams
to ninja dreams.
- The 20-year-old
- drove down the Lane
On the shrinking steps...
- Let's go, Jack!
- Come on, let's go!
- But he was rejected
by the lunatic ledges.
All: Oh!
- You can't be shooting bricks
- here on "ninja warrior."
- Finally, it was the first
athlete from captain nbc
Jamie rahn's
all-Missouri squad.
Kansas City's Donovan metoyer
is known as the classy ninja.
Because he runs
in a three-piece suit.
- Matt, look at that flat top.
- He's just sharp!
- The Kansas City native cut
- through the course in style.
- And he is outta there!
- Yeah, Donovan, yeah!
- And then decided to go
for $10k on the mega wall.
- Oh, he's trying
- to buy some more suits!
- Though he came up short,
- he was able to button it up
- on the regular wall.
- If you look good,
you play good.
- Whoo!
- Now, it's the other guy from
Missouri who wears a suit...
A superhero suit, Jamie rahn!
Zuri, get him going.
- Captain nbc
is now a hometown hero
- after moving right here
- to St. Louis,
But after a scary accident,
he's lucky he can
compete at all this season.
[Upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- I just moved to St. Louis
- and now "ninja's"
- following me here.
It's awesome to have it
so close to home.
Welcome, guys.
This year, I didn't know
if I was competing.
- A couple weeks ago,
- I had a pretty nasty accident.
I bought a house
and I wanted to start building
ninja equipment, of course.
I was making a work bench
and as I was
cutting with the table saw,
basically it had this blade
cut across my thumb.
[Dramatic music]
♪ ♪
And lost part of the thumb
because of it.
I've been worried about
being able to use my thumb
to full capacity.
- I still can't open
- a ziploc bag.
[Upbeat music]
- But I can do ropes
- and num-chuks
And all that sort of stuff.
♪ ♪
I'm not where I want to be
and not where I have been.
- ♪ I was born to do this ♪
- But technique goes
a long way, so we'll see.
- We'll see what happens
- with it.
♪ ♪
[Cheers and applause]
- And that could be
- a real handicap.
You can see it right there,
the bandage on his left thumb.
Now that'll affect his grip.
- Go, Jamie!
- There's his wife, Kim, with
- their dogs doogie and bear.
And his parents watching
from back on the east coast,
as always,
wearing the green wigs.
[Cheers and applause]
- [Imitates
[countdown clock beeping]
- Oh, this is
- the show me state.
- You gotta show me
- what you got.
Come on, Jamie rahn.
- Excellent balance.
- And this guy's grip strength's
- so impressive,
But with that injured thumb,
it'll be tested here
on lunatic ledges.
- Makes the first grab
- and he's holding on well.
Now gotta grab for the second.
- Injured thumb?
- No problem there.
- More than enough swing.
- His fellow missourian,
- Donovan metoyer,
Just hit a buzzer,
offering some advice.
- Now ring chaser,
- another obstacle
- where he needs good hands.
Now look at that!
- And he caught it
- with the bad hand.
Didn't seem to affect him
at all.
And look at him centering that
mass to make this in one move.
- Pull back.
- You got this, come on.
- Ooh, ooh,
- that's a little dangerous.
- Center yourself.
Got it.
[Cheers and applause]
- And he's through.
- Come on, Jamie.
- Quick feet!
- And going straight
- into rib run.
- [Shouts]
[Cheers and applause]
- Here he goes...
- Oh, my goodness!
- Fights for it!
[Cheers and applause]
- Wow, I hope he didn't
- injure anything else.
- You good?
- Always good, man.
- Yeah, always good.
- Always good!
- Always good.
- Well, this is where Jamie
- usually excels.
Great with upper body.
But these Ferris wheels
- could again be a challenge
- with the thumb.
My guess is he goes over.
- Good, good!
Come on, Jamie! Come on!
- And look at that.
Arm over arm, akbar.
Efficiency.
Ride it down.
- Nice.
- Transfer over.
I really like
his approach here.
- Clearly,
- Jamie has thought it out.
- That's ten years of
ninja experience right there.
- And you can see that
bandaged thumb right there,
but he's not letting it
slow him down.
One last drop.
- And he hangs on.
- Good!
- Almost didn't compete
- this year,
But now closing in
on a buzzer.
- Hey-o! Let's go!
- And he's through.
Going straight for the buzzer.
[Cheers and applause]
Jamie rahn!
- There we go, baby!
[Cheers and applause]
- Yes!
- ♪ Born to do this ♪
- Jamie!
- How'd it feel competing
- in these special circumstances,
Being out here?
- It feels great, you know?
Just being able to come back
and be allowed to participate
- in something, you know,
- so wonderful.
- And I love it, man.
- I wouldn't be anywhere else.
[Cheers and applause]
- Good job, man.
- Thumbs up.
No pun intended!
- Both: Jamie!
