The series was announced in November 2020, a few weeks after the previous season finished airing. Applications were officially being accepted that month.[2] The series was also a full season, as opposed to the shortened, 8-episode season seen in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming took place entirely in Seattle/Tacoma and Los Angeles, California, with the national finals filming back in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Grand Prize and the Last Ninja Standing reward were restored, as $1,000,000 and $100,000, respectively.[1] Kaden Lebsack, 15, was Last Ninja Standing, winning the $100,000 first prize after narrowly missing out on the grand prize in the rope climb.
Starting with this season, the age requirement dropped from 19 years old to 15. Competitors also included "family" teams of three, with at least one teenager 15 to 19 years old, with each member competing on two obstacles. Filming for the season began in March 2021 and casting took place between November 22 to December 14, 2020.[1] The full cast of competitors was announced in January 2021.[3] The season introduced "Split Decision", in which competitors could choose one of two obstacles to do for the third obstacle in qualifying courses and the ninth obstacle in semifinal courses. In the National Finals, Split Decision occurred on the eighth and final obstacle of Stage One.[4]
The qualifiers took place at the Tacoma Dome in Seattle/Tacoma. Athletes who conquered the 18-foot Mega Wall in bold and women who finished in the top 30 in italics.
The first qualifying round featured three new obstacles: Overpass, Tipping Point, and V Formation, along with 'Split-Decision' (Domino Effect & Spinning Log). Notable ninjas running the course included NASCAR driver Jade Buford, two-time Olympic basketball gold medalist Ruthie Bolton, and 2008 Olympic gymnast Jonathan Horton was back for his 6th season.
This episode set a record for the fewest finishers in a qualifying episode with only 5. Notable ninjas who did not advance were Mathis "Kid" Owhadi, Thomas Stillings, Barclay Stockett (who returned after missing Season 12), Maggi Thorne, Jeri D’Aurelio, Casey Shuchocki, Nate Burkhalter, Quest O’Neal, John Loobey, and Ben Wilson.
The second qualifying round featured the same course as the first qualifier, but with two new Split-Decision obstacles: Broken Bridge and Burn Rubber. Overpass was switched out with Weight For It from season 12. Notable ninjas running the course were former Olympic hurdler David "Crush" Payne and Alex Weber, the host of American Ninja Warrior: Crashing the Course award-winning web-series.
This was also the first time in the show's history where 5 women finished in the Top 30. Also, "The Weatherman" Joe Moravsky was the first to make it up the 18-foot Mega Wall this season.
In this episode, two new obstacles were introduced: Air Surfer and Pretzel Twist. Notable ninjas running the course were former Olympic speed skater K.C. Boutiette, freestyle motocross rider Zach DiPaolo, and former pro wakeboarder Austin Hair. Two rookies, 19-year-old Brett Hernandez Strong and 16-year-old Vance Walker (a two-time American Ninja Warrior Junior winner), both scaled the Mega Wall.
Notable ninjas who didn't advance were Grant McCartney ("Island Ninja"), Nick Hanson ("Eskimo Ninja"), one half of the "Towers of Power" Brandon Mears, who after falling on his fifth balance obstacle in the past five seasons, announced his possible retirement, Bootie Coothran, Grace Sims, and Michelle Warnky Buurma after falling in the 3rd obstacle.
