{
  "id": 5082168,
  "title": "‘American Ninja Warrior’ Winner Speaks Out After Shocking Upset",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/american-ninja-warrior-winner-speaks-out-after-shocking-upset",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-02T12:07:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/american-ninja-warrior-winner-speaks-120714097.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Josiah Pippel, the winner of American Ninja Warrior Season 18, became the champion on his 20th birthday. During the August 31 finale, Pippel defeated the previous champion, Kai Beckstrand, in a shocking upset. Pippel's victory at the age of 20 was a significant milestone, as he had been working on his craft for 13 years and competed in six consecutive seasons without missing the National Finals. After winning, Pippel received $250,000. His journey to the title included overcoming competitors such as Matt D’Amico, Enzo DeFerrari Wilson, and Nacssa Garemore, with Beckstrand falling on Cane Lane, marking the first time a number one seed had hit the water on an obstacle in three years. Pippel stated that winning the championship was a long time coming and that it was a moment he had worked for. He also mentioned that his strategy going into the final showdown was to focus on his own race and run it confidently. Pippel described the moment of seeing Beckstrand fall as a series of unfortunate events, as he didn't see the competitor fall and was concerned about his own dismount. He also reflected on the previous season, describing it as a low point in his competitive stats, which motivated him to return to his best self in Season 18. Regarding the winnings, Pippel plans to invest in his business, Team Ninja Association, while also saving some money and treating himself to a new car or two. He is optimistic about the sport's future, particularly with the possibility of Ninja Warrior-style obstacle racing being included in the Summer Olympics in 2028. Pippel has been busy using his platform to inspire others, especially young ninjas, to embrace failure as part of the success process.",
  "summary": "Plus, the 20-year-old reveals what's next.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}