Michael Anderson Elementary physical education teacher Sandy Zimmerman was having dinner with her family and Teresa Raby when her son answered the phone.
“Teresa was telling him, ‘let mom answer it,’ which I thought was kind of funny,” Zimmerman said.
The phone call was from NBC, who let Zimmerman know she was chosen to compete on the eighth season of “American Ninja Warrior.”
“American Ninja Warrior” is a popular sports entertainment TV show where athletes attempt to complete four stages of obstacle courses, each one increasing in difficulty. Zimmerman auditioned for the show last year.
“Im so happy, I was trying not to cry,” Zimmerman said.
Like all contestants, Zimmerman completed the application process, which included filling out a 20-page questionnaire and making a 2-3 minute audition video. She traveled to Los Angeles where she competed in the regional qualifier, April 5-6. According to NBC’s Leslie Schwartz, the two-hour episode that was filmed in Los Angeles, will air June 1. If Zimmerman qualifies or is selected as a finalist, she will travel to the national finals in Las Vegas at a later date.
“I’m grateful to NBC for allowing me to give it a shot and share my story,” Zimmerman said. “I’ve met a lot of great people along the way.”
To prepare for the show, Zimmerman trained on various obstacles at home, made by her husband. She also balanced her workouts with other activities such as judo and playing basketball.
In an Oct. 8, 2015 Cheney Free Press story, Zimmerman stated several reasons for auditioning for the show. One reason was she wanted to inspire others.
Zimmerman grew up in the foster care system and had a rough childhood. She later discovered sports where she learned important lessons from her coaches, who she said “gave her hope.”
Another reason she auditioned for the show is because no mother before her had completed one-third of the show’s obstacle course.
“I want to be able to represent all moms and to show them that you can be a mother, still be fit and have fun,” Zimmerman said in the story.
Zimmerman also trained on obstacles at gyms in Boise, Idaho. She met Duncan Richardson, owner of Bodies in Motion who had previously auditioned for the show. Richardson gave Zimmerman pointers on training, including ways to reduce the pain in her hands when she went through the obstacles, which was something she “never really thought about.”
“Some of the things you can’t do at home,” Zimmerman said. “Being at the gyms helped build my confidence and my skillset.”
Zimmerman also competed in a few Ultimate Ninja Athletic Association competitions and won the women’s division in two of them. Although she had practiced at home, training at the gyms in Boise and competing in events allowed her to perform in front of other people. She also met many “ninja athletes” who she said “became friends for life.”
When Zimmerman arrived in Los Angeles to compete, she noted how “huge” the show’s production was. Producers would film from 9 p.m. - 6:30 a.m. to give the show a dark backdrop and add smoke and lights for effect. Zimmerman also met with many of the other contestants and learned their stories.
“I had people come up to me and ask for my picture, thinking I had been on the show for a few seasons, so I went with it,” Zimmerman said with a laugh. “It was a great atmosphere and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this.”
One question that caught Zimmerman by surprise was when someone asked “do you feel healthier?”
“I had to think about that,” Zimmerman said. “I feel physically healthier, but that’s such a small part of this. I also feel great mentally and emotionally. This is my story and I’m happy to get it out there.”
Viewers will have to wait until June to learn how far Zimmerman did on the show’s course — contestants cannot reveal the results until the episode they filmed airs on television.
However, competing on “American Ninja Warrior” is not a “one-time thing” for Zimmerman. She plans to audition for the show in the future and would like to compete on “Team Ninja Warrior,” an “American Ninja Warrior” spin-off. She will also compete in future Ultimate Ninja Athletic Association events.
“As long as my body will let me, I want to continue doing this,” Zimmerman said.
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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