From television to the Feuerstein: Ninja Warrior Jonas Pichler

This discipline is all about mastering various obstacles without falling on the ground. There are all kinds of obstacles that have to be completed by jumping, swinging, hanging and climbing: from rings and poles to ropes and chimneys, as well as run obstacles such as the Mega Wall. Fitness and strength are just as important as speed, stamina, agility, coordination and balance, not to mention a great deal of courage. Over the past few years, this sport has also gained an increased popular thanks to the TV show “Ninja Warrior”.

What inspired you to take part in “Ninja Warrior Germany”?

I have been a huge Ninja Warrior fan since childhood and always watched the show regularly. When I saw a South Tyrolean girl competing for the first time, I decided that one day I would take part too. Five years later, when I finally turned 17, I submitted my application. Out of more than 10,000 candidates, I was surprised to be one of the 320 participants selected for the preliminary round in Cologne.

How did you prepare for the event?

Well, to start with, I may have practised on every pole I could find. I also set up my own training course as best as possible in order to prepare for the different obstacles.

How did the preliminary round go?

We were allowed to see the obstacle course before filming, and an athlete gave us a demonstration. However, it was not possible to try it out ourselves beforehand.

What was it like tackling the course in front of the cameras?

At first, being filmed felt strange, of course. But the moment you step onto the course, you experience a tunnel effect, where you completely block out the cameras. Then, when you land in the water, you suddenly remember that you were actually being filmed the whole time. I honestly was very excited both times I competed, even a few days prior to the event. When things got serious, I was even so nervous that I stumbled on my way to the starting point in both preliminary rounds in 2023 and 2024. I almost fell into the water right from the start platform.

How far did you get each time?

In 2023, I was eliminated relatively quickly in the preliminary round. In 2024, on the other hand, I made it to the semi-finals and finished in 50th place. However, only 40 participants make it to the final. At first, of course, I was disappointed that I had just missed out on the final, but on the other hand, I was very proud of my performance. After all, I made it to the semi-finals out of more than 10,000 applicants.

Would you take part in the show again?

I would definitely participate again in “Ninja Warrior”, as long as I get selected and invited back, of course. However, I'm doing my A-levels this year, so I won't be able to take part until at least 2026. That said, I've already gained so much from my experience over the past two years and I'm very proud of my performance.

Moreover, getting to know other well-known competitors and learning from them was another amazing opportunity. For instance, after the 2024 semi-final, I had dinner with some of my fellow contestants, including René Casselly, who went on to win the show again and has also successfully competed in other shows such as “Let's Dance”.

Any tips for aspiring Ninja Warriors?

The most important thing is having fun and tackling the course with a smile. And you have to stick to it - don’t give up, even if you fail once. That's what happened to me. In 2023, I fell into the water early on and was eliminated. Nevertheless, I kept training hard and gave it another go in 2024. This second time, I was far more relaxed, which allowed me to actually enjoy the moment. In the end, I made it to the semi-finals.

The Ninja Warrior course at the Feuerstein is definitely a great place to train properly.

Photos from the TV show “Ninja Warrior Germany”: RTL / Markus Hertrich