It’s been the hit show that’s allowed some of Australia’s fittest athletes to showcase their amazing athletic prowess, and just last week a handful of competitors from Australian Ninja Warrior were showing the next generation the ropes, the salmon ladder and the monkey bars.
Four of Australia’s top Ninja Warriors in Lee Campbell, Betsy Burnett, Alex Bigg and Josh O’Sullivan were all at Campbell’s BFirm outdoor ninja training facility in Symonston, dubbed ‘the arena’ earlier this month, running a school holidays clinic.
The clinic gave the aspiring warriors a chance to try their arm on a plethora of obstacles inspired by the smash hit reality TV program, including the warped wall, balance beams and plenty more.
The show proved a hit for broadcasters Channel 9 in 2017; and while ratings for season two have been slightly down to date, they drew the best ratings of the night for their first episode.
Bigg has recently moved to the Canberra region, and says he’s settling into his new surroundings – despite the cold .
A powerfully built athlete, Bigg came to Ninja Warrior from a strength training background.
“Seven years ago I hadn’t set foot in a gym my entire life.
“I landed in the Middle East and had nothing to do except work and sleep and that’s where I found it, and I haven’t stopped.”
After mixed results in season one, Bigg tailored his training to the rigours of the Ninja Warrior course and has seen vast improvement this year.
“I built my own obstacle course … a salmon ladder, peg board,” he says. “My wife bought me rock climbing holds, and it’s just kept growing and taken over the entire shed.”
Bigg says he finds the experience of being a part of Australian Ninja Warrior surreal.
“You walk out and there are thousands of people screaming your name.
“I found that as soon as I got on that start block and heard the buzzer, it was game on.”
At the time of publishing, Burnett, Bigg and O’Sullivan have all qualified for the semi-finals of Australian Ninja Warrior season two.
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