Latest news with #NinjaWarrior
CTV News
6 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
This 9-year-old Quebec girl is dominating the Ninja Warrior World in North Carolina
Ninja Warrior Justine B. Simard is dominating the competition at nine years old and hoping to go all the way in the competition. (Swidda Rassy/CTV News) A Quebec girl is quickly becoming the talk of the World Ninja League Championships. She's dominating the competition and she is just getting started. Fast, focused and fearless, nine-year-old Justine B. Simard's journey started while watching Ninja Warriors on TV with her family. A few years ago, her grandparents took her to a ninja centre. 'The owner of the gym said, 'Wow, she's very good,'' said her mother, Annie St-Pierre. The family put her in classes, and eventually, she started competing. Last month, at the World Ninja League Championships in North Carolina, she left with 11 medals and two trophies. 'I'm not the best; I could improve, and then sometimes I'm really great,' said the humble warrior. Her parents are understandably very proud, even if they don't know where she got the talent from. Simard's trainer, Mathieu St-Ours, says it's her focus and strength that make her special. 'She's very strong for this type of ninja, where she can focus only on what she has to do,' said St-Ours. 'She impresses more than some of the teenagers we got.' Next month, the family is headed to Barbados for another competition, and whether she brings home more medals to add to her already impressive collection, her mom says the sport is mostly about having fun, staying active and proving anyone can succeed. 'Also for the girls that they know they can do the same thing as the boys,' said St-Pierre. For Simard, she hopes one day to get a chance to compete on the Ninja Warrior TV show, where she was first inspired. 'I would really like that,' she said.
CTV News
28-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
10-year-old Ontario girl wins World Ninja League title, a Canadian first
Ella Crichlow-Mainguy at the World Ninja League Championships, right after winning the global title for her division. (Rachel Mainguy) Even though Ella Crichlow-Mainguy had to go through some hoops to make it to the World Ninja Championship, the 10-year-old Ontarian cleared the obstacles to clinch a global division title. The Acton, Ont. athlete says she first got into the sport a couple of years ago when she noticed a group training at the gym. 'I did rock climbing at Aspire Milton, and at the same gym where I did rock climbing, they had Ninja Warrior, and I just loved to watch 'American Ninja Warrior,'' Crichlow-Mainguy tells CTV News Toronto, referring to the televised show. She said once she tried it, she just couldn't stop. For those unfamiliar with this sport, ninja tests athletes through a variety of strength-testing obstacles. There are various stages with each that need to be cleared—either by hitting the buzzer or having a fast pace—before making it to the next round. 'There are canvassing obstacles, where there are like, cliffhangers, which are little ledges that you just have to hold on to with your fingers. There are aerial obstacles, which are latches, which are where you have to throw from one bar to another,' Crichlow-Mainguy explained. Competing Ella Crichlow-Mainguy at the world championships. (Rachel Mainguy) The young athlete adds that there are also obstacles that test for balance and grip strength. For the last two years, Crichlow-Mainguy would train twice a week with her team to go through these various challenges, as well as build up her endurance. When she's not at the gym, Crichlow-Mainguy practices at the makeshift rig at her home. 'Imagine something that looks like monkey bars for adults, and then things are hanging off of it,' Rachel Mainguy, Ella's mother, explained to CTV News. 'There's all these obstacles in our backyard right now.' Making it to the World Ninja League Championship The World Ninja League Championship was held in Greensboro, N.C from June 19 to June 23. To make it there, Mainguy says they had to take a connecting flight to Atlanta, Ga., which was supposed to leave at around 12:15 p.m. that Thursday but when they arrived at the airport, their flight was delayed. 'We missed our connectors, so now we're in Atlanta, it's probably 11 at night, we have no way to get to Greensboro,' Mainguy recalled, noting several other people had missed their connections. 'Now Delta is telling us we have to get in a lineup of 136 people, and they'll get to us by one in the morning.' The first event for Crichlow-Mainguy's division started Friday morning. The mother and daughter explained that they tried searching for rental cars, but none were available. 'Then, luckily, someone at the desk finds a flight that must have just populated for early in the morning and manages to get us on and Ella ends up sleeping on the airport floor on top of paper towels with her teammate,' Mainguy said. They arrived in North Carolina with enough time for Crichlow-Mainguy to change clothes and head to the coliseum to compete. 