The series, which will begin its seventh season this fall, puts athletes from various backgrounds through a supersized obstacle course with various tests of physical skill and endurance, with names such as the Warped Wall and the Salmon Ladder ... all under the series slogan "No greater test. No greater glory." "American Ninja Warrior" is based on the global hit "Sasuke" from Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, which is now in its 31st season in Japan.
Dustin McKinneyMcKinney, a lieutenant, junior grade, in the United States Navy, currently stationed in Georgia, has participated in earlier rounds of the special "American Ninja Warrior" competition for retired and active-duty military professionals. Last year, when he was just an ensign, he competed in the Miami, Fla., tryouts, in front of his wife, Tish, and his dog, Java.
"I had seen the Japanese version years ago, and I thought that it looked like a lot of fun," McKinney, a four-time North Carolina high school state champ, told ColumbiaCountyMag.com. "On the American version, they did gymnastics and parkour. There were skateboarders and skiers. I thought 'I can do all that.' It looked like a big challenge, and I wanted to test myself."
In a July 2015 interview with Patheos.com, McKinney said, "I told my wife, 'I'm scared of everything. But if I get to that last obstacle, there's no way I'm not going to finish.' The one I'm not scared of, I get to it, and that's the one I go out on.
"Number one, never overlook an obstacle; always do the obstacle right in front of you. Number two is: shoes are very important."
McKinney has a diverse on-the-mat background. Wrestling for East Gaston High School in Mt. Holly, N.C., McKinney became only the fourth four-time champ in North Carolina history in 2004, and was named Wrestler of the Year by both NCMat.com and the Charlotte Observer that year. He also earned two titles at the respected Super 32 prep tournament. McKinney then headed north to George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. in suburban Washington, D.C. where he wrestled at 125 pounds. According to ColumbiaCountyMag.com, McKinney competed in national wrestling tournaments as part of the All-Navy Wrestling Team five years ago.
McKinney isn't the first former wrestler to have participated in a reality TV series. Earlier this year, Clint Arlis, who wrestled at the University of Illinois from 2005-2011, competed on the ABC series "The Bachelorette". Prior to that, in the most recent edition of "The Bachelor", Chris Soules had wrestled at Starmont High School in Iowa, according to his official website. One year ago, Bridgewater State University mat alum Andrew Frazer battled ogres, dragons and agents of a dark lord on the ABC-TV series "The Quest". More than a decade ago, CBS's "Survivor" featured Matthew Ertfelda, a vice-president for Marriott International, who brought along his high school wrestling jacket as his "luxury item." A few years later, "The Amazing Race" had a team with former University of Central Missouri wrestler and coach Gary Ervin and his 20-something daughter Mallory.
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