‘American Ninja Warrior’ Season 13: Kai Beckstrand in the final

It looked like Kai beckstrand was going to fall.

The 15-year-old from St. George, Utah – one of this season’s youngest contestants of “American Ninja Warrior” – had just completed the eighth obstacle in a demanding 10 obstacle course that puts balance and strength upper body on test.

He’d been through many parts of it, scaling the warped 14.5-foot wall and up the salmon ladder, hoisting himself up with a single movable rung.

But now his energy seemed to wane.

On the ninth obstacle, called The Dungeon, Kai first had to climb a vertical panel using a series of spikes. About halfway up, he hesitated for a second, his legs dangling as he gripped one of the spikes with both hands.

“Oh no, he’s in trouble! One of the announcers shouted.

But Kai wasn’t going to give up that easily.

He maintained his grip and continued to climb, eventually reaching the top of the panel and locking it in a horizontal position. From there he grabbed the spikes and walked across as if he was swinging on monkey bars in a children’s playground.

“We thought he was done, but we were wrong! An announcer shouted in disbelief.

Now, Kai had only one obstacle to overcome before hitting the buzzer that would secure his place in the “American Ninja Warrior” final.

To defeat the Spider Trap, the teenager had to climb a 35-foot chute, pushing three sets of traps each weighing 100 pounds along the way. He slipped at the start, but progressed steadily to the top.

He was all smiles when he hit the buzzer.

Elizabeth Morris, NBC

Of the 38 competitors in Monday night’s semi-final, only 12 completed the entire course, according to the American Nation of Ninja Warriors website. Of those 12, Kai clocked the fifth fastest time – 4: 56.17 – and is now one of the youngest “ninjas” competing for the million dollar prize in the “American Ninja” final. Warrior, ”which begins next week.

“I am so proud!” applauded his father, Brian Beckstrand.

Kai and his father made “American Ninja Warrior” history earlier this season, becoming the first father-son duo to ever hit the buzzer and advance together to the semi-finals, the News from Déseret reported.

Although Brian Beckstrand’s time on the show came to an end on Monday night – falling on an obstacle that claimed the lives of seven other contestants – he will still be on the show, cheering on his son who has been training for it since. 7 years old, thanks to the Over 40 obstacles they have built in their garden over the years.

“My dad and I do everything together,” Kai said on Monday night’s episode. “He’s the best training partner I can have.”

To note: The “American Ninja Warrior” finale premieres August 30 on NBC.

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