- Jamie!
- Captain nbc!
The superhero delivers!
- [Whoops]
- Coming up,
- flex labreck's hit a buzzer
In qualifying
three straight years.
- ♪ I'm not done yet ♪
- Can she make it four
in a row tonight?
- ♪ I'm not done yet ♪
- And up next,
he did it two years ago.
- Oh, yes!
- Oh!
[Buzzer blares]
- Can Nick hanson be
the first to conquer
the mega wall this season?
He's next when "American
ninja warrior" returns.
.
- Hey, "ninja" fans!
- You can now watch full seasons
- of "American ninja warrior"
On the new nbcuniversal
streaming service, peacock.
- That's right.
You can see your favorite
TV shows, classic movies,
and "American ninja warrior"
all for free.
- Sign up today
And while we were away...
- You got it, man.
- Focus on those steps.
- The last member of Jamie
rahn's all-Missouri squad
- tried to make it
- three buzzers in a row.
Akil currie is
from right here in St. Louis
and calls himself
the chickasaw warrior
- to honor
- his native American roots.
- He's a natural athlete,
- but he has a big body, too.
6'2", 182 pounds.
- The 20-year-old rookie
- danced through
- the shrinking steps...
- Hey!
- There we go.
- But his inexperience showed
- on the lunatic ledges.
[All groan]
- It's okay, it's okay.
- A lack of technique there
- by the chickasaw ninja.
- Then six-time
- "ninja" veteran Nick hanson
Brought his all-Alaskan trio
to the course.
First up was Kyle worl,
a "ninja" rookie from Juneau.
He was recruited
by Nick hanson
because the two compete
together in native sports
like the knuckle hop
and the high kick.
- Look at that!
- Bro, yeah!
- Worl is also
- a language teacher
And he honored his people
- in the native language
- of tlingit.
- [Speaking tlingit]
- But once on the course,
the 29-year-old came up short
on lunatic ledges.
[All groan]
So close!
Christi Marie
from Fairbanks, Alaska,
- gave a wave
- with the state flag...
- Let's go, Alaska!
- And then a wave
to her three kids.
- Keeping Alaska on the map.
- And then the Alaska ninja
mom made it an adventure.
- Oh, my goodness!
- What a save!
- Nice, yes!
- After a great save
on the second obstacle...
- Yes, yes, yes!
- She was fingertips away
- from the ring on the third.
- Ooh!
Just missed it!
- But still managed
to stay alive.
- Nice!
Okay, christi Marie!
- But her heart-stopping
- performance
Finally ended on rib run.
- Alaska strong, Alaska fast.
- Get it!
- Oh.
- Ooh!
That's not the way
it was supposed to go.
- That water's cold.
- Well, now it's the leader
of the Alaska group.
Zuri, get him going.
- He calls himself
the eskimo ninja
and no one trains
in harsher conditions
than Nick hanson up in Alaska.
But the last frontier dealt him
a harsh blow this past year.
- Here goes.
- Go!
- Ninja training in Alaska
has never been easy.
- Go.
- Go, go.
- Oh!
- Yeah!
- Yes!
But this year,
it was unbelievable.
[Dramatic music]
- My entire ninja course
that I built
got completely flooded
by a fall storm.
Hey, Brad!
Bring your surfboard!
Hey, look
at these swells today, bro.
♪ ♪
- There was elders
- in our community
That were talking about
how they've never seen
a storm like this.
People were packing up things.
- I mean, it was
- literally evacuation mode
For our entire community.
♪ ♪
- We were thinking these waves
- were gonna come over the road.
It didn't, thankfully,
- but you could just see my
- ninja course getting hammered.
- And then I looked at it
- and said,
- "you know, this might be
- the only opportunity that I get
To train on my ninja course
with water underneath it."
[Upbeat music]
- So, uh...
- [Chuckles]
In 45 mile an hour winds
- I jumped onto my ninja course
- and played on it
- While it was being destroyed.
- [Laughs]
♪ ♪
Whoo!
- One of the good things that
- did come out of quarantine
Is that I've had a lot of time
to start rebuilding the course.
♪ ♪
- You know, the entire community
- got involved
To come and clear the debris
and move all of my obstacles
- so that I could
- continue to train.
- Hey!
- It's definitely been
- a challenge,
But, tonight, I wanna show that
alaskans can overcome anything.
♪ ♪
- He has a lot of support
in his home state of Alaska.
- You can see his girlfriend
- joanne there
Along with his mom, davida,
and so many friends ready to
see Nick tackle this course.
And then there
his best friend, gmac,
Grant McCartney,
the island ninja.
And there are his fellow
alaskans who we just saw.
- You got it, man!
18-footer, let's go!
- Oh, she's already telling
him to go for the mega wall.
He's done it before.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- Nick hanson's happy
to be indoors
and out of that 12 degree
below Alaska weather.
