In 1986, Takeshi Kitano brought to light one of his craziest projects (and that’s saying something): a contest filled with wacky challenges, hits, tumbles, and gadgets titled Takeshi’s Castle, although in Spain we know it better as -oh- Humor Amarillo. The concept of “physical challenges, one after another” gained momentum and crystallized into another show called Sasuke, which continues to air to this day and gave rise to the famous American Ninja Warrior. And that’s where we stop.
Thompson’s Gazelle, to the Olympics
American Ninja Warrior has been airing on NBC since 2009, and it is a much more serious and physically demanding version than the Japanese shows. So much so that its winner takes home a million dollars every year. The curious thing is that it has transcended fame to become part of pop culture and now, finally, it has reached a place it never thought it would: the Olympics.
Tokyo Broadcasting System, the producers of Sasuke, have reached an agreement with the international pentathlon association to introduce this obstacle course as part of the discipline. In the upcoming Games of 2028 in Los Angeles, equestrian jumps will officially be replaced by a Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course: it may not be a federated sport, but it is certainly more spectacular.
The pentathlon has been in the Olympics since 1912, and before this change, it also included fencing, swimming, and laser run, a combination of running and shooting with a laser pistol. Laser pistol, Ninja Warrior… We have finally achieved it: we have reached the purest sports dystopia. We will have to enjoy it.
