The course returns with new twists in the qualifying rounds, including changes to the Mega Wall, and a new reward competition, the Power Tower.
Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila returned for their respective tenth and seventh seasons while newcomer Zuri Hall joined the duo as a sideline reporter, replacing Kristine Leahy.
Drew Drechsel finished first and apparently became the third person to achieve "Total Victory" on American Ninja Warrior.
[4] He was arrested almost a year later on August 4, 2020, following accusations of federal child sex-related charges, with NBC and A. Smith & Co. Productions subsequently cutting ties with him the following day.
[5] Dreschel pled guilty on June 1, 2023 on one count of attempting to receive and enticement to travel for illicit child sexual conduct.
In the city qualifiers, the two fastest finalists from each course competed against each other for a "speed pass" that immediately advances the recipient to the National Finals.
In the city qualifiers, the two fastest finalists from each course competed against each other for a "speed pass" that immediately advances the recipient to the National Finals.
Bold denotes the finishers who completed the Mega Wall and received a prize money bonus ($10,000, $5,000, or $2,500 based on number of attempts).
The Los Angeles Chargers cheerleaders and "Thunderbolt" Drumline along with Sean Culkin were in the crowd cheering on the competitors and pro football player Anthony Trucks who ran the course.
Additionally, after his run, lab technician Andrew "Roo" Yori was awarded a $20,000 check from the creators of the film for his nonprofit organization, The Wallace The Pitbull Foundation.
Celebrity competitors included former NFL cornerback and two-time Super Bowl champion Tyrone Poole who made it to the Ferris Wheel obstacle, and World Series of Poker player Tony Miles who only made it to the third obstacle, thus losing the bet his friend put on him to hit the buzzer at 25:1 odds.
In attendance hyping up the crowd was the Oklahoma City Thunder cheerleaders and drum line, along with mascot Rumble the Bison.
Also, the Oklahoma State University cheerleaders and school mascot Pistol Pete helped cheer on the competitors.
PE teacher Sandy Zimmerman, a National Judo Champion, former Gonzaga University basketball player, and mother of three, became the first mom to finish the course in the show's history.
She was also the first and oldest woman (age 42) to complete the course this season, soon followed by stuntwoman Jessie Graff who returned to ANW after a year absence.
Former WNBA player Tamika Catchings of the Indiana Fever competed on the course, making it to the Dangerous Curves, the third obstacle.
This marked the first time in American Ninja Warrior history that no competitor made it past the eighth obstacle on a city finals course.
Along with the Oriole Bird, the cheering section included the Baltimore Ravens cheerleaders and the team's mascot, Poe.
This episode also featured a special guest appearance by legendary funk musician and Cincinnati native Bootsy Collins, who accompanied Grant McCartney to the starting line.
Bold denotes the finishers who completed the Mega Wall and received a prize money bonus ($10,000, $5,000, or $2,500 based on number of attempts).
NOTE: Kid Owhadi failed on the Grim Sweeper (the fifth obstacle) and used his Safety Pass to retry and finish the course.