- Well, Matt, we've seen him
- over the last six years.
He is a big-time,
prime-time player.
Heck, we even had
to eat akutaq ice cream
from him last year.
- I think ice cream is a loose
- descriptor of what we ate.
- [Laughs]
- But we would do it
for Nick hanson.
- Well, there's no akutaq
- here tonight,
But I wanna see what he's got.
- On now to ring chaser.
- There you go, there you go!
- Great handwork.
- Look at that!
- Got that hand!
- Yeah, he was way ahead
- of that ring.
- I like it.
Very efficient, though.
Nick looking
completely in control.
[Cheers and applause]
And he's through.
- Yeah!
- Let's go, Nick!
- Now facing rib run.
And Nick has great footwork
from all his years competing
in the world
eskimo-Indian games.
- Going down the middle.
- Got it.
[Cheers and applause]
Nick hanson now
on the Ferris wheel.
- Well, that top time is going
- to escape him.
- He's not gonna beat
- Ethan Swanson.
- Well, now he can save himself
- for that mega wall.
- Be strong, son!
Be strong!
- One at a time.
You got it, Nick!
- Matt, he's so far so good
- for Nick hanson.
- Of course,
- everything he's been through,
Losing that home course
to that big storm.
- He's looking good to be
- in the shape that he's in.
- I think a little issue
- getting the wheel moving.
Now he's got it.
Watch the drop.
Hangs on.
- And Nick is...
- He's extending, akbar.
That grip could be giving out.
- Yeah,
- and you're starting to see.
- And he's kind
- of eyeballing it.
- This is his first time
- on Ferris wheel.
- Oh, boy.
- Nick could be in trouble here.
- Oh, I'm not
- liking this, Matt.
I'm not liking this.
- Nick's 5'10",
170 pounds,
and he's feeling every one
of those pounds right now.
- Told US that he hasn't
- been able to train
As much as he'd like.
His cardio's not
where he wanted it to be.
I'm afraid of this jolt.
Ooh.
- Come on, Nick!
- This is like
- an iceberg breaking!
- But he hangs on!
He has really been fighting
on this obstacle.
- Does he have enough left
- for the dismount?
- Come on, Nick!
- Oh... ooh!
- Survived it!
[Cheers and applause]
Nick looking winded.
- I don't think
- he's got anything left
For the mega wall,
- but he's not moving toward
- either wall right now.
- You got it, Nick.
- Whenever you're ready, man.
- Do your thing.
- I think he's gonna try it!
- Yeah!
He's going for the mega wall!
- Yeah, Nick!
- Now, he did get it
two years ago in la.
[Cheers and applause]
- Oh, yes!
- Oh!
[Buzzer blaring]
- Let's go!
[Cheers and applause]
- That was epic, Matt.
- Nobody has gotten
- the mega wall yet this season.
Can Nick be the first?
- Matt, this is where
- Nick hanson's gotta suck it up.
$10,000?
Come on.
All: Beat that wall!
Beat that wall!
- Nick hanson,
18 feet away from $10,000.
- Let's go, man!
Let's go!
- Come on, now.
- Come on.
- Hustle, hustle, hustle.
- Come on!
- Let's go!
- Yeah!
- Whoa, whoa!
[Buzzer blaring]
[Cheers and applause]
- The first mega wall
of the season.
Nick hanson!
- Come on!
- Let's go, baby!
- Whoo!
- I love the passion
out of Nick hanson.
Oh, what an effort.
What an effort!
- [Screams]
- And that one... i could feel
- that from your gut.
I mean, I could feel that.
- Where's that primal scream
- coming from?
- [Shouts]
My inupiat culture, bro.
- Yeah.
- That's akutaq talking!
- And you continue
to inspire so many, buddy!
- Thank you, Jesus!
- We salute you, Nick hanson.
- Wow.
- Whoo!
- My goodness,
it looked like he was out
of gas on the Ferris wheel
- and needed a one-foot landing
- just to survive,
- But he found that extra boost
- of energy
And got his second career
mega wall.
Most impressive.
- Nick, congratulations.
- I saw you getting
- a little emotional.
How are you feeling?
- [Chuckles]
- I mean, I was so gassed.
I was so pumped.
- But, you know, you put
- a mega wall in front of US
- And you give US
- the opportunity to do it.
I can't pass up a challenge.
- You got your family
- and your friends here.
- Oh, my gosh.
- Grant is hyped down here
- in the corner.
Grant, I gotta ask you,
did you think he had
a mega wall in him?
- I kicked this chair,
sending it out of the way,
and I said, "get up!
Come on, bro!"
I know.
I've seen him do it before.
I know he's got it in him.
- Bro, I have faith in my boy.
- I know he had it.
- You love to see it.
Love to see it, Nick.
- You did your thing.
- Congrats.
Enjoy that 10 grand.