Top 30 Competitors
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
R.J. Roman
1:39.84
Finished
2
Amir Malik
1:51.11
Finished
3
Enzo DeFerrari Wilson
2:19.92
Finished
4
Owen Dyer
2:23.13
Finished
5
Kevin Carbone
2:33.09
Finished
6
Max Feinberg
2:35.42
Finished
7
Austin Hair
2:39.62
Finished
8
Brett Hernandez Strong
2:53.07
Finished (Mega Wall)
9
Dan Polizzi
3:04.96
Finished
10
Vance Walker
3:07.32
Finished (Mega Wall)
11
Brett Sims
3:37.52
Finished
12
Tyler Gillett
4:02.22
Finished
13
WeiWei Qin
1:00.61
Pretzel Twist
14
Nico Gentry
1:04.78
Pretzel Twist
15
Devin Harrelson
1:06.10
Pretzel Twist
16
Kenny Tran
1:06.45
Pretzel Twist
17
Shaq Leach
1:06.89
Pretzel Twist
18
DeShawn Harris
1:09.25
Pretzel Twist
19
Josh Wagg
1:11.81
Pretzel Twist
20
Ben Whitlow
1:13.49
Pretzel Twist
21
Josiah Singleton
1:14.57
Pretzel Twist
22
Bob Reese
1:19.58
Pretzel Twist
23
Brad Giles
1:21.44
Pretzel Twist
24
Todd Bourgeois
1:24.76
Pretzel Twist
25
KC Boutiette
1:26.71
Pretzel Twist
26
Glenn Davis
1:45.78
Pretzel Twist
27
Alyssa Varsalona
1:56.43
Pretzel Twist
28
Charity LeBlanc
2:13.99
Pretzel Twist
29
Tony Miles
2:30.50
Pretzel Twist
30
Lenny Lopez
0:34.22
Air Surfer
Top 5 Women
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Alyssa Varsalona
1:56.43
Pretzel Twist
2
Charity LeBlanc
2:13.99
Pretzel Twist
3
Megan Budway
0:46.18
Air Surfer
4
Cara Mack
0:47.56
Air Surfer
5
Heather Weissinger
0:58.76
Air Surfer
Akbar’s Gbajabia-Moments
Rank
Competitor
Reason for inclusion
Furthest Obstacle
1
Tony Miles
He bet $75 000 that he completes the course, but missed.
Pretzel Twist ; qualified
2
Jessica Helmer
She rescues abandoned rabbits, and she let Zuri Hall bunny sit during her run.
Another new obstacle was introduced, called Double Down. Notable ninjas running the course were super-lightweight champion professional boxer Melissa St. Vil, former NFL player Andrew East (trained by his wife, Olympic gold-medal gymnast Shawn Johnson), and PLL lacrosse player Rob Pannell. However, schoolteacher Allyssa Beird was among the notable competitors who failed to advance to the semifinals.
With Lorin Ball absent for season 13,[5] veterans David Campbell and Brian Kretsch became the only two competitors to have appeared on every single season of American Ninja Warrior.
Additionally, this was only the second time five women made the top 30.
Top 30 Competitors
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Jake Murray
1:47.20
Finished
2
Sean Bryan
1:54.38
Finished
3
Ethan Swanson
1:56.63
Finished
4
Nate Hansen
2:03.53
Finished
5
Matt Bradley
2:19.37
Finished
6
Caiden Madzelan
2:34.35
Finished
7
Jay Lewis
2:37.53
Finished
8
Jonah Munoz
2:46.35
Finished
9
Tage Herrington
3:11.82
Finished
10
Adam Rayl
3:21.44
Finished
11
David Campbell
4:30.12
Finished
12
Luke Dillon
4:45.00
Finished
13
Meagan Martin
5:56.49
Finished
14
Austin Gray
0:57.68
Pretzel Twist
15
Devan Alexander
0:59.77
Pretzel Twist
16
Addy Herman
1:13.46
Pretzel Twist
17
Mike Wright
1:16.87
Pretzel Twist
18
Chad Flexington
1:19.24
Pretzel Twist
19
John Uga
1:23.21
Pretzel Twist
20
Alex Begolly
1:26.77
Pretzel Twist
21
Logan Kreglow
1:30.54
Pretzel Twist
22
Abby Clark
1:33.02
Pretzel Twist
23
Quinn Nguyen
1:33.56
Pretzel Twist
24
Luciano Acuna Jr.