'It was just an honour' There were two events: the stages, which is where athletes can compete for the title of world champion in their division, and the discipline circuit. The first stage had seven obstacles with a time limit of one minute and 15 seconds, and the second stage had eight obstacles with a time limit of two minutes and 30 seconds, according to the championship rulebook. After each stage, those who did not hit the buzzer or finish with a competitive time would be eliminated from the next round, Mainguy said. 'Around 70 (athletes) got to compete on the final course,' Ella's mom adds, a drop from around the couple hundred that started. There was one particular obstacle in the third stage that Crichlow-Mainguy said was the most challenging part of the whole competition. 'There was this really cool obstacle, it was like a tipping L, and you have to climb to the top on these tiny little ledges with your hands and then it tipped down, and you could fall off if you didn't hold super tight,' she explained. Ella Crichlow-Mainguy Ella Crichlow-Mainguy competing in Stage 3 at the world championship. (Rachel Mainguy) Through the obstacles, Crichlow-Mainguy said her thoughts turned off and all she heard was her coach's voice 'Usually, he tells me to be confident and to commit to everything,' she said. And the 10-year-old then won the championship title among the mature kids female athletes. 'It was just an honour,' she said. 'I could tell how hard (the other athletes) worked for the whole year, so it was just an honour to even be there with them.' Crichlow-Mainguy's coach, Matt Hallak, told CTV News Toronto that not only was she the first ever world champion for their Milton, Ont.-based team, she 'cemented her name as Canada's first ever Mature Kid Female World Champion.' Ella and her coach Ella Crichlow-Mainguy and her coach Matt 'the Bat' Hallak. (Rachel Mainguy) 'Ella and her teammates made Canada proud and she is only just getting started…I can't wait to see what else happens for her in the upcoming season as this year she became the 2025 Canadian ninja League Champion and the 2025 World Ninja League Champion dominating in both our biggest events of the year,' Hallak said in an emailed statement. Next year, Crichlow-Mainguy will move up a division to compete with the preteens—something she's looking forward to as the obstacles become more challenging. 'I've been watching on the sidelines, the preteens get such really cool obstacles,' she said. 'I'm just really excited to try them.'
CTV News
28-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
‘It was just an honour': 10-year-old Ontarian becomes first Canadian World Ninja League champion for her division
Ella Crichlow-Mainguy at the World Ninja League Championships, right after winning the global title for her division. (Rachel Mainguy) Even though Ella Crichlow-Mainguy had to go through some hoops to make it to the World Ninja Championship, the 10-year-old Ontarian cleared the obstacles to clinch a global division title. The Acton, Ont. athlete says she first got into the sport a couple of years ago when she noticed a group training at the gym. 'I did rock climbing at Aspire Milton, and at the same gym where I did rock climbing, they had Ninja Warrior, and I just loved to watch 'American Ninja Warrior,'' Crichlow-Mainguy tells CTV News Toronto, referring to the televised show. She said once she tried it, she just couldn't stop. For those unfamiliar with this sport, ninja tests athletes through a variety of strength-testing obstacles. There are various stages with each that need to be cleared—either by hitting the buzzer or having a fast pace—before making it to the next round. 'There are canvassing obstacles, where there are like, cliffhangers, which are little ledges that you just have to hold on to with your fingers. There are aerial obstacles, which are latches, which are where you have to throw from one bar to another,' Crichlow-Mainguy explained. Competing Ella Crichlow-Mainguy at the world championships. (Rachel Mainguy) The young athlete adds that there are also obstacles that test for balance and grip strength. For the last two years, Crichlow-Mainguy would train twice a week with her team to go through these various challenges, as well as build up her endurance. When she's not at the gym, Crichlow-Mainguy practices at the makeshift rig at her home. 'Imagine something that looks like monkey bars for adults, and then things are hanging off of it,' Rachel Mainguy, Ella's mother, explained to CTV News. 'There's all these obstacles in our backyard right now.' Making it to the World Ninja League Championship The World Ninja League Championship was held in Greensboro, N.C from June 19 to June 23. To make it there, Mainguy says they had to take a connecting flight to Atlanta, Ga., which was supposed to leave at around 12:15 p.m. that Thursday but when they arrived at the airport, their flight was delayed. 'We missed our connectors, so now we're in Atlanta, it's probably 11 at night, we have no way to get to Greensboro,' Mainguy recalled, noting several other people had missed their connections. 'Now Delta is telling us we have to get in a lineup of 136 people, and they'll get to us by one in the morning.' The first event for Crichlow-Mainguy's division started Friday morning. The mother and daughter explained that they tried searching for rental cars, but none were available. 'Then, luckily, someone at the desk finds a flight that must have just populated for early in the morning and manages to get us on and Ella ends up sleeping on the airport floor on top of paper towels with her teammate,' Mainguy said. They arrived in North Carolina with enough time for Crichlow-Mainguy to change clothes and head to the coliseum to compete. 'It was just an honour' There were two events: the stages, which is where athletes can compete for the title of world champion in their division, and the discipline circuit. The first stage had seven obstacles with a time limit of one minute and 15 seconds, and the second stage had eight obstacles with a time limit of two minutes and 30 seconds, according to the championship rulebook. After each stage, those who did not hit the buzzer or finish with a competitive time would be eliminated from the next round, Mainguy said. 'Around 70 (athletes) got to compete on the final course,' Ella's mom adds, a drop from around the couple hundred that started. There was one particular obstacle in the third stage that Crichlow-Mainguy said was the most challenging part of the whole competition. 'There was this really cool obstacle, it was like a tipping L, and you have to climb to the top on these tiny little ledges with your hands and then it tipped down, and you could fall off if you didn't hold super tight,' she explained. Ella Crichlow-Mainguy Ella Crichlow-Mainguy competing in Stage 3 at the world championship. (Rachel Mainguy) Through the obstacles, Crichlow-Mainguy said her thoughts turned off and all she heard was her coach's voice 'Usually, he tells me to be confident and to commit to everything,' she said. And the 10-year-old then won the championship title among the mature kids female athletes. 'It was just an honour,' she said. 'I could tell how hard (the other athletes) worked for the whole year, so it was just an honour to even be there with them.' Crichlow-Mainguy's coach, Matt Hallak, told CTV News Toronto that not only was she the first ever world champion for their Milton, Ont.-based team, she 'cemented her name as Canada's first ever Mature Kid Female World Champion.' Ella and her coach Ella Crichlow-Mainguy and her coach Matt 'the Bat' Hallak. (Rachel Mainguy) 'Ella and her teammates made Canada proud and she is only just getting started…I can't wait to see what else happens for her in the upcoming season as this year she became the 20225 Canadian ninja League Champion and the 2025 World Ninja League Champion dominating in both our biggest events of the year,' Hallak said in an emailed statement. Next year, Crichlow-Mainguy will move up a division to compete with the preteens—something she's looking forward to as the obstacles become more challenging. 'I've been watching on the sidelines, the preteens get such really cool obstacles,' she said. I'm just really excited to try them.'
Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Vir Das does ‘parkour' to reach his gym; netizens say ‘BMC is making us warm up for free'
Mumbai's residents have been vocal about their growing frustration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over the seemingly never-ending road construction across the city. It has turned daily commutes into obstacle courses, and now, comedian Vir Das has joined the chorus of discontent. Taking to his X account, Das posted a video that many resonated with. Captioned 'getting to the gym be like,' the 48-second clip set to the iconic Super Mario music shows him navigating a chaotic street that looks more like a level from a video game than an actual road. Parts of the road are dug up, others are waterlogged, and what's left is a narrow, unpredictable path. His gym lies straight ahead, but getting there involves some serious improvisation—walking along raised platforms, hopping over puddles, and timing his jumps with the precision of a parkour athlete. Watch the video: Getting to the gym be like… — Vir Das (@thevirdas) April 30, 2025 The video went viral, striking a chord with Mumbaikars. One user said, 'Damn bro, lucky you. Your gym's obstacle course puts the Devil's Circuit and Ninja Warrior setups to shame. You'd be a parkour champ in no time.' Another user responded saying, 'Health insurance is necessary. You can do gym and eat healthy all year round. But if you live in India, there is a big chance of losing your life on Indian roads.' A third user offered some classic Mumbai sarcasm: 'Ek toh fukat mein warm up kara rahi hai @mybmc. Logon ko kadar hi nahi hai. Ek mahine baad free swimming sessions ka bhi program hai' (BMC is making us warm up for free, and people don't even appreciate it. In a month, there's also a plan for free swimming sessions). A fourth individual commented, 'There are at least three roads in my area that look exactly like this.' Not long ago, comedian Rohan Joshi took a sharp jibe at the BMC and the Maharashtra government through a fiery Instagram post, calling them out for the state of Mumbai's crumbling infrastructure. Venting his frustration, he accused the authorities of draining public funds while delivering little in return. 'Just give us a number!' he wrote. 'I don't care how outrageous it is–just tell us what it'll take for you to finally stop milking Mumbai's taxpayers.' Joshi even went as far as to offer to organise a fundraiser if that's what it would take to get the city's roads repaired once and for all.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
P90X trainer Tony Horton is in the best shape of his life at 66. Here are his top longevity tips.