- We'll figure out where you're
- gonna spend it soon enough.
Guys, back to you.
- Well, watching that mega wall
run closely was Daniel Gil.
He's done it twice before.
Oh, my!
- Oh, superb!
Oh, my goodness!
- Can he do it again tonight?
He's coming up
on "American ninja warrior."
.
[Dramatic music]
- Welcome back to St. Louis.
While we were away,
- one of last year's
- top rookies, Caleb bergstrom,
- Brought his all-Florida squad
- to the course.
♪ ♪
First up was 19-year-old
David hutchinson,
who came in cap and gown
to honor those like him
- who missed
- their high school graduation
Because of covid-19.
- Class of 2020,
you guys are amazing.
You guys worked so hard.
- Congratulations
- to all you guys.
- After graduating
to the course,
- hutch, who trains
- with the bergstrom family...
- Let's go, hutch!
- Had a close call
on the second obstacle.
- That was close!
Man!
[Cheers and applause]
- Only to go down
- on the third.
- Ooh!
Oh, my goodness!
- Great job, hutch!
- Up next
was Caitlyn bergstrom,
who heard the cheers
from her big ninja family,
the bergstrom bunch,
back in the tampa area.
- Caitlyn made it all the way to
- Vegas last year as a rookie,
- And she came out strong again
- tonight...
- Whoo!
- Good, caity, come on.
- Making an amazing save
- on rib run.
- Oh... ooh!
- Hold on!
- You see that grab?
- You see that fight?
[Cheers and applause]
- Then faced the obstacle
- that took her out
In the Atlanta finals
last year, the Ferris wheel.
- No!
- And tonight, she battled
to almost the exact same spot.
- I think that's too low.
She's gotta go one higher,
but she's gonna go for it.
- Oh!
- But it still put her
- In the top three
- among the women tonight.
- That was a heck of a run,
- absolutely.
[Cheers and applause]
- And now, - Caitlyn's dried off
- And she's gonna give
- her younger brother Caleb
A send-off.
- Whoo!
[Cheers and applause]
- These two do swing dancing
and acro-yoga together.
- Oh, okay,
now that's an intro!
- So impressive last year.
As a 19-year-old rookie,
he made it up the mega wall.
[Cheers and applause]
Now 20 years old,
5'10, 165 pounds,
made it to the national finals
in his first season.
Has high hopes
for this year.
- And there we see the rest
- of the bergstrom clan
All cheering on baby bergie
from back home in Florida.
His girlfriend,
Ashley mcconville,
watching backstage.
She finished the course
earlier tonight.
- That right there
- puts the pressure on
- When your girlfriend hits
- a buzzer.
- Come on.
- [Countdown clock beeping]
- Well, even before that,
big expectations for Caleb.
- We're seeing
- some of these young kids...
The athleticism is insane.
- The question is,
- can they handle the pressure
On the big stage?
- He did last year.
- Can he do it again tonight?
- The youngest ever to get up
- the mega warped wall.
- The guy's got
- a lot of talent, Matt.
- Easy transitions here.
- You wonder, this time
- in the back of his mind,
- A shot on that power tower
- or is he just...
- Gotta go, gotta go!
- Oh, no!
- Oh, my goodness!
- Oh, my goodness!
[Dramatic music]
♪ ♪
Whoa.
What the ninja?
I am befuddled
at what just happened.
- Caleb bergstrom,
a Vegas finalist last year,
out on just the third obstacle
here tonight.
Shocking exit.
- He was clearly going
for speed on this run.
Watch his hands
on ring chaser.
He skips a bar here.
But with his eyes on the ring,
his right wrist slams
into the bar right there
and it knocks him clean off.
♪ ♪
- Clearly disappointed.
Expected to go far
in this competition,
but Caleb bergstrom's season
is over.
♪ ♪
Well, earlier tonight, we saw
hockey player Barry goers,
and, minutes ago,
Jake Murray's other
Colorado pick, Glenn albright,
got his shot on the course.
- Okay, I see you!
- Albright is a meat cutter
- at a barbecue restaurant
- back in Denver,
And he brought some tasty ribs
- for Jake and Barry
- on the sidelines.
- Come on, baby, you got it!
- Come on!
- Albright sliced his way
through the early obstacles.
- Okay!
- And, fittingly,
The meat cutter
carved up rib run...
- Yeah!
- Boom! Nice.
- Let's go!
- Yeah, Glenn!
- Before he was finally
cut down on the Ferris wheel.
- That handle
- was too hot for him.
He got burned.
[Cheers and applause]
- And now here he comes,
the final member
of this Colorado crew,
the wild man, Jake Murray.
He's known for crazy stunts
like eating corn dogs
and wearing straitjackets,
- but now he's got
- a crazy new side business
Off the course.
♪ ♪
- Last spring,
I picked up a new hobby.
I've ended up making
some cat towers.
