On November 8, the fourth season of the popular RTL format entered its grand finale. Alex Wurm and Arleen Schüßler secured the titles of "Last Man" and "Last Woman Standing," respectively, in the exciting event and each took home 25,000 euros in prize money. Mount Midoriyama, however, remained unconquered once again.
Ninja Warrior Germany 2019 - new game, new rules
For the first time in the history of Ninja Warrior, special rules for female participants were introduced. At least three female participants qualified for the next round under certain conditions - unless there were already three women among the top 15 athletes as well. For the semifinals one place was reserved for women - again under certain further conditions. The hotly debated changes made it easier for female warriors to enter the semifinals - but from here on, the same rules applied to all participants. The award for the "Last Woman Standing" was also new.
In the fourth season of Ninja Warriors Germany, two women qualified for the grand finals. So Stefanie Noppinger (26), a student from Hallein in Austria and Arleen Schüßler (27), a saleswoman at Ninja Obstacles Aachen competed in a head-to-head battle in their own final. It was a gripping battle that Schüßler was able to decide in her favor and a moving moment when the athlete realized her victory. She had not seen the run of her competitor, so did not know at first after her fall into the water that she could take the title of Last Woman Standing.
The "Last Man Standing" is once again defending champion Alexander Wurm. The 23-year-old student was already in the final of Ninja Warriors Germany for the fourth time, in the third season the young athlete already wrote Ninja Warriors history - as the first participant ever he reached Mount Midoriyama and just missed the big triumph. With the double victory, the sport climber raises the bar for all upcoming participants.
Preparing for the show: Ninja Warrior training halls on trend
The fascination of "Ninja Warrior
Aside from the entertaining game show format, "Ninja Warriors" exerts a truly unimagined fascination on millions of people. Thousands apply to take part every year, and since the second season, up to 350 athletes from Germany, Austria and Switzerland have been competing for the coveted title, dreaming of conquering the dreaded Mount Midoriyama and being rewarded with 300,000 euros in prize money .
Viewed soberly, the preliminary rounds of the show are no longer really exciting from the second episode onwards - 50 participants compete against an obstacle course and the clock. You'd think you'd have seen everything by the tenth contestant at the latest; after all, each run is a repeat of the last. But Ninja Warrior is much more. As a viewer, you can't help it - you're gripped by the atmosphere, you root for every single athlete. And that episode after episode, the entire season from beginning to end. Even if you have your own favorites, even as a viewer you can't escape the perceived reality of the show - although the principle of "everyone against everyone" applies, at the same time it's also "everyone against the course". Even sports fans get excited and suffer with the athletes when a jump goes wrong and the athlete dangles over the water by his fingertips for agonizing moments - the suspense of whether the moment can be saved or the Ninja Warrior will crash and be eliminated is almost unbearable.
RTL's success proves its concept right - with more than 2 million viewers in total, the successful prime-time format Ninja Warrior wins out over the competition on Friday evenings and, with 14.9%, takes the largest share of the target group of 14 - 49 year olds.
One reason for the trend: the large number of participants. Up to 350 athletes make it to the show - several thousand athletes participate in the castings every year. It's a sport for hardened fighters - but unlike the classic TV sports, Ninja Warriors calls for completely different qualities. The participants are people from real life. Students, firefighters, doctors, pilots and insurance agents - they have all made it to the finals. Extreme athletes who, unlike professional athletes, live a completely normal life and thus keep alive the dream of fighting their way to the top and one day being the "Last Man Standing" or the "Last Woman Standing".
Inspiration for athletes
The show has inspired thousands of athletes since its first broadcast in 2016, and the number of training offers around the show has risen sharply. The show fascinates young and old alike - over one million children and young people up to 14 years of age watch the show every week. Almost every major city now offers the chance to try out a ninja course for yourself.
The "Ninja Warrior" concept requires athletes to have many different skills: Balance, a good sense of body awareness, quick reactions and good timing are essential - without these ingredients, the sometimes brutal feats of strength that test not only the arms but the entire body and especially grip strength cannot be mastered. So the brain runs along - and that, among other things, is what makes this type of training so appealing. In addition, the athletes must be extremely agile in order to ideally meet the challenge. This makes the training incredibly varied and diverse - functional training in a class of its own, so to speak, ideally suited for all those who love a challenge, are persistent and always ready to get the last bit of strength out of themselves.
Conclusion
In the grand finale of the fourth season of Ninja Warrior Germany, Arleen Schüßler was crowned the first "Last Woman Standing" in the history of the format, while defending champion Alexander Wurm secured the title of "Last Man Standing" for the second time in a row. The fascination for the format remains unbroken - the 5th season will be broadcast in 2020. Potential participants can apply here - so start your Ninja Warrior training right now and prepare yourself for the toughest show in Germany!
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Editorial fitnessmarkt.de (DG)
Published on: 14 November 2019