Better late than never! After seven seasons and approximately 3,500 contestants, American Ninja Warrior crowned its first-ever champion, Isaac Caldiero, on Monday, Sept. 14.
The 33-year-old rock climber made history during the Season 7 finale by completing all four stages of the show's obstacle course in Las Vegas. Prior to Monday's episode, no athlete had advanced beyond Stage 3.
Remarkably, two men finished the course on the finale — Caldiero and Geoff Britten, a 36-year-old sports cameraman from Maryland. Britten actually achieved the feat first, but he took 3.6 seconds longer to do it, so Caldiero was crowned the champ.
The Colorado native previously attempted the course in 2013 and 2014, but never made it past Stage 2. Challenges include crossing pools of water by hanging from 2-inch ledges or scaling horizontal, upside-down rock walls — both of which Caldiero aced with ease. His final task was to climb a 75-foot rope in 30 seconds or less.
The first #AmericanNinjaWarrior has been crowned! @IsaacCaldiero #NinjaWarriorFinale ???????? https://t.co/AnPaXO6hc9
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) September 15, 2015
In the end, the agile busboy finished in 26.14 seconds, just barely beating Britten's time of 29.65 seconds. He walked away with the $1 million prize, leaving Britten empty-handed.
Up the rope & into the history books! @ninjageoff becomes the first American to complete Stage 4! #NinjaWarriorFinale pic.twitter.com/NSGymBYtLd
— Ninja Warrior (@ninjawarrior) September 15, 2015
"Winning this event always seemed impossible," Caldiero said. "As the first American Ninja Warrior, I want to use this opportunity to inspire the world to find your impossible and conquer it."
In case you missed it, the Season 7 finale of American Ninja Warrior will re-air on the Esquire Network tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. ET.