[Cat meows]
No, this is not any sort
of mid-life crisis.
[Cat yowls]
- It takes
- Patience and perseverance,
Just like "ninja warrior."
- I don't want
- to call myself a genius,
But I Bob rossed the ceiling
of one of the rooms
and made a little cloud sky.
[Harp plays]
My ideas?
- It's crazy.
- They just pop into my head,
Like, when I'm skateboarding.
Usually when I'm at ease.
You know, I put
a few extra touches on it
that I think sets them apart
from anything you'll find
at the big stores.
[Meows]
But tonight,
it's ninja time,
- and there's another tower
- I'm focusing on.
[Quirky upbeat music]
- And the tower he's talking
about is the power tower.
And he can get there,
- if he's one of
- the two fastest tonight.
- Well, that could be
- really important.
His two Colorado buddies,
goers and albright,
may not make it
into the top 12.
- But if Jake wins
- on the power tower,
He would save them,
- and they'd go
- to the semifinals,
So you know they're watching
this run closely,
as is Jake's family,
including his parents
in south Dakota
- and his girlfriend, Carissa,
- who's in Colorado.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- Jake likes
- to go fast anyway,
And he can save his buddies?
You know he's gonna
let it fly here.
- Well, look at him, just
- flying
Across lunatic ledges
in one move.
- Oh, he's ballin' out!
- Ethan Swanson currently
with the fastest time at 1:04.
- But Murray's already
- on the third obstacle
In under 20 seconds.
- But keep in mind,
- Daniel Gil's still to come,
And he is a speed demon.
Jake knows this.
Oh, no hesitation!
Right through it.
Cat-like reflexes.
- [Laughs] Yes.
- Under 30 seconds here
to the fifth obstacle.
He's gunning
for the fastest time.
- Now this is where he's gotta
- go up if he wants that speed.
- Come on.
- Good.
Don't forget to breathe.
- Please don't forget
- to breathe.
- He's got something
- to prove here.
- Oh, look at him
reaching over.
- 20 seconds left.
- Drops down.
- Mm.
- Will he go for the mega wall?
- Oh, oh...
- No, he won't.
He's going for the time.
- Oh, under a minute!
Hey!
- [Shouts]
Whoo!
- And Jake Murray has done it!
- Yes!
[Cheers and applause]
- You have the fastest time
of the night at 54.5 seconds.
- Oh, sweet!
- Well, that means Jake is in
- line to go to the power tower.
If he wins there,
- he'll get
- his two Colorado buddies
Into the semifinals with him.
- Yeah!
Watch him swing straight
across lunatic ledges.
That's the best we've seen
anyone on that obstacle,
and he just kept running.
Finishes in under a minute!
A perfect performance
from Jake Murray.
- Right now, Jake's in line
for the power tower,
- where he'd face off
- with his buddy Ethan Swanson
At the end of the night.
But some fast ninjas
still to run.
And, up next, flex labreck's
got her eye on another buzzer.
- I'm a nervous wreck
- before I go.
Um, I am just a puddle and
I feel like I could throw up.
But that's okay.
- I'm just gonna take it
- one obstacle at a time
And I'm hoping that I'm gonna
hit the buzzer and move on.
- We'll see flex run
when "American ninja warrior"
returns.
.
- Welcome back to St. Louis.
While we were away,
- the remaining members of
- roo yori's cats and dogs squad
Got their chance
on the course.
Wild and crazy
22-year-old Jackson twait
rolled out to the start...
- Whoo!
- And paused to show some love
to his beloved cat, Hades.
- And a little heel click.
He's ready.
- With lots of support
- from back in his home state
- of Iowa,
This recent college graduate
used cat-like reflexes...
- Okay, twait!
- To claw his way
- through the course.
- He's not twaitin' around.
- He's going for it.
- And he finished
- with one of the fastest times
- of the night.
- Whoo!
[Cheers and applause]
Let's go!
[Cheers and applause]
- Twait's buddy, roo yori,
is a dog guy.
In fact, he trains with
his dogs, Johnny and juju.
- Oh, look at the dogs.
[Laughs]
- They were watching
- from back in Minnesota
As the five-time "ninja"
veteran hit the course.
Even at 43 years old,
this old dog
learned a new trick
as he fetched the ring.
- Bayaka!
- Nice.
- He even felt young enough
to try the 18-foot mega wall.
- Go get that money!
- Though he came up short,
- he still made it up
- the regular wall
And hit the buzzer
like his cat buddy, twait.
[Cheers and applause]
- Yeah!
- Then "ninja" great
Jesse "flex" labreck's
midwestern group
kicked off their runs.
First up was 6' tall
Brittany holterman
- who's been training with flex.
- Go, britt!
- Brittany comes in tonight as
the tallest female competitor.
- With her wife, family,
- and friends
- Watching from back
- in Milwaukee,
- The former college
- basketball star at Dayton
Couldn't make the grab
on ring chaser.
