The thirteenth season of American Ninja Warrior premiered on May 31, 2021 on NBC. The season contain 12 episodes. A spin-off from the Japanese reality series Sasuke, it is hosted by Matt Iseman, Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, and Zuri Hall. As with the twelfth season, this season used a smaller number of filming locations with no audiences during taping due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The series was announced in November 2020, a few weeks after the previous season finished airing. Applications were officially being accepted that month. 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. 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. The full cast of competitors was announced in January 2021. 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.
Obstacles
Seattle/Tacoma Qualifying EventObstacles FinishersNight 1Shrinking StepsOverpassDomino EffectTipping PointV FormationWarped Wall/Mega Wall5Spinning LogNight 2Weight for ItBroken Bridge7Burn RubberNight 3OverpassDomino EffectAir SurferPretzel Twist12Spinning LogNight 4Double DownLog Runner13Block RunNight 5Log RunnerTilt-A-WhirlSideways18Block Run
Los Angeles Semifinals EventObstacles FinishersNight 1Shrinking StepsLunatic LedgesTilt-A-WhirlSpinning BridgeWall to WallWarped WallSalmon LadderCorkscrewInverterSpider Trap4Tuning ForksNight 2Double TwisterRing ChaserPadlockInverter5Tuning ForksNight 3Diamond DashDrop ZoneThe Dungeon6Diving BoardsNight 4Lunatic LedgesBarrel RollCrazy ClocksThe Dungeon12Diving Boards
Las Vegas National Finals EventObstacle(s) FinishersStage 1Slide SurferSwinging BladesDouble DipperJumping SpiderTire RunWarped WallDipping BirdsThe High Road27Fly Hooks Stage 2Striding StepsDouble Salmon LadderV FormationHammer DropEpic Air SurferFalling Shelves4 Stage 3Grip & TipStalactitesUp For GrabsUltimate CliffhangerPipe DreamEyeglass AlleyFlying Bar1 Stage 4 Rope Climb0
Bold indicates Split-Decision obstacles and completing the Mega Wall awarded $10,000 to the competitor.
Seattle/Tacoma Qualifying 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.
Night 1
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.
+Top 30 CompetitorsRankCompetitorTimeFurthest Obstacle1Isaiah Thomas2:16.67Finished2Elijah Browning2:19.19Finished3Jody Avila2:25.97Finished4Vinnie Castranova2:42.84Finished5Jonathan Godbout3:02.24Finished6Nate Pardo1:14.66V Formation7Daniel Gil1:16.54V Formation8Christian Youst1:16.78V Formation9Brian Burkhardt1:18.00V Formation10Alex Blick1:19.35V Formation11Caleb Dowden1:23.54V Formation12Ryan Meeks1:23.85V Formation13Isaiah Wakeham1:26.06V Formation14Cole Verble1:26.92V Formation15Isabella Wakeham1:27.04V Formation16Josh Norton1:32.13V Formation17Caleb Benson1:32.47V Formation18Wade Lopp1:34.81V Formation19Karman Selby1:37.09V Formation20Dan Wentworth1:38.19V Formation21Bryan Billngmeier1:39.44V Formation22Adam Naids1:47.68V Formation23Jeremy Clark1:56.78V Formation24Abel Gonzalez2:01.46V Formation25Lindsay Eskildsen2:11.01V Formation26Sam Sann2:14.57V Formation27Sophie Shaft0:47.91Tipping Point28Jonathan Horton0:56.82Tipping Point29Jade Buford0:59.71Tipping Point30Cory Torkelson1:01.25Tipping Point +RankCompetitorTimeFurthest Obstacle1Isabella Wakeham1:27.04V Formation2Lindsay Eskildsen2:11.01V Formation3Sophie Shaft0:47.91Tipping Point4Chynna Hart0:27.41Domino Effect5Christie Brophy0:30.66Domino Effect
+RankCompetitorReason for inclusionFurthest Obstacle1Nikki AsirvadamDisguised as a horse, who loves Michael Jackson.Shrinking Steps2Dana KielarGot a beloved horse watching from the barn.Overpass3Juliana WilsonFormer Mrs. Tennessee as a pageant winner.Shrinking Steps
Night 2
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.
