Pro tip: Want to get the most out of a workout? Watch American Ninja Warrior while you're at the gym. That fake hill you're climbing on the treadmill won't seem nearly as insurmountable when you're watching someone do the salmon ladder. The only drawback to using ANW as inspiration is that the competitors have, up until now, mostly been men. That's why it gives us great pride to deliver the news that the dog days are over.
Kacy Catanzaro, a former Towson University gymnast, stands at just five feet tall, but was jumping, climbing, swinging, and tossing like a boss — a ninja boss. If you haven't seen the show, the entire concept is for contestants to complete an obstacle course that is basically designed to be impossible, under a set time limit. And, Catanzaro did everything while barely breaking a sweat — we're still not quite sure how she made it look so easy.
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In fact, Catanzaro makes every challenge look so simple that we're suddenly inspired to hold planks for minutes at a time, and bust out a few pull-ups. She even pauses midway through the course to shout "I love you guys; thank you!" to the cheering audience. Well, she's about to have even more fans — Catanzaro is officially the first woman ever to complete an American Ninja Warrior city finals course, and also the first to advance to the Mt. Midoriyama finals in Vegas.
How historic is this occasion? Just look at the announcers' faces. That says everything.
Photo: Courtesy of American Ninja Warrior.AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT