UNC student takes on American Ninja Warrior

A University of Northern Colorado nursing student won her second American Ninja Warrior title at 19 years old.

Greene has been living this competitive life since she was a kid. What first began as a hobby in gymnastics at a young age slowly changed to Ninja after the pandemic, a sport that allows children and adults to compete on obstacle-style courses. 

“I just loved the feeling of tumbling and flying through the air. Which definitely translates into why I love Ninja so much,” Greene said.

At 10 years old, she competed on American Ninja Warrior Junior for the first time, where she landed in fourth place and won $2,500. 

But Greene was still a normal kid and had to return to school in the fall to face her peers and teachers after competing on the show.

“The middle school definitely made a big deal about it, but it was cool to see everyone so excited for me,” Greene said. 

Her academic journey did not stop there. Greene is a second-year pre-nursing student at the University of Northern Colorado. Balancing college classes with the demands of competing can be difficult, but she appreciates the support she receives from her professors. 

“My professors think it's cool, but it is definitely a challenge. We film in September and October, right after school starts,” Greene said. “I have to email them, ‘Hey, I am leaving for multiple weeks at a time, sorry.’ They are thankfully pretty chill about it."

While many college students are balancing classes, work and school activities, Greene's added another challenge to her schedule: training for the next season of American Ninja Warrior. 

With the new season coming up, Greene has been training to begin the journey again. She not only trains late into the night, but also coaches younger kids two to three times a week. While she leaves for training early in the day, she does not return home until late at night, long after everyone is in bed.

For Greene, the sport has grown from something she enjoyed as a kid to a major part of her life. Her experience also shows how students can be involved in extra activities and balance their passions with their college classes. 

Greene’s story is just one piece of a larger puzzle when it comes to the student athletes at UNC. Outdoor Pursuits works to get students in the gym and moving.

“I hope that with the success of a UNC student on American Ninja Warrior, current students take the initiative to get just a little outside of their comfort zone, whether that comes with going to the rec for the first time or climbing at the Outdoor Pursuits climbing wall,” Outdoor Pursuits worker Sasha Watkins said. “Everybody should see what adventure can do for their mental and physical health.”