A 21-year-old woman will take on the toughest obstacle yet in the final of this season's Ninja Warrior UK: Race for Glory on ITV. But Immy Hales wasn't able to train as much as she wanted to before filming after being struck by glandular feature.
The University of Nottingham student said: "Unfortunately, I’d been ill with glandular fever before the show, so I was pretty much unable to train for the two months prior to filming, which I found really tough - mentally as well as physically - as I had no idea if I’d be able to compete. Literally the week beforehand I was in tears to my mum as I was really finding it tough.
"I was pretty much sleeping every afternoon, every car journey, trying to squeeze in a quick session here and there - especially sprint sessions, which was a tad difficult with swollen tonsils and glands. Other than that, I managed a few grip strength sessions and went down to True Function ninja park in Swindon twice beforehand."
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Ninja Warrior UK is a physical obstacle assault course television game show, based upon the format of the Japanese game show Sasuke, hosted by Ben Shephard, Rochelle Humes, and Chris Kamara. The final airs this Saturday October 29 at 5.30pm and for the first time in Ninja Warrior UK history, the hunt is on to find both a male and female champion.
Immy said: "I was nervous before the show as we aren’t shown the course at all and we had been told none of the obstacles had been seen before on NWUK, so it was tough. I was less nervous for the final in comparison to the previous rounds because we’d all become much closer, and it was a super friendly environment backstage.
"I’m so excited to see the episode air. It’ll be so nice to almost be able to relive it. I had such an incredible time with everyone there - to be a part of such a positive environment over the five days of filming and to come away with some super close friends is more than I could have ever dreamed of."
This year's new revamped course has been bigger, faster and harder than ever with even tougher challenges designed to be the ultimate test of strength, speed, and courage. With the added element of suspense, competitors go head-to-head against the Elite Ninjas, ten experienced athletes from the professional Ninja Warrior UK team.
Immy said the other competitors were supportive despite being rivals. She said: "I’ve been in a lot of competitive environments before, as I know a lot of the girls had, and I think we were all aware they can get quite negative and overly competitive.
"I cannot emphasise enough how supportive Ninja Warrior was in comparison. We’d all be going through the final course together and working out the best way of doing it - even though we knew we’d all be racing each other. "I know I didn’t have much experience in Ninja specifically in comparison to some of the other girls, but they were so supportive - especially Beth who helped me so much, I cannot speak more highly of her as an athlete and as a person.
"So although it was a competition, it was very much each of us against ourselves. We all had our own goals despite it being a head-to-head race format. I know for me, I struggle a lot with anxiety - purely the pressure I put on myself to be the best athlete I can be, so I found it very hard beforehand as I was worried about letting myself down.
Being ill didn’t make it easier either. But everyone was so supportive and so upbeat, it was just incredible. I cannot even begin to describe how grateful I am to have met all these people."
Anyone who wants to have a go at being a ninja themselves can have a go at indoor Ninja Warrior UK Adventure Parks, the nearest to Nottingham is in Leicester.
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