It’s the third round of the National Finals in Las Vegas on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, and the competition is heating up!
The ninjas who make it through the side-by-side races in the Monday, August 24, episode with the fastest times will move on to next week’s finale (Monday, August 31) and have a shot at the $250,000 grand prize.
“At this point, everybody left has earned their spot, and that’s what makes this round so intense,” host Akbar Gbajabiamila, who serves as commentator alongside Matt Iseman and sideline reporter Zuri Hall, tells us. “Keep your eye on the athletes who really embrace the pressure, because those are usually the ninjas who find a way to surprise all of us when the stakes are highest.”
And you can bet that this round’s obstacles will pose serious challenges, even for the most seasoned athletes. “Obstacles like Catch & Release [above, with ninjas Evan White and Taylor Greene] and Hourglass Drop [which involves hanging from a bridge and dropping onto a trampoline before grabbing the next bridge] are real game changers, because they force these athletes to trust their training,” says Gbajabiamila. “With head-to-head racing, one great move can make you a hero and one mistake can send you home, so the intensity is through the roof.”
He would know. The former NFL athlete has been co-hosting the series since 2013’s fifth season. But much has changed on the competition series, including this season’s new triple-lane racecourse, the Tripleheader. Contestants will continue to face that particular challenge as the season reaches its end. “The Tripleheader is one of those obstacles where you find out who’s built for the moment,” says Gbajabiamila. “It demands focus, confidence, and the ability to perform under pressure. When you add racing to that, it’s some of the most exciting ninja action we’ve ever seen.”
Buckle up, Ninja Nation.
American Ninja Warrior, Mondays, 9/8c, NBC