Australian Ninja Warrior history was made tonight as Mount Midoriyama was finally conquered.

After four years, 636 Ninja runs and 106 grand final attempts, Ben Polson was crowned Australia’s first Ninja Warrior on Nine’s blockbuster competition. With the major prize jackpotting, he has walked away with an incredible $400,000.

In a high-intensity, drama-filled finale, three Ninjas made it to Stage 4, with the fastest on the punishing 20-metre rope climb up Mt Midoriyama declared the winner.

Standing at the foot of Mt Midoriyama were the golfing Ninja and 2019 furthest-fastest champion, Charlie Robbins, underdog and student Zak Stolz, and videographer Ben Polson, one half of the popular ANW power couple.

In a nailbiting finish, all three Ninjas reached the summit, but Ben Polson completed the climb in the quickest time, 25.56 seconds, beating Charlie Robbins by one second to become Australia’s first ever Ninja Warrior. With Ninja girlfriend Olivia Vivian celebrating by his side, Ben was ecstatic.

After the win Ben said: “I wasn’t your average kid at school, I felt like an outcast and got bullied a lot. It wasn’t until I discovered Ninja training that I once again felt I had a purpose. It helped me build myself back up physically and mentally. Conquering Mount Midoriyama is not about what I have received, it’s about who I have become.”

Ben said he planned to take Olivia on a trip to Japan for endless amounts of sushi and finally buy himself a car with the prizemoney.

“Four hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money! Especially during such a rollercoaster year. I would love to take Olivia on a trip to Japan the rest will be invested and discussed with much smarter people than myself.”

Ben, Charlie and Zak all cement their names in the history books, joining an elite group of only 14 people in the world who have scaled Mt Midoriyama.

Runner-up Charlie Robbins said of climbing Mt Midoriyama: “It was an incredible feeling of accomplishment. There’s only a handful of people in the world that can say they’ve done it, so to be a part of that group is pretty special and of course a big congratulations to Ben.”

Second runner-up Zak Stolz added: “It’s something you always see and hope you can do, but actually doing it didn’t feel real. It’s truly an honour to complete the dream of any Ninja warrior.”

Ben, Charlie and Zak will all be back for more thrills and spills when they represent their state in the brand-new showdown, Australian Ninja Warrior: State of Origin, where the winning team will take home $100,000, starting this Sunday, August 16, at 7.00pm on Nine.

For more information please contact:
Channel Nine Publicity:
Clare Gibbons
cgibbons@nine.com.au

Monday, August 11, 2020