Ep 1. ANW: Best of Southwest

The much-anticipated fifth season of American Ninja Warrior kicked off with a bang with its first episode titled "ANW: Best of Southwest." This episode saw the show's return to the classic format of qualifying rounds, where hundreds of athletes from different regions across the United States competed to make it to the national finals in Las Vegas.

The Best of Southwest episode featured athletes from all over the region, including Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma, who faced an intense and challenging obstacle course that tested their strength, endurance, and agility. The course included 6 challenging obstacles, including the quintuple steps, rolling log, spinning bridge, cargo climb, hanging barrels, and the infamous warped wall, which is 14 feet tall and requires contestants to sprint up it and touch the top.

The Best of Southwest episode featured an array of talented athletes from different backgrounds, ages, and sports, who all had one goal in common - to conquer the course and make it to the finals. The episode also featured several heartbreaking moments, where some of the contestants fell short on the course due to fatigue or mistakes, but overall, it was an exhilarating and inspiring episode.

One of the standout athletes of the episode was Daniel Gil, a 23-year-old rock climber from Houston, Texas, who was competing in his fourth season of American Ninja Warrior. Gil was one of the few athletes to conquere the course, and he did so with impressive speed and grace, finishing the course in just 3 minutes and 47 seconds.

Another standout athlete was Devon Still, a former NFL player who retired to spend more time with his daughter, who was battling cancer. Still, who had never competed in American Ninja Warrior before, impressed the judges with his strength and agility, making it through several obstacles before ultimately falling on the warped wall.

The episode also featured several other talented athletes, including Meagan Martin, an accomplished rock climber, who became the first woman to qualify for the national finals, and Abel Gonzalez, a 44-year-old firefighter, who made a heartfelt dedication to his daughter before taking on the course.

Overall, the Best of Southwest episode was an excellent start to the fifth season of American Ninja Warrior, showcasing the talent, determination, and heart of the contestants who competed on the course. The episode left viewers on the edge of their seats as they watched the athletes push their limits and commit to completing the course, highlighting the true spirit of the show. American Ninja Warrior season 5 promises to be one of the most exciting seasons yet, and fans can't wait to see what other outstanding performances are in store from the contestants.