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Ninja Warrior obstacle racing to be built into modern pentathlon event at 2028 L.A. Olympics originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Many TV watchers in the 2000s and early 2010s may be familiar with the "American Ninja Warrior" game show. If people aren't already, they will have a chance to learn all about it during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The entertaining obstacle course will be one of the five legs of the Modern Pentathlon event, and will give viewers an edge-of-their-seat look at why the show rose in popularity so quickly.
The show's roots sit in Japan in 2007, but two years later made its way onto American soil and has since been a great watch for viewers of all ages.
Here's how the obstacle course that was popularized on a game show will have a slight tie to the 2028 Summer Olympics.
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What is Ninja Warrior obstacle racing?
Ninja Warrior obstacle racing is a string of obstacles set on a course that a participant must get through as quickly as possible. This obstacle racing format was largely popularized by the American game show American Ninja Warrior.
Here is a clip from the show.
While the Olympic event may look slightly different from what is shown on the game show, the basics remain the same: a high-stakes, action-packed, obstacle course that is a race to the finish.
MORE: When do the 2028 Olympics kick off in Los Angeles?
Is Ninja Warrior obstacle racing its own Olympic event?
In 2028, Ninja Warrior obstacle racing will be making its way to the Summer Olympics, according to Variety. Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, the Japanese broadcast company behind the TV show “Sasuke” (later adapted to the U.S. format of “American Ninja Warrior”), has signed a deal with Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) to include the format in the new Modern Pentathlon vertical of “obstacle racing.”
In 2023, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) unanimously voted to tie in obstacle racing to the Modern Pentathlon's revamped format.
After the 2024 Summer Olympics, equestrian show jumping has been removed from the pentathlon event list, and in turn, obstacle racing is now in for the upcoming Olympics.
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What is modern pentathlon?
Along with obstacle racing, there are four other sports included in the modern pentathlon, according to the LA Olympics' site:
- Fencing
- Swimming
- Running
- Shooting
The pentathlon has been part of the Olympics since 1912, according to Variety. Equestrian show jumping had been one of the five events but has been replaced with a new obstacle racing event.
The competition begins with fencing, as competitors face each other one-on-one in a race to hit their opponent first. If no one is hit within one minute, both opponents lose. Next is the new obstacle racing event, which features eight obstacles, including steps, big wheels, walls, rings, balance beams, and monkey bars. If competitors touch the ground or fall off an obstacle, they are penalized or disqualified.
The next event is swimming, where competitors swim 200 meters freestyle. If a competitor completes the swim in two minutes, 30 seconds, they earn 250 points. Each second faster earns two additional points, while each second slower results in a two-point deduction. After the swim, another round of fencing takes place, with matchups determined by first-round performance.
Finally, the running and shooting events are combined into a single competition called the "Laser Run." Competitors run 3,000 meters with four breaks to shoot at targets. They must continue shooting at each stop until they hit the target five times or reach the 50-second limit.
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Who invented Ninja Warrior obstacle racing?
Ninja Warrior obstacle racing was first seen in 1996 on the Japanese show Kinniku Banzuke. One event on the show, Spider Walk, featured a series of nine obstacle tracks where participants were tasked with walking in narrow alleyways and hallways.
One year later, a multi-staged obstacle course dubbed "Hand Walk Tower" found massive success in viewership, and assistant producer Masato Inui created a larger, multi-level obstacle course based on Spider Walk that evolved into the Ninja Warrior competition. The show is called Sasuke ("Ninja Warrior"), according to CUA Tower, and Kunoichi for the female participants.
Beginning in 2007, G4 started the American Ninja Challenge, giving Americans the chance to earn a spot on Sasuke. Due to the rampant success, the American Ninja Warrior show began in 2009 and has been a thrilling watch since.
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