Australian Ninja Warrior is back in 2021 and the dark shadow of Mt Midoriyama looms over the hopes of Australia’s best Ninjas after being conquered for the first time in Australian history by Ben Polson last season.
And this year, daunting Mt Midoriyama wants revenge, returning bigger and more threatening than ever.
The number of people who tried out for Season 5 is approximately 550. The number of Ninjas who made it through to compete this year is only 144.
With 26 obstacles never seen before on the show, the action begins with the Heats, where in an Australian first, Ninjas will have the opportunity to choose their own path. Once the first three obstacles have been successfully completed, they will choose either Path A or Path B to go through to the final obstacle of the Heats, the gravity-defying Warped Wall, which is now ten centimetres higher.
This year the course moves to a new location of Olympic proportions: Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, where a new wave of Ninjas will be welcomed, as well as returning fan favourites. A fresh cohort of Ninjas join fan favourites who have been there for every season including, Ashlin Herbert, Ben Polson, Olivia Vivian and Sam Goodall, test their skills, scrambling through the course and taking on the legends to become the furthest fastest. Former competitor Jack Wilson also returns after an accident prevented him from appearing last season.
Hosts Rebecca Maddern, Ben Fordham and Shane Crawford will be joined on the course by Nick Kyrgios as he makes his Ninja Warrior debut.
See More: Australian Ninja Warrior: Everything you need to know about the hosts
The Heats
The Top 19 from each Heat go through to the Semi-finals – based on furthest fastest.
The night’s two furthest fastest Ninja’s go head to head on The Power Tower, with the winner getting a “fast pass” straight to the Grand Final.
The Semi Finals
The Top Eight from each Semi Final go through to the Grand Final – based on furthest fastest.
The night’s two furthest fastest Ninja’s go head to head on The Power Tower with the winner getting a chance for another Grand Final Run if they splash out.
The Grand Final
The competitor who goes furthest in the fastest time will take home $100,000 and will be deemed the winner.
However, if someone makes it to the top of Mt Midoriyama, they will win an additional $100,000 and be crowned Australia’s Ninja Warrior.
There are three stages to the Australian Ninja Warrior Grand Final.
Stage One
The Top 28 compete against the clock – in order to progress to Stage Two they must complete all obstacles on the course in 5min 35sec.
Stage Two
All the Ninjas who completed Grand Final Stage One within the time limit can attempt Stage Two, with the clock counting down from 3min 35sec.
They must complete the Stage Two course in the time limit to then progress to Stage Three.
If no one completes Stage Two, the Ninja who goes the furthest and fastest will be declared the winner and take home $100,000.
If a Ninja hits the buzzer within the 3 minutes and 35 seconds time limit, they are through to Stage Three of the Grand Final.
Stage Three
All Ninjas who complete Stage Two within the time limit may attempt Stage Three and be in the running to win $100,000. With Stage Three, there is no clock on the course or time limit.
They must complete all obstacles to progress to Mt Midoriyama.
The Ninja who makes it furthest on the course in the fastest time will be deemed the winner and will pocket the $100,000 prize.
If a Ninja completes Stage Three of the course, they have earned the right to scale the seven metre Chimney Climb, seven metre Salmon Ladder and the seven metre Rope Climb to the top of Mt Midoriyama. The Ninja who conquers Mt Midoriyama will win the series and claim the title of Australian Ninja Warrior and a $200,000 total prize.
Australian Ninja Warrior returns on Sunday, June 20, at 7.00pm on Channel Nine and 9Now.