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<\/p>\nCentral Florida natives advance to “American Ninja Warrior” Eastern Regional Finals<\/p>\n
Olivia Lopez of Gotha and four other Central Florida competitors have advanced to the Eastern Regional Finals of “American Ninja Warrior,” showcasing their athleticism and determination.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCENTRAL FLORIDA IS MAKING A STRONG SHOWING ON NBC\u2019S AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR. ONE OF THE STANDOUTS IS RIGHT HERE IN OUR STUDIO, OLIVIA LOPEZ RIGHT HERE FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA GOTHA. AND YOU\u2019VE ADVANCED TO THE REGIONAL FINALS IN JUST YOUR ROOKIE SEASON. OLIVIA, WELCOME. THANK YOU. OH MY GOODNESS. SO WE\u2019RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT JOURNEY WITH HER AND THE RACE FOR YOU KNOW, KIND OF A HUGE LIFE CHANGING PRIZE HERE. $1 MILLION. WHAT WHAT IS THAT LIKE AS A GOAL? IT\u2019S CRAZY. LIKE YOU DON\u2019T EVEN THINK IT\u2019S POSSIBLE, LIKE BEING ON THE TV SHOW AND THEN HAVING THE CHANCE TO WIN $1 MILLION IS JUST INSANE. YEAH. THIS THIS KID FROM GOTHA, RIGHT? AND YOU\u2019RE IN HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NOW. OKAY, SO YOU WERE 16 WHEN THE SHOW WAS FILMING. AND WHEN WE SAW YOU DO THAT RUN, NOW YOU\u2019RE 17. WHERE ARE YOU IN SCHOOL? AND SORT OF WHAT\u2019S THE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE ACADEMICALLY? YEAH. SO I\u2019M GOING INTO MY SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL. I DEFINITELY DO WANT TO GO INTO COLLEGE. NOT SURE WHERE YET. YEAH. AND I\u2019M TRYING TO GET INTO SPORTS MEDICINE A LITTLE BIT. OKAY. I THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF SCHOOLS REALLY INTERESTED IN YOU. AND LET\u2019S JUST THROW THIS OUT THERE. SHE\u2019S GOT A REALLY GREAT GPA. WHAT IS IT? WHAT\u2019S YOUR GRADE POINT AVERAGE RIGHT NOW? I THINK WADE IS 5.2. YEAH. OKAY. SO BRAINS AND BRAWN, WHAT MADE YOU APPLY FOR AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR? I\u2019VE BEEN WATCHING IT SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID WITH MY GRANDMA. AND THEN EVENTUALLY I FOUND A GYM AND I STARTED TRYING IT. AND I HAD SO MUCH FUN. AND THEN I STARTED TRAINING WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE ON THE TV SHOW, AND I WAS LIKE, THIS IS AWESOME. AND SO WHEN I REALIZED THAT THEY LOWERED THE AGE LIMIT AND I WAS FINALLY OLD ENOUGH, IT WAS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE TO BE ABLE TO APPLY. YEAH. SO HOW MANY YEARS ARE WE TALKING HERE FROM YOU WATCHED IT AND STARTED TRAINING. WHAT AGE WERE YOU WHEN I STARTED WATCHING IT? PROBABLY LIKE FIVE. OKAY. BUT I STARTED TRAINING AROUND TEN, 11 YEARS AGO. AND SO EIGHT YEARS OF TRAINING AND YOU HAVE BEEN JUST NONSTOP. SO YOU\u2019RE READY TO GO. IF THEY SAY TOMORROW WE\u2019VE GOT A COURSE, IT\u2019S SET UP. LET\u2019S GO. YOU CAN DO THAT. YES, SIR. AT A MOMENT\u2019S NOTICE. IS THAT AMAZING OR WHAT? RIGHT. LET\u2019S TALK ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE THOUGH FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE BALANCING HIGH SCHOOL AND YOU\u2019RE HIGH ACHIEVING. WHAT\u2019S IT LIKE BEING IN THIS INTENSE TRAINING FOR AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR AND JUST YOUR PHYSICAL FITNESS LEVEL DAY IN AND DAY OUT? YEAH, THERE\u2019S A LOT GOING ON. I MEAN, BALANCING TRAINING, NUTRITION, AND LIKE A LOT OF HOMEWORK TOO. I\u2019M IN A LOT OF AP, SO THERE\u2019S HOMEWORK AND PRACTICE IS ALWAYS GOING ON, BUT IT\u2019S HONESTLY FUN. IT KEEPS YOU BUSY, KEEPS YOU GOING, AND THERE\u2019S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO. SO YOU\u2019RE ALREADY WORKING ON COLLEGE CREDIT IN HIGH SCHOOL. GOOD JOB HERE. I MEAN, WE\u2019RE JUST INSPIRED AND ALSO FEELING A LITTLE BIT LIKE, WHAT