[All groan]
- And then couldn't
- make the jump
To the second hook.
- Airball!
- Labreck's fiancé,
- Chris digangi,
- Is coming off
- his best season ever,
- Making it to stage three
- last year,
But it didn't stop flex
from being nervous.
- Eyes getting
- a little glassy and teary.
- But she didn't
- need to worry.
- The Chicago native showed
- his veteran savvy...
- Oh, this is impressive.
- And made it to the buzzer,
joining our growing list
of finishers.
[Cheers and applause]
- Chicago!
Whoo!
- Well, now, it's flex's turn.
- She's gone from the sideline
- to the start line.
- Always one
- of the most anticipated runs
Whenever she's on the course.
Flex labreck.
And there's the flex.
- She's bringing both barrels
to the gun show.
- And she's got her dad
- and stepmom watching
From back in Maine.
- We're happy to see you.
- Oh, my god!
- Go get 'em, yes!
- Yes!
- Plus her training partners
- in Illinois,
Brian redard and Tori clement.
- You got it, dude,
- you got it!
[Dramatic music]
- "We love you, flex!"
- Oh, everybody loves when
flex labreck hits the course.
- This is the former track
star's fifth season competing,
tied with Jessi graff
and Michelle warnky-buurma
- for the most buzzers
- by a woman in "ninja" history.
Hoping to break
that tie tonight.
- You got it, Jesse!
- Whoo!
- And Chris just hit a buzzer.
- You got this, baby!
- These two frequently make it
- to the same spot on
- the course,
So that bodes well for flex.
But first order of business:
- Secure her spot
- in the semifinals.
[Countdown clock beeping]
- If she reaches
- the fifth obstacle, she's in.
She'd join Ashley mcconville
and Caitlyn bergstrom
in the women's top three.
- Go on, sweetie!
- You got it!
- You know she wants more,
- though.
- Yeah, we saw Ashley
- finish the course earlier.
- Let's make it two women
- to hit the buzzer tonight.
- Good.
Trust it!
- Yes!
- Move right up! Come on!
- Flex and Chris had
- to postpone their wedding
Because of the pandemic.
A buzzer might help
make up for it.
- Yeah, Jesse!
- But now ring chaser.
So much easier
if you grab the big ring.
- Got it!
- Ooh, got it.
- Great move.
- She's the first woman
to catch the ring this year.
- Flex labreck, so focused.
Always rises to the moment.
- Nice.
- Needs the dismount.
And she's through.
- Yeah!
- Let's go, let's go.
- But now, here comes
- the always-dangerous
- balance obstacle rib run.
So here we go.
- If the former university
- of Maine track star
Can get through this,
she'll be moving on
to the semifinals.
And she's done it!
- Yes! You got it!
- Yes! Let's go!
- So she's in the top three
- among the women,
Joining Ashley mcconville
and Caitlyn bergstrom,
but flex wants more.
Wants her fourth straight
finish in qualifying.
- I know she can handle
the Ferris wheel.
I think she's gonna...
- looking strong.
- Nice.
- Great, just locked on.
Such power out of flex.
- Matt, can I just say,
she's never had a bad run.
She's never fallen
before the fifth obstacle.
- But... and she looks
so calm and focused
and Chris seems so nervous.
They really do.
I love this couple.
- Everything you got!
- Come on!
- Go for the dismount.
There she goes.
For the record.
Right for that buzzer.
And she's got it!
- Nice.
[Buzzer blares]
- She now has more buzzers
than any other woman
in "ninja" history.
[Cheers and applause]
- Let's go!
Yes!
[Cheers and applause]
[Upbeat music]
- Flex, it's been an insane
time with the lockdown,
with everything going on.
- What's it like being out here
- and competing
And getting that buzzer?
- It feels so good.
- And thinking that something
- that is, like,
So big to US was
not gonna happen was just...
It was so tough.
And then being told that
we were gonna get to do it,
it was just something
that we all needed.
- Wow, you know,
- she's always so consistent.
She made the grab
on ring chaser,
- sailed across rib run
- so quickly
She even skipped
the final step,
and, when she raced up
the wall, flex made history
as the first woman
to ever to hit five buzzers.
- All: - Beat that wall!
- Last year,
he took down the mega wall...
And had the fastest time.
- Whoo!
- Can he pull it off
- again tonight?
Daniel Gil's up next
on "American ninja warrior."
.
- Welcome back
to the dome here in St. Louis.
- We're nearing the end
- of our second qualifying night
On "American ninja warrior."
While we were away,
"ninja" superstar Daniel Gil
introduced two of the ninjas
- he trains with
- down in Houston.
First up was Josh Norton,
aka janitor Josh.
He's a janitor
at Houston's iron sports gym
- where Gil also works.
- Whoo!
- Mop the floor
- with this course!
