UT diver on ‘Ninja Warrior’ advances to Las Vegas finals
Knoxville “American Ninja Warrior” contestant Mike Wright earned his way to the show’s Las Vegas finals last week.
Wright, who’s a former University of Tennessee diver, stayed true to his nickname, the Speedo Ninja, by wearing an orange and white speedo while competing in the show’s Indianapolis City Finals.
“I’m the Speedo Ninja, and I’m hoping to avoid the water,” said Wright, referencing the water below obstacles that contestants fall into if they fail.
Wright almost made it through the course, but fell on the ninth obstacle, a new one called cane lane, which involves competitors hanging by a cane on a metal bar and propelling the cane up to get past grooves on the bar.
His performance was enough to send him to the show’s last round, where he has a chance to win the $1 million grand prize. Wright placed 11th in the city finals with the Top 15 and Top 2 women advancing.
Despite not making it to the end, Wright said he felt great about his performance.
“At the point of that final obstacle, my body was pretty exhausted, but I felt accomplished, and I felt like I had given a good performance that should keep me somewhere among the best guys that night, and it did,” he said.
Wright’s following as the Speedo Ninja has grown more than he thought it would.
“It’s been great. I’ve had a few fans stop me randomly on the sidewalk to take a photo, which I think is hilarious,” said Wright. “I never thought it would get that big, but I just have a great following, and a lot of it started just with the kids I coach with the Tennessee Diving Club Program.”
Wright and several of the kids he coaches were in Indianapolis for a diving competition right before he was on the show, and some of kids stuck around to cheer him on.