Exclusive Interview: Kaden Lebsack Chats About Winning American Ninja Warrior

Season 13 saw a new era for American Ninja Warrior. For the first time in the competition, the age eligibility was lowered from nineteen to fifteen. One ninja who took advantage of this change was Castle Rock’s Kaden Lebsack. The fifteen-year-old beat out all the young guns and veterans to become the last ninja standing. Pop Culturalist spoke with Kaden about his incredible run in Season 13.

PC: How did you initially discover American Ninja Warrior?
Kaden: I originally discovered it just from watching the TV show. I thought it looked super fun. It looked like a big playground. All the obstacles looked huge and exciting, and I knew I had to try it.

PC: This season, we saw the arrival of the next generation of ninjas. How motivating was it for you to see the other teenagers perform well? What impact did that have on your own performance?
Kaden: It was awesome to see all the teenagers who put in so much time and effort perform really well. It made me excited to compete.

PC: You were the last competitor to compete on Stage 3. Were you more focused on finishing the stage or being the last ninja standing?
Kaden: I was definitely more focused on completing Stage 3. That was my overall goal. It was crazy seeing Austin, Vance, and Kyle fall because of how strong they are. It was really shocking.

PC: As you’re watching your fellow competitors tackle Stage 3, did that bring more or less pressure?
Kaden: Surprisingly, it made me calmer.

PC: We saw two new obstacles in Stage 3. How did you prepare to tackle those obstacles?
Kaden: I do a lot of visualizing. It was awesome getting to run last. I got to watch Austin and Vance tackle Eyeglass Alley first. It helped me understand how I should approach the obstacles.

PC: This is your first season competing on American Ninja Warrior. What do you remember most from this experience?
Kaden: I don’t remember anything from my runs. I had tunnel vision. It was awesome getting to meet new people. That’s what I’ll remember the most. I’ll remember the experience of being on a TV show and seeing the behind-the-scenes moments.

PC: You’re inspiring the next generation of ninjas. What advice would you give them?
Kaden: I would tell them to keep working. If you have a dream, you can accomplish it. Don’t let anything stop you.

PC: Do you know what you’ll do with the $100,000 prize?
Kaden: I haven’t made too many plans. I owe the Feinbergs a trip to Disney World and that’s about it.

PC: What would you say is the biggest lesson you learned from this first season that you’ll now apply to next season?
Kaden: That’s a good question. I think one of the biggest things I learned is don’t underestimate yourself. You can accomplish anything, especially if you put a lot of time and effort into it.

To keep up with Kaden, follow him on Instagram.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Morris/NBC