Sean Bryan

**Sean Bryan** is known by many as the **Papal Ninja** for his Catholic identity and apostolic/evangelical activity. Sean is highly involved in both religious and secular affairs; he is co-founder of a pioneering ministry within the Catholic Church called the "Lay Mission Project," as well as co-founder of one of the nations largest Ninja Gyms, Traverse Fitness. Although Sean hails from Concord, California, he spent most of his childhood in Cranford, New Jersey.

## American Ninja Warrior

#### American Ninja Warrior 8

He first competed in American Ninja Warrior 8 Los Angeles and cleared the qualifiers with the 4th fastest time of 2:30.11. Despite placing in the top 5 in qualifying, Bryan shockingly failed just the third obstacle, the Escalator, in city finals. He placed 27th overall and did not advance to the national finals.

#### American Ninja Warrior 9

Bryan came back in American Ninja Warrior 9 stronger than last year. In the Los Angeles qualifiers, Bryan placed 5th overall with a finish of 1:37.47. In the city finals, Bryan put up a memorable run by becoming one of the four finishers of that region as well as getting the fastest time out of all finishers and getting the fastest time out of all nine athletes to complete the City Finals course, completing the course in 5:07.22. Moreover, he beat Adam Rayl's time by .70 of a second for first place. Overall, Sean is one of just nine athletes to have completed a city finals course this season.

In Vegas, Sean cleared Stage One with 19.80 seconds left. Later, he became one of only three people to clear Stage Two, finishing with 15.06 seconds remaining. He was also one of just two people of Season 9 to complete four buzzers (meaning he finished qualifying, city finals, and the first/second stages of Las Vegas), with the other being Joe Moravsky.

In the third stage, he was able to clear the first three obstacles. However, his arms were fatigued upon reaching the Ultimate Cliffhanger resulting in him failing to make the transition to the fourth ledge.

#### American Ninja Warrior 10

He returned to Los Angeles in American Ninja Warrior 10. In the qualifiers, he was one of only ten competitors who cleared the Doorknob Drop, and all though he failed to get up the Mega Warped Wall, he still cleared the course for the third straight year, placing 7th.

n the city finals, he was the last competitor of the night. Because of this, Bryan's run knocked Grant McCartney out of the top 15. Sean barely finished the fastest out of the nine finishers on the course, beating Nicholas Coolridge's time by .93 of a second. Miraculously, this was the second year in a row in which he achieved the first place spot in a city finals course by less than a second on the clock.

On Stage 1, his run was digested. He stumbled on the Propeller Bar but ended up clearing with 18.95 seconds to spare. He later rose to the occasion on stage 2, in which he became the first competitor to clear stage 2, doing so with 21.70 seconds remaining. (Sean originally failed the Water Walls during his first run due to an obstacle malfunction. He was given a second chance and eventually finished on his second run).

On Stage 3, he failed the Ultimate Cliffhanger for the second year in a row. He missed out on serving as the Last Man Standing and winning US $100,000, having his time being beat by Drew Drechsel. Though he placed second out of the entire competition, he once again hit four buzzers, in which Drechsel did not do (since he fell on the Stair Hopper in the Miami finals). Because of this, Sean Bryan hit the most buzzers out of any competitor in the tournament.

#### American Ninja Warrior 11

Sean returned to compete in American Ninja Warrior 11. He was originally going to compete in Los Angeles, but because of a broken ankle, which he got in a training accident a few months earlier, he waited 2 months to compete in Tacoma. Although his ankle was still in the midst of recovering, he still managed to dominate the qualifying course with the 2nd fastest time, only behind Leif Sundberg. However, he managed to clear the Power Tower with a time faster than Sundberg and advanced to Vegas immediately.

In the city finals, he went for broke, making risky moves such as entirely skipping a cradle on the Lightning Bolts and jumping up two rungs on the Salmon Ladder. However, he failed the Floating Monkey Bars. While he was guaranteed a spot in Vegas, he did not get to attempt the Power Tower again.

Stage 1 was the most devastating run Bryan has ever had in his Ninja career. Bryan passed Spin Your Wheels and the Double Dipper, but as he took on the Jumping Spider, Bryan dislocated his right shoulder and had to withdraw from the rest of his run. While still on the jumping spider, Sean attempted to pop his shoulder back in place to no avail. So he hopped up to the top of the obstacle with no hands and was rescued by a crew member. Thus ended Bryan's fourth season. He was the first Speed Pass winner to be eliminated early. He was still seen supporting fellow competitors in the later stages, with his arm in a sling.

#### American Ninja Warrior 12

Bryan returned to compete in the modified season of American Ninja Warrior 12. He was running the obstacle course with his teammates Father Stephen Gadberry and David Womelsdorf. His teammates didn't finish the course and failed to qualify. Bryan managed to get the second fastest time despite his limited time training due to his shoulder rehab. He took on the Power Tower against R.J. Roman. However, he was defeated by Roman, who sent his teammates to the Semi-Finals.

In the Semi-Finals, he competed in the second episode. His run was digested, but was shown that he made a mistake and missed a cradle on the fifth obstacle, Slingshot, shocking everyone. Bryan didn't even take on the back half of the course. He failed to make it to the finals.

#### American Ninja Warrior 13

Bryan returned to compete in American Ninja Warrior 13, participating in the 4th qualifying round. His run was digested, but it was shown he went at a fast pace, completing the course. He finished with the 2nd fastest time, as his time was later beaten by Jake Murray.

In the third episode of the semifinals, he ran as the first competitor of the night. He hit his head on the Drop Zone, and was bleeding but still finished the course, becoming just the second athlete to complete a course as the first runner. He placed 3rd overall, meaning he just missed out on the Power Tower, but still advanced for his fourth appearance at the national finals.

On Stage 1, his run was digested, but it was shown that he finished the course with ease. On Stage 2, his run was again, digested, but he made it to the Falling Shelves where he fell on the reverse grab.

#### American Ninja Warrior 14

Bryan returned to compete in American Ninja Warrior 14, competing in the last qualifying episode. His run was digested (being shown side to side with his training partner Adam Rayl), but he once again attempted the Mega Wall and he failed it again. Nevertheless he still cleared the qualifying course for his seventh consecutive time, placing 8th overall.

He later competed in the second semifinals episode. When Sean reached the eighth obstacle, Box Office, he was in position to move on to the Power Tower just by finishing it. However, he failed the transition to the final box. He still placed 6th and advanced to the national finals for his fifth time.

In the national finals, he had one of the most shocking fails as he fell on just the second obstacle of Stage One, Three Ring Circus after he tried to adjust his grip on the disc, ending his season.