1:46.78
Pretzel Twist
25
Anthony Eardley
1:56.07
Pretzel Twist
26
Paul Fisher
1:58.97
Pretzel Twist
27
Casey Rothschild
2:01.12
Pretzel Twist
28
Judas Licciardello
2:02.57
Pretzel Twist
29
Rachel Degutz
2:05.67
Pretzel Twist
30
Brian Kretsch
2:13.45
Pretzel Twist
Top 5 Women
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Meagan Martin
5:56.49
Finished
2
Addy Herman
1:13.46
Pretzel Twist
3
Abby Clark
1:33.02
Pretzel Twist
4
Casey Rothschild
2:01.12
Pretzel Twist
5
Rachel Degutz
2:05.67
Pretzel Twist
Akbar’s Gbajabia-Moments
Rank
Competitor
Reason for inclusion
Furthest Obstacle
1
John Huie
He led his entire middle school orchestra in a starline syndal.
Double Down
2
Bryan "Muscle" Mendez
His mom made the hosts Authentic Salvadoran Pupusas.
Air Surfer
3
Aubry Marie
She showed the flexibility that has made her a social media sensation.
Another new obstacle was introduced, this one called Tilt-A-Whirl. Among the notable ninjas was former NFL quarterback Jake Heaps. Brian Beckstrand and his son, Kai (who previously competed on American Ninja Warrior Junior), became the first ever father-and-son duo to hit the buzzer in the qualifying round. The "Cat Daddy", Jackson Twait, made it up the Mega Wall. Jesse "Flex" Labreck joined Meagan Martin as one of only two women to hit a buzzer in the qualifying round this season. One competitor from this episode, Nick Hanson (who made it to Sideways), is a different Nick Hanson from the "Eskimo Ninja"; his nickname is the "Rugby Ninja".
Among the notable veteran ninjas not advancing to the semifinals was Labreck’s fiancé, Chris DiGangi, as well as Michael Torres.
Top 30 Competitors
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Kai Beckstrand
1:36.83
Finished
2
Cal Plohoros
1:51.49
Finished
3
Tyler Yamauchi
1:53.17
Finished
4
Cam Baumgartner
1:55.19
Finished
5
Jackson Twait
1:57.59
Finished (Mega Wall)
6
Joe Meissner
1:58.66
Finished
7
Kyle Soderman
2:03.04
Finished
8
Hunter Guerard
2:04.83
Finished
9
Chris Behrends
2:11.04
Finished
10
John Mack
2:23.55
Finished
11
Eric Middleton
2:59.31
Finished
12
Sam Folsom
3:03.63
Finished
13
Mike Silenzi
3:15.54
Finished
14
Philip Scott
3:16.15
Finished
15
Brian Beckstrand
3:23.67
Finished
16
Joe Brown
3:43.52
Finished
17
Jesse Labreck
3:50.65
Finished
18
Jamie Rahn
4:03.15
Finished
19
Flip Rodriguez
0:57.61
Sideways
20
Donovan Metoyer
1:02.14
Sideways
21
Ben Martin
1:03.57
Sideways
22
Nick Hanson
1:06.44
Sideways
23
Sem Garay
1:08.94
Sideways
24
Marquez Green
1:12.24
Sideways
25
Roo Yori
1:12.56
Sideways
26
Jason Barber
1:12.78
Sideways
27
Andrew Stoinski
1:13.00
Sideways
28
Marcelino Riley
1:14.42
Sideways
29
Nathan Green
1:14.79
Sideways
30
Kyle Schulze
1:18.91
Sideways
Top 5 Women
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Jesse Labreck
3:50.65
Finished
2
Megan Rowe
1:23.46
Sideways
3
Taylor Amann
1:31.35
Sideways
4
Jamie Ross
1:39.43
Sideways
5
Ava Colasanti
1:02.73
Tilt-A-Whirl
Akbar’s Gbajabia-Moments
Rank
Competitor
Reason for inclusion
Furthest Obstacle
1
Eric Middleton
He brought the hosts a plate of tomato hornworms to eat if he finished the course.
Clear (2:59.31)
2
Mike Silenzi
He had fellow Chicago Ninjas (Jesse Labreck, Chris DiGangi and Tyler Yamauchi) galloping on fake horses to represent his nickname "The Stallion".
