Ninja Warrior Obstacles Set for Olympic Debut at Los Angeles 2028

By 2028, Mount Midoriyama will encounter a fresh challenge, becoming the most demanding obstacle in the Olympic Games.

Athletes competing in the modern pentathlon at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will be the first to participate in an updated format that incorporates an obstacle course. A recent agreement between the sport’s governing body and Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) may bring iconic Ninja Warrior obstacles, such as the famed Mount Midoriyama tower, into Olympic competition.

Modern pentathlon has been part of the Olympic program since 1912, originally featuring fencing, swimming, show jumping, and a combined run‑shoot event now called the laser run. In 2023, the International Olympic Committee approved a change that will replace the equestrian show jumping segment with an obstacle‑course component for the 2028 Games.

The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) introduced the revised format across all competition levels after the 2024 Paris Olympics. Its development resulted from a multi‑year collaboration between UIPM and TBS, the owner of the Ninja Warrior brand (known in Japan as SASUKE). However, the partnership did not initially include a comprehensive integration plan for the Olympic Games.

Fans can now anticipate this development. On Wednesday, UIPM announced a licensing agreement with TBS that permits the use of select SASUKE/Ninja Warrior intellectual property and program elements, such as specific obstacle designs. The partners also plan to proactively collaborate and globally cross‑promote SASUKE/Ninja Warrior and modern pentathlon ahead of the Olympics.

‘It is a tremendous honor that our journey aligns with the century‑old history of modern pentathlon, a sport that has continuously innovated worldwide,’ said Katsuaki Setoguchi, executive officer of TBS, in the statement. ‘This marks a truly groundbreaking milestone.’

The agreement essentially constitutes a branding partnership. While it will not fundamentally alter the competition format for the Los Angeles Olympics, it enables the sport to leverage the Ninja Warrior brand — renowned for inspiring the global obstacle‑running community — to attract additional fans.

TBS launched the original Japanese version of SASUKE in 1997, quickly establishing it as a cultural phenomenon. After being rebranded as ‘Ninja Warrior’ for U.S. audiences and airing on the former G4 network, the show propelled contestants such as crab fisherman Akiyama Kazuhiko, firefighter Toshihiro Takeda, and gas‑station manager Shingo Yamamoto to international fame.

G4 leveraged the program’s high ratings to create ‘American Ninja Challenge’ in 2007, allowing American athletes to compete on the SASUKE course. Winners could then compete in the premier SASUKE event in Japan. In 2009, the series was renamed ‘American Ninja Warrior,’ a title that persists today. The program moved to NBC in 2012 and remains one of the network’s most popular shows.

TBS reports that episodes of the SASUKE/Ninja Warrior franchise have been broadcast in over 160 countries and regions, with 25 localized versions produced. Since its debut, ‘American Ninja Warrior’ has received six Emmy nominations in the United States, and its 18th season is scheduled to premiere on June 8.

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