WAS I DOING AT 16, 17? NOTHING CLOSE TO THIS. OLIVIA. SO LET\u2019S TALK ABOUT THE REGIONAL FINALS. WHAT\u2019S YOUR PLAN? WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THAT? YEAH, I MEAN, THE GOAL IS ALWAYS TO KEEP MOVING ON, GO TO THE NATIONAL FINALS THIS YEAR. THEY\u2019RE HAVING A THREE PERSON RACE, WHICH IS SUPER COOL TO BE LIKE PART OF THE FIRST LIKE AIRING OF IT. YEAH. AND SO I\u2019M RACING AGAINST TWO OTHER GIRLS EVENTUALLY. AND THEN AT THE START IS THE QUALIFIER TO SEE IF WE MOVE ON. NOW, IS IT A DIFFERENT SORT OF CHALLENGE WHEN YOU WHEN YOU HAVE ONE CHALLENGER AND TWO CHALLENGERS, ARE YOU TRYING NOT TO LOOK AT THEM OR DO YOU WANT TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE IN RELATION. YEAH, IT\u2019S VERY DIFFERENT BECAUSE WHEN YOU\u2019RE RUNNING THE COURSE, THE QUALIFIER, IT\u2019S JUST YOU ON THE COURSE, THAT\u2019S IT. BUT IT\u2019S VERY DIFFERENT WHEN YOU\u2019RE RUNNING AGAINST PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TRY TO GO FASTER, MAKE SURE YOU\u2019RE MAKING CERTAIN MOVES AND STUFF. IS THERE AN OBSTACLE THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK THE HARDEST TO, TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR ON AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR THAT YOU GO, THIS, THIS IS THE ONE THAT REALLY I\u2019M GOING TO SWEAT OVER. A LOT OF TIMES IT\u2019S BALANCED JUST BECAUSE ALMOST ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. YOUR FOOTWORK AND STUFF, LIKE USUALLY THE UPPER BODY STUFF PEOPLE ARE PRETTY SECURE ON, BUT THE BALANCE PEOPLE GET JUST NERVOUS AND IN THEIR HEAD ABOUT, OKAY, AND ARE YOU GOOD WITH IT THOUGH? PRETTY GOOD. I LIKE BALANCE. NOT IN HER HEAD, NO. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OTHER YOUNG ATHLETES? BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED NOW, YOUNGER AND YOUNGER ATHLETES CAN COMPETE ON AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM? I MEAN, TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY. I HAD AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE AND IT\u2019S JUST SUPER FUN. LIKE SOMEONE ASKS YOU WHAT SPORT YOU\u2019RE DOING, YOU SAY AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR. LIKE, THAT\u2019S AWESOME. THAT IS SO COOL. AND YOU ARE RISING TO THE CHALLENGE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. CONTINUED SUCCESS. WE\u2019RE GOING TO BE WATCHING OLIVIA AS SHE CONTINUES TO MOVE ON. AND YOU\u2019RE ONE OF FIVE NINJAS FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA ADVANCING TO THE EASTERN REGIONAL FINALS. SO WE\u2019RE ROOTING FOR 15 YEAR OLD AARON DIEHL FROM WINDERMERE. HE IS THE YOUNGEST LOCAL COMPETITOR. WE\u2019VE ALSO GOT 16 YEAR OLD GRACE GORDON FROM ORLANDO. SHE\u2019S THE FASTEST FEMALE COMPETITOR IN THIS QUALIFIER AND COMPLETED THE COURSE WITHOUT FALLING 18 YEAR OLD GARRETT MORRIS, REPRESENTING OCALA. HE\u2019S ONE OF TWO NINJAS TO WIN A $10,000 BONUS AFTER SUCCESSFULLY BEATING THE MEGA WALL IN AN EARLIER QUALIFIER, AND 20 YEAR OLD AVERY GLANTZ, ALSO FROM ORLANDO. SHE\u2019S STUDYING AT UCF AND IS IN HER FIFTH SEASON COMPETING. CONGRATS. AND OF COURSE TO OLIVIA RIGHT HERE IN THE STUDIO. WE WILL BE WATCHING. DON\u2019T MISS THE FINALISTS FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA COMPETING. IT\u2019S OVER ON OUR SISTER STATION WESH TWO. WE\u2019LL BE WATCHING TONIGHT AT NINE. YEAH. THANK YOU. THIS IS GOOD\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Central Florida natives advance to “American Ninja Warrior” Eastern Regional Finals<\/p>\n
Olivia Lopez of Gotha and four other Central Florida competitors have advanced to the Eastern Regional Finals of “American Ninja Warrior,” showcasing their athleticism and determination.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\tUpdated: 9:45 AM EDT Jul 13, 2026\n\t\t<\/p>\n