+Top 30 CompetitorsRankCompetitorTimeFurthest Obstacle1Kaden Lebsack1:49.09Finished2Lucas Reale2:02.89Finished3Joe Moravsky2:04.10 Finished (Mega Wall)4Josiah Pippel2:53.76Finished5Anthony Porter3:01.48Finished6Victor Chan3:06.58Finished7Dan Champagne3:43.59Finished8Julius Ferguson0:59.93V Formation9True Becker1:02.57V Formation10Mike Beadle1:06.34V Formation11Lance Pekus1:16.78V Formation12Michael Larlee1:18.04V Formation13Cody Johnston1:18.89V Formation14Ruben Arellano1:23.46V Formation15Vincent Pane1:23.87V Formation16Xavier Dantzler1:29.12V Formation17Jason Grossman1:40.24V Formation18Jonah Bonner2:08.17V Formation19Zhanique Lovett2:14.49V Formation20Will Schlageter2:16.78V Formation21DC Banks2:24.11V Formation22Jose Gomez2:30.46V Formation23Sandy Zimmerman2:31.62V Formation24Deren Perez2:47.57V Formation25Francisco Barajas0:48.99Tipping Point26Sophia Lavallee0:59.76Tipping Point27Perry Madison1:02.13Tipping Point28Brian Montagnese1:06.13Tipping Point29Brittney Durant1:07.70Tipping Point30Tiana Webberley1:08.34Tipping Point
+RankCompetitorTimeFurthest Obstacle1Zhanique Lovett2:14.49V Formation2Sandy Zimmerman2:31.62V Formation3Sophia Lavallee0:59.76Tipping Point4Brittney Durant1:07.70Tipping Point5Tiana Webberley1:08.34Tipping Point
+RankCompetitorReason for inclusionFurthest Obstacle1Zac PalazzoLit it up outside the Tacoma Dome, as a fire breather and a carpenter.Tipping Point2Melissa JacksonGot warmed up by taking a long ride on her unicycle.Weight for it3Emmanuel McConnellAs a Spartan Ninja, he looked ready for war.Shrinking Steps
Night 3
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 CompetitorsRankCompetitorTimeFurthest Obstacle1R.J. Roman1:39.84Finished2Amir Malik1:51.11Finished3Enzo DeFerrari Wilson2:19.92Finished4Owen Dyer2:23.13Finished5Kevin Carbone2:33.09Finished6Max Feinberg2:35.42Finished7Austin Hair2:39.62Finished8Brett Hernandez Strong2:53.07Finished (Mega Wall)9Dan Polizzi3:04.96Finished10Vance Walker3:07.32Finished (Mega Wall)11Brett Sims3:37.52Finished12Tyler Gillett4:02.22Finished13WeiWei Qin1:00.61Pretzel Twist14Nico Gentry1:04.78Pretzel Twist15Devin Harrelson1:06.10Pretzel Twist16Kenny Tran1:06.45Pretzel Twist17Shaq Leach1:06.89Pretzel Twist18DeShawn Harris1:09.25Pretzel Twist19Josh Wagg1:11.81Pretzel Twist20Ben Whitlow1:13.49Pretzel Twist21Josiah Singleton1:14.57Pretzel Twist22Bob Reese1:19.58Pretzel Twist23Brad Giles1:21.44Pretzel Twist24Todd Bourgeois1:24.76Pretzel Twist25KC Boutiette1:26.71Pretzel Twist26Glenn Davis1:45.78Pretzel Twist27Alyssa Varsalona1:56.43Pretzel Twist28Charity LeBlanc2:13.99Pretzel Twist29Tony Miles2:30.50Pretzel Twist30Lenny Lopez0:34.22Air Surfer
+RankCompetitorTimeFurthest Obstacle1Alyssa Varsalona1:56.43Pretzel Twist2Charity LeBlanc2:13.99Pretzel Twist3Megan Budway0:46.18Air Surfer4Cara Mack0:47.56Air Surfer5Heather Weissinger0:58.76Air Surfer
+RankCompetitorReason for inclusionFurthest Obstacle1Tony MilesHe bet $75 000 that he completes the course, but missed.Pretzel Twist; qualified2Jessica HelmerShe rescues abandoned rabbits, and she let Zuri Hall bunny sit during her run.Shrinking Steps3Josh WaggThe Death Metal Ninja had plenty of swagPretzel Twist; qualified
Night 4
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, 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 CompetitorsRankCompetitorTimeFurthest Obstacle1Jake Murray1:47.20Finished2Sean Bryan1:54.38Finished3Ethan Swanson1:56.63Finished4Nate Hansen2:03.53Finished5Matt Bradley2:19.37Finished6Caiden Madzelan2:34.35Finished7Jay Lewis2:37.53Finished8Jonah Munoz2:46.35Finished9Tage Herrington3:11.82Finished10Adam Rayl3:21.44Finished11David Campbell4:30.12Finished12Luke Dillon4:45.00Finished13Meagan Martin5:56.49Finished14Austin Gray0:57.68Pretzel Twist15Devan Alexander0:59.77Pretzel Twist16Addy Herman1:13.46Pretzel Twist17Mike Wright1:16.87Pretzel Twist18Chad Flexington1:19.24Pretzel Twist19John Uga1:23.21Pretzel Twist20Alex Begolly1:26.77Pretzel Twist21Logan Kreglow1:30.54Pretzel Twist22Abby Clark1:33.02Pretzel Twist23Quinn Nguyen1:33.56Pretzel Twist24Luciano Acuna Jr.1:46.78Pretzel Twist25Anthony Eardley1:56.07Pretzel Twist26Paul Fisher1:58.97Pretzel Twist27Casey Rothschild2:01.12Pretzel Twist28Judas Licciardello2:02.57Pretzel Twist29Rachel Degutz2:05.67Pretzel Twist30Brian Kretsch2:13.45Pretzel Twist
+RankCompetitorTimeFurthest Obstacle1Meagan Martin5:56.49Finished2Addy Herman1:13.46Pretzel Twist3Abby Clark1:33.02Pretzel Twist4Casey Rothschild2:01.12Pretzel Twist5Rachel Degutz2:05.67Pretzel Twist