Tony Horton, best known for the hit P90X workout, said he's thriving at 66 after tweaking his routine. Horton was diagnosed with a rare illness in 2017, and since then has followed a flexible plant-based diet. His current workout routine includes more yoga but also new challenges like obstacle courses. Two decades after designing one of the best-selling home workout programs in history, personal trainer Tony Horton said he's in the best shape of his life. When Horton's creation, P90X, hit the fitness industry in 2005, it became a smash hit. The program sold more than 3.5 million copies thanks to its high-intensity blend of circuit-style training, explosive movements, and plenty of core work. By that point, Horton had a star-studded clientele, including celebs like Tom Petty, Billy Idol, Rob Lowe, and Usher. Everything shifted in 2017, when he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a rare neurological disorder related to the shingles virus that can cause facial paralysis, ringing in the ears, and potential hearing loss. Horton said the health scare prompted him to overhaul his routine, focusing less on hardcore workouts and more on recovery and stress reduction. "I needed to add mindfulness components to my regular routine," he told Business Insider. "I looked more to resting, listening to music, taking a nap without feeling guilty about it, focusing on my family." The upshot: doing less paid off, and Horton said he's now in better shape than ever when it comes to taking on adventures, including new physical challenges. On a recent trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Horton said he skied for six days in a row. "I couldn't do that in my 20s and 30s," he said. Horton's latest venture is Ninja Warrior and obstacle course training, navigating ropes, high bars, even the notorious "salmon ladder" at his tricked out home gym in southern California (which you can visit as part of the Paragon Experience event in May). To stay strong and healthy into his 60s and beyond, Horton relies on habits like a flexible plant-based diet, lots of mobility exercise, and finding new challenges to keep things interesting. "To maintain and sustain my athleticism, it's not just pounding the weights and running hills," he said. "Now it's really about quality of life and longevity and avoiding injury as much as possible." Around the time of his diagnosis, Horton experimented with eating a vegan diet, and found he had more energy and better recovery after exercise. While he's not strictly vegan now, he said whole, plant-based foods make up a majority of his diet. Staples like beans, nuts, and seeds are a big part of his regular meals and snacks to make sure he's getting nutrients like protein and fiber for healthy aging. "People don't realize there's a whole lot of proteins in plants," he said. A typical day of eating for Horton includes seed bread with almond butter for breakfast, a protein smoothie with berries, banana, and cashew milk after a workout, and meals like lentil tacos for lunch and dinner. Taking a more flexible diet approach and allowing for exceptions to the plant-based plan — like elk steaks on his ski trips, or desserts when his sweet tooth hits — keeps him from feeling deprived, so he can stay healthier overall in the long-term. "Stick to your plan 80% to 90% of the time and every once in a while, eat that big beautiful chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven," Horton said. As he's gotten older, while Horton doesn't work out any less, he's shifted his focus on training for longevity rather than trying to pack on as much muscle as possible. He's still kept the muscle (Horton is no stranger to lifting heavy when it feels right) but his typical sessions include a lot more yoga and "animal flow," bodyweight exercise that emphasizes agility and graceful movement. "Balance, range of motion, flexibility, and speed work are as essential as lifting weights and everything else," Horton said. He also stays active by practicing with a slackline, a creative way of building balance and stability. The key is consistency, finding time every day for exercise as a regular, habitual investment in your long-term health, just like staying on top of your finances. "It doesn't have to be a lot. You can go for an 8-minute walk," Horton said. "But it has to be consistent. You don't pay your bills every fourth month." Horton said one of his main strategies for staying youthful is finding creative ways to push himself, like Ninja Warrior-style obstacle courses. It started when Horton was humbled by a rope climb, which he expected to be easier since he was strong enough to rep out dozens of push-ups and pull-ups. Rather than accept defeat, he decided to embrace the growth mindset, and obstacle training became a new way to stay motivated and get out of his comfort zone. "The reason why I fell in love with it was because it was another level of challenge," Horton said. "Who cares if I fall or if I fail? Turn your ego off." Read the original article on Business Insider
