Olentangy Liberty student excels on NBC’s ‘America Ninja Warrior’

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Olentangy Liberty student Sydney Yee competed Monday night for the first time on NBC’s “America Ninja Warrior” after a previous appearance on “American Ninja Warrior Junior” in 2021.

The teen has been working toward being a contestant on the show for years. She trains alongside “ANW” veterans at Movement Lab Ohio (MLAB), where fellow Season 16 competitor Jennifer Stefano-Sanders works.

On “ANW Jr.” Yee advanced to Round Two, the “Knockout Round,” just one step away from the Final Showdown.

Yee recorded her “ANW” debut at just 15, the minimum age to compete on the NBC show. She has waited more than a year for the episode to air. After “ANW” Season 16 went on a brief hiatus for the U.S. Olympic team trials, Yee’s performance was finally ready for prime time.

On Monday’s episode, Yee came dressed for battle in a turquoise tank displaying her ninja nickname “The Sly Ninja” made up of her initials S-L-Y. As the season’s youngest ninja, she placed fifth in the top five women competitors after making it to the Heavy Metal portion of the course. Moving on to the Runoffs, she beat her challenger to head to the show’s semifinals, even though she fell before hitting the buzzer.

Yee’s younger brother Dylan who trains alongside her hopes to make it onto the show next season.

Watch “American Ninja Warriors” on Monday nights at 8 p.m. on NBC4.

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