- Come on, Josh!
- Let's go!
- Norton knew he needed
- to finish
- If he wanted to be
- in the top 12...
[Cheers and applause]
- But the pressure
- may have gotten to him.
- Oh, he fumbled!
- Because the janitor
clocked out on ring chaser.
[All groan]
- Yeah, we've got a splash
on aisle three.
We need to mop that up.
- Whoo!
- Then it was Texas a&m
- college student
Gabriel hotchkiss,
who just turned 19.
- I'm the youngest competitor
- on season 12
Of "American ninja warrior."
- I've trained super, super hard
- for this moment.
We'll see what I can do.
- There it is, nice.
- Breathe.
- Despite being a rookie,
the 5'5" former gymnast
- bounded through the course
- like a veteran.
- Good.
- Keep breathing.
- And with his coach
- cheering him on,
Hotchkiss hit the buzzer
in his very first time
on the course.
[Cheers and applause]
- Hey, rookie!
- Welcome to
- "American ninja warrior."
- Thank you.
- Well, now it's time
- for their leader
To take on the course.
- He's the final runner
- of the night.
We're talking, of course,
about Daniel Gil.
The last time we saw him,
- he came up
- just a few seconds short
Of winning $1 million.
Now last year's runner-up
is back
and motivated
like never before.
[Applause]
- This year,
- I am literally feeling
- stronger than I ever have,
Especially after coming so
close to $1 million last year.
- ♪ And you can try
to shake me ♪
- Oh, the clock running down!
- I don't know
- if he can do it.
[Buzzer blares]
- Coming three seconds short
- hurt a lot more
- than I thought it would.
- ♪ And now
I'm battle-tested ♪
- But I've been able
to turn that into a story
- that I get to share
- with so many people
All over the country
from church groups
to schools to gym events.
- Discover what
- your passions are,
- And do not quit, no matter
- how difficult it gets,
Once you find it.
- I tell them that
- we all make mistakes,
We all fail,
- but you have to
- learn to get back at it
As quickly as you can.
- So you better believe
- that, this year,
I will make the most of it,
- and I'm coming
- for every single buzzer.
♪ ♪
- Lots of support for Daniel
- back in Texas.
He's got his wife, Abby,
his parents and siblings,
along with the family
of Gabriel hotchkiss.
- Let's go, Daniel!
- Hotchkiss just hit a buzzer.
- Come on!
- He's moving on,
- but Josh Norton would need Gil
- To get to the power tower
- and win
To keep his season alive.
- But Gil told US
- he wants that mega wall.
He saw Nick hanson
get his second mega wall
earlier tonight.
- Well, Gil would be the first
- to get it three times.
[Countdown clock beeping]
He'll need to beat
Ethan Swanson's time of 1:04
- if he wants to get
- to the power tower.
- He's already showing off
- that speed, Matt.
- He moves fast
- like he's on the autobahn,
But that's Daniel Gil.
He's got good hair
and good speed.
- Well, he moves fast.
- He has confidence,
And moves on now
to the ring chaser.
- Come on.
- Showing off.
- He's so fast,
- he's waiting for the ring.
- The last two years, he was
the fastest in qualifying
and he got the mega wall.
Can he pull off
that double play tonight?
- Oh, come on... oh, nice.
- Oh, my, he's flying!
- Just the Ferris wheel
- between him
- And another run
- at the mega wall.
- He is not waiting around,
- Matt, and he's going for it.
- About 30 seconds if he wants
- to beat Swanson's time.
[Cheers and applause]
Well, Daniel Gil...
- Come on!
- This is gonna be close.
- He's going so fast,
he may need to catch his breath
before the mega wall.
- Survives the drop.
- Nice.
- Still needs the dismount.
- He's through!
- And he ain't playing.
- He's going straight
- for the mega wall.
- Taking a minute
- to gather himself,
And the seconds ticking away.
Not gonna be fast enough
to get to the power tower.
He's betting it all
on this mega wall.
- Can he do it three years
- in a row?
- He better get it,
he better get it.
- Comes up short!
Only gets one attempt
on the regular wall now,
but gets it!
Daniel Gil gambled,
- wanted his third straight
- mega wall,
But did not get it
or get one of
the two top times.
- Whoo!
- But still, he's moving on
- to the semifinals.
- Tell me the strategy.
- Strategy was go fast,
get to the walls
with a good time,
get $10k,
and then finish the course.
- Daniel, congratulations.
You're moving on.
[Cheers and applause]
- Well, let's take a look
- at his mega wall miss
And how it compares
to his past success.
In 2018 and 2019,
look how close he got
to the shield.
And he was able to get
a big lift on his last step.
But this year, that last step
is much lower
and he gets no push-off.
[All groan]
- So it's gonna be
- our two fastest finishers,
Jake Murray and Ethan Swanson,
on the power tower.
Both these guys can save
their teammates if they win.
