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Scott firefighter selected to appear on 'American Ninja Warrior'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stephenie Wade
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Staff Sgt. Randall Forsythe, a 375th Civil Engineer Squadron Firefighter, submitted a package to American Ninja Warrior last year.

When he didn't hear anything back he thought his opportunity had passed; however, in late April he was notified the show wanted to do a special military episode featuring members of all branches. They wanted him to be one of the members to represent the Air Force.

American Ninja Warrior is an action-packed sports entertainment competition television show in which competitors try to complete a series of the world's most difficult obstacle courses called "stages."

Forsythe said he wanted to do the show in honor of his father.

"Last year my father passed away suddenly and that's when I realized life is short. I have always wanted to be on American Ninja Warrior, so I decided to submit an audition video to set an example for my daughter."

The brief video was enough for him to be selected, and was comprised of examples of him training at a gym called "KOR Komplex" in Saint Charles, Missouri. The gym is set up for people with the goal of appearing on American Ninja Warrior.

"You may think you're tough, but when you start training for this specific challenge you are proven wrong," said Forsythe, from Crestview, Florida. "The obstacles test your endurance and strength."

Brendan O'Niell, the owner of the first ninja warrior training course in the St. Louis area, said, "We have had a few athletes who train here compete on the show. My goal behind 'Komplex' was I wanted to create an atmosphere that would be set up for adults to participate in athletic training and kids to come in for fun activities."

Forsythe said when he found out that he was going to be on the show, his daughter, a gymnast, wanted to train with him. He says he is training her to be an American Ninja Warrior when she is old enough.