Ep 3. St. Louis Qualifying

In the third episode of American Ninja Warrior season 7, the competition heads to St. Louis for the qualifying round. The city is known for its famous arch, but tonight the focus is on the course that has been designed to test the strength and agility of the competitors.

The St. Louis course features obstacles such as the Floating Steps, Rolling Thunder, and the Warped Wall, all of which require a combination of upper body strength and balance to complete successfully. The competitors will also face the new obstacle, the Hourglass Drop, which challenges their grip strength and agility.

The episode begins with a montage of the city of St. Louis and the cheering fans as they await the arrival of the competitors. Hosts Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila introduce the audience to the St. Louis course and the 100 competitors who will be vying for a spot in the national finals.

The first competitor to take on the course is 26-year-old rookie, Tristan Kempter, who is a parkour instructor. Kempter quickly breezes through the first few obstacles before facing the Warped Wall. Despite some early struggles, he manages to make it up the wall on his second attempt, much to the delight of the crowd.

As the night progresses, more and more competitors take on the St. Louis course, each bringing their own unique style and athleticism to the challenge. We witness the inspiring story of a firefighter who suffered a career-ending injury and has since dedicated himself to training for American Ninja Warrior, as well as a mother of two who is competing for the first time.

Meanwhile, the seasoned veterans of the show face their own challenges on the course. Drew Drechsel, known as the Real Life Ninja, struggles with the Hourglass Drop and narrowly makes it through to the next round. Brian Arnold also has a tough time on the Rolling Thunder but manages to stay focused and complete the course.

In between the runs, we get to know some of the competitors on a personal level as they discuss their training routines, motivations, and aspirations. Many of them speak of the sense of community and camaraderie that exists among the American Ninja Warrior competitors, despite the fact that it is ultimately a competition.

As the final competitors take on the course, the tension in the air is palpable. The audience cheers on each competitor as they take on the obstacles with determination and focus. At the end of the night, only a select few will earn a spot in the national finals and continue on their journey to become an American Ninja Warrior.

Overall, the St. Louis qualifying round is a thrilling episode of American Ninja Warrior that showcases the incredible athleticism and perseverance of its competitors. With a mix of newcomers and seasoned veterans, the competition is fierce and the stakes are high. Fans of the show will not want to miss this exciting episode.