And this new power tower
is a beast
with an exhausting climb,
then a slide down
and a run across angled steps,
only to climb back up
- and take on
- four dangerous swings
Across the dropping shelves
40 feet high
on their way to the buzzer.
And it's next
on "American ninja warrior."
.
[Cheers and applause]
- Welcome back to St. Louis,
- where we're gonna end
- the night on a high note...
40 feet high, in fact.
It's a duel
on the power tower,
a head-to-head race
on our most intimidating
obstacle.
We've seen some epic showdowns
on the power tower
and tonight is no exception.
A showdown
between speed demons.
Out of Colorado,
the "wild man," Jake Murray,
squaring off against
Ethan "the swan" Swanson.
- Oh, boy.
- And Jake can save
- his Colorado crew,
- Glenn albright
- and Barry goers,
- And bring them
- to the semifinals if he wins.
For Ethan, cam baumgartner's
already in the top 12.
- He's safe,
- but Ethan can keep
- Jack mccallie's
- "ninja" dream alive.
- Jake's gonna have
- his girlfriend Carissa
Watching from Colorado.
- [Chuckling]
- I can't even watch.
Oh, my gosh.
- And Ethan's parents
- will be cheering him on
Back in Illinois.
- Ethan does have the edge
- in experience.
He was on the power tower
last year.
[Dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Power tower looks dazzling
- up there, you know?
40 feet off the ground.
- Some people look
- at the power tower
And are nervous seeing
how high it is.
- It's kind of scary,
but I like the risk involved.
- And Swanson
with the one-handed save!
- Forty feet in the air,
flying around, doing stuff?
That's where I feel at home.
- To go against Jake Murray,
- one of my best friends?
[Laughs]
He's a maniac.
- I have no idea
- what he's gonna pull up there.
- The always-unpredictable
Jake Murray.
- I've done some pretty crazy
- stuff in my life.
- I mean, the Fanny pack with
- the goggles and the corn dog,
That's probably
the most iconic.
This season,
I love the new rule.
I wanna do as well as I can
- so that both guys
- that are on my team
Can run the course again.
- He's super-fast and I hope
- I can hang with him.
- He is a speed demon.
- Me and Ethan
- are pretty tight,
- So I know that
- the competition is stiff.
- The swan, explosive.
- It's gonna be
a difficult race.
♪ ♪
- These two about as evenly
matched as ninjas get, akbar.
- Both these guys can move fast.
- Yes, they can.
Don't blink or you'll miss it.
[Cheers and applause]
[Countdown clock beeping]
This is like scaling up
the pyramid of giza.
Look at them go!
- These 4 1/2-foot steps.
Swan and Jake
very evenly matched.
- Now to the fire pole.
- Uh-oh, and look at this!
- Selling out!
- This is a dead heat!
- They are going crazy!
- Swanson flying through
- the floating steps.
They are going at it!
- Off to the two Poles.
Oh, but Swanson's having
trouble climbing up.
- Uh-oh.
- Swanson's falling behind.
- Swan struggling as Jake
- first to the dropping shelves.
- But this is where
- you can make up ground.
Ethan's gotta sell out.
- Look at Jake move!
- He's gotta make that leap!
- Oh, my!
- Swanson coming from behind!
- Jake has done it!
Wow.
- Glenn and Barry,
you guys are going
to the semifinals!
[Dramatic music]
Jake Murray delivers.
The swan was flying,
but just couldn't keep up
- with the wild man,
- Jake Murray.
- You crushed it, man.
- Let's check
- this one out again.
- This one was close
- through the first half
- Of the obstacle,
- but when they reach the Poles,
Watch Swanson.
He goes for one pole,
and his hand misses
and he spins around.
Jake used both Poles
and climbed straight up.
- Swanson couldn't catch him
- after that.
- We're gonna come down
- the safe way,
- 'cause it's really scary over
- there... sike!
- Hold on, wait.
- What's this?
- Whoa!
- Whoa-ho.
Don't hurt yourselves!
So Jake and his teammates
are moving on.
You had to be a fast finisher
- to make it
- into the top 12 this week,
And behind Jake and Ethan
are Jackson twait
and Daniel Gil.
Other finishers include
Cameron baumgartner
and captain nbc, Jamie rahn,
- along with
- "ninja" power couple
Chris digangi
and Jesse "flex" labreck.
- Joining flex
- among the top three women
Are Florida natives
Ashley mcconville
and Caitlyn bergstrom.
- Well, that wraps it up
- for tonight,
But next week it's another
all-star group of ninjas.
We'll see the superhero
stunt woman, Jessie graff.
- Yeah, plus the Phoenix,
- Philadelphia's
- najee Richardson.
- Can't wait for it.
- For akbar gbajabiamila
- and Zuri hall,
I'm Matt iseman.
We'll see you next time
on "American ninja warrior."