Month: February 2018

Joe Moravsky

 

When people think of what an elite athlete looks like, they probably imagine someone like LeBron  James or Rob Gronkowski, athletic freaks who look like they have been lifting weights since the womb. If you passed Joe Moravsky on the street, though, chances are you would think nothing of it. Despite his modest build, Joe “The Weatherman” Moravsky is an elite athlete.

Joe Moravsky went the farthest of any rookie ever, reaching Stage Three (and being the second to last man standing). Including that rookie season, ANW5, Moravsky has reached Stage Three four out of his five years competing. With this information alone, it is clear that Moravsky is one of the best ninjas that the sport has to offer.

The Weatherman was clearly not happy with being second-place, however, and came into ANW9 with a vengeance. Generally, Moravsky is a speed-runner, constantly trying to beat records for how quickly a course can be beaten. On Stage Three of the National Finals, however, Joe changed his strategy completely. Like a surgeon, Moravsky used skill and precision to systematically destroy the course.

Joe Moravsky’s Stage Three Run (Starting at the Peg Cloud)

The Weatherman handled the first five obstacles of Stage Three with relative ease. Of course, these obstacles are extremely difficult, but like any elite competitor, he makes it look easy. You can start to see him sweat, however, as he reaches the sixth, new obstacle, the Peg Cloud. The Peg Cloud requires the ninja to move between vertical beams using mobile, tiny handles. Using creativity to handle the obstacle, Moravsky used his legs to ease the load on his arms, looking like a member of the circus in the process. The strength required to navigate the Peg Cloud alone is immense, let alone after handling the five obstacles preceding it. Nonetheless, Moravsky handled the obstacle like a champ, only failing the course after the Time Bomb, another new obstacle.

As the only competitor in ANW9 to beat the Ultimate Cliffhanger, Moravsky became the last man standing. While being the last man standing is an unofficial title, it shows the level of excellence that Moravsky has reached and that fans have grown to expect. Never judge a book by its cover, especially if that book is the elite ninja warrior Joe “The Weatherman” Moravsky.

 

<http://sasukepedia.wikia.com/wiki/Joe_Moravsky>

Kevin Bull

 

Some ninjas are known for their ability to destroy courses systematically. Some sprint through the course like there is a pack of wild dogs chasing after them. Some ninjas are known for wearing costumes. Kevin Bull is known for a different distinctive feature, his complete lack of hair.

At the age of 21, Bull began losing his hair. He was quickly diagnosed with alopecia universalis, which affects hair across his entire body. While the condition may appear harsh, people with alopecia only lose their hair. There are no other physical effects, though there are also negative social effects brought on by the condition.

Bull is not the only elite athlete to be affected by alopecia. Charlie Villanueva, a professional basketball player, has alopecia universalis like Bull. Other professional athletes such as Ryan Shazier and Joshua Dobbs, both Pittsburgh Steelers, suffer from alopecia areata, a less severe version of alopecia. While all of these men faced difficult times due to their medical condition, they have all grown stronger because of alopecia.

While Bull’s condition is distinctive, it has not held him back in competition. Kevin Bull has never been a top ninja, but he consistently makes it to Las Vegas and competes at an extremely high level. What Bull may be best known for is his unique handling of Cannonball Alley.

As a walk-on in ANW6, Bull was managing the Venice City course, hoping to reach Vegas as a rookie. On his way, Kevin was forced to take on Cannonball Alley. Cannonball Alley forces contestants to grip progressively larger “cannonballs” in order to avoid falling into the water below. While most people would move between the cannonballs using only their hands, Kevin Bull did an impression of a trapeze artist. The confidence required to take on an obstacle in this nontraditional way is exceptional, let alone doing so as a walk-on rookie.

With the recognition that his condition and his rendition of Cannonball Alley provided, Bull decided to give back. Kevin used his fame to bring attention to the Children’s Alopecia Project[https://childrensalopeciaproject.org/]. Rather than being selfish with his success, Kevin Bull decided to help children with the same condition as his own.

While he may not be the best ninja, Kevin Bull has left his unique mark on American Ninja Warrior and has proven himself to be one of the best people to have competed in ANW.

 

<http://dermatologytimes.modernmedicine.com/dermatology-times/news/american-alopecia-ninja-attacks-awareness>