Clear (3:15.54)
3
Trinnie Bush
From the plains of Kansas, she looked like a character from little house on the prairie.
The show moved to Los Angeles, California for the semifinals, which took place on the lot of Universal Studios Hollywood. The Power Tower returned here, where the top two finishers would face off for the chance to win a Safety Pass (which would allow for a do-over of stage 1 or 2 of the Finals if necessary). Contestants who won the Power Tower race are indicated in green. Women in the top 15 italics.
Two new obstacles were introduced, the first of which was the 5th obstacle, called Wall to Wall. Split Decision was moved to the back half of the course as the 9th obstacle, and here, competitors had a choice between another new obstacle, an upper-body obstacle called the Inverter, or a balance obstacle, the Tuning Forks.
Top 15 Competitors
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Daniel Gil*
4:40.11
Finished
2
Brian Burkhardt
7:18.59
Finished
3
Max Feinberg
7:19.90
Finished
4
Abel Gonzalez
7:27.06
Finished
5
Owen Dyer
3:26.97
Tuning Forks
6
Deren Perez
3:55.74
Tuning Forks
7
Ryan Meeks
4:21.35
Inverter
8
Isaiah Thomas
4:21.70
Tuning Forks
9
Christian Youst
4:26.91
Inverter
10
Elijah Browning
4:27.19
Inverter
11
Isaiah Wakeham
4:32.10
Inverter
12
Anthony Porter
4:51.54
Inverter
13
Lance Pekus
4:57.18
Inverter
14
Isabella Wakeham
5:47.35
Inverter
15
Tiana Webberley
5:52.01
Tuning Forks
Top 3 Women
Rank
Competitor
Time
Furthest Obstacle
1
Isabella Wakeham
5:47.35
Inverter
2
Tiana Webberley
5:52.01
Tuning Forks
3
Zhanique Lovett
0:28.72
Tilt-A-Whirl
*Following the taping of this episode, but before the Finals in Las Vegas, Daniel Gil withdrew as a result of a positive coronavirus test and was unable to participate in the finals. Jody Avila, the sixteenth place player, was added. Coincidentally, Avila won an unaired Power Tower in season 12 that did not air because of a federal investigation involving Drew Dreschel, who achieved Total Victory in season 11.[6]
A record-breaking number of 12 athletes hit a semifinals buzzer tonight. Some notable competitors like Ethan Swanson, Joe Brown, Flip Rodriguez, Dan Polizzi, and Cal Phlohoros didn't move on to the National Finals. Jake Murray put the fastest time for the second year in a row in a semifinals round, despite a loss on the Power Tower against Austin Gray. Also, since no woman competitor has completed the course, the final runner Jesse Labreck, kept the streak alive by becoming the only woman to clear the extended course.
Slide Surfer, Swinging Blades, and Dipping Birds were introduced. Split Decision was a choice between The High Road or Fly Hooks, the final Stage 1 obstacle. The contestant who won American Ninja Warrior or became Last Ninja Standing indicated in blue at the moment of securance.
The contestants eliminated on that round indicated in red.
The contestants who failed, but were allowed a second attempt by Safety Pass indicated in green. Female contestants who completed the course are indicated in pink.
A total of 27 competitors finished Stage 1. Jesse Labreck, who fell three times in the last obstacle of Stage 1, got revenge and became the third woman ever to advance to Stage 2. Meanwhile, Jake Murray had the fastest time on Stage 1 for the third time. Joe Moravsky fell on The High Road on his first attempt, but thanks to the Safety Pass, he completed Stage 1 on his second try.
Striding Steps, Double Salmon Ladder (after 8 years of absence), Hammer Drop, and Epic Air Surfer were introduced on Stage 2. Split Decision was not included past Stage 1.
15-year old Kaden Lebsack became the first rookie ever to complete Stage 3, as well as the first teenager and the fifth competitor passed overall. At that time, he already secured a cash prize.
