Ever since his debut in American Ninja Warrior a decade ago, Daniel Gil has always been a competitor to watch. Known as the Kingdom Ninja to fans around the world, Gil won the NBC competition series back in Season 12 and came tantalizingly close in Seasons 11 and 15. Now, Gil had added another milestone to his growing list of accolades. During the Season 17 premiere, Gil hit his 30th (!) buzzer and is currently second in line for the most all-time buzzers in the show’s history. “From day one, my goal was hitting as many buzzers as I can,” said Gil of his achievement. “I’m feeling good, still feeling like I’m in the prime of my life and that I’ve got many more years ahead of me in this sport.”


In addition to his Ninja glory, Gil is an author, motivational speaker, trainer and devoted husband and father. His wife, Abbie Gil, who is a beloved presence on the ANW sidelines, gave birth to their daughter, Isla, 16 months ago and is currently pregnant with their second child. “Parenthood is the greatest thing,” gushed Gil. Isla too was on the sidelines to see her dad hit his milestone buzzer. “She’s the one I get to be a role model for now,” said Gil. “That’s just been a game changer for me this season.”

Gil is excited for fans to see the evolution of the sport with a new bracket-style tournament in the national finals of ANW. According to Gil, this format will showcase the “strength,” “abilities” and “speed” of these Ninjas. “You’ll see some big wipeouts, some big upsets, but also some wild, crazy saves and amazing moments,” said Gil. Ninjas like Gil are constantly pushing themselves as well as striving to help the next generation of athletes.

“Now being a father, I understand how important role models are, and that’s how I want to live my life,” explained Gil. “We’re not always in control of what happens to us, but we are 100% in control of how we respond.” Gil tries to impart to his proteges that they “are not the sum total of [their] accomplishments in this sport.” “No matter what obstacles we encounter in life, we can get back up, we can learn, we can grow, and we can get through anything,” observed Gil.
Gil spoke to DECIDER over Zoom to talk about hitting his landmark buzzer, fatherhood, mentorship, and his Olympic aspirations for 2028.

DECIDER: Daniel, first of all, it is such a blessing to see you and Abbie finally become parents to your daughter, Isla. Is fatherhood everything you thought it would be?

DANIEL GIL: I mean, honestly, it’s everything that I knew it would be and more. You get a little less sleep than you want sometimes [laughs], but parenthood is the greatest thing. I was that weird kid who always wanted to be married and always wanted to have kids, and now that I have both of those things. I am living with such joy in my life right now. To have Isla on the sidelines this season 17 of American Ninja Warrior was just a whole new experience. She’s the one I get to be a role model for now. That has just been a game changer for me this season.

Has being a dad changed anything about how you ninja?

Yeah, the training schedule is a little bit different. I must be more flexible, for sure. Thankfully, my wife is the best partner I could have ever asked for. We’ve got a pretty good schedule, pretty good routine, even though that routine includes traveling full time. My little daughter’s probably been on close to 60 flights in her 16 months of being here. We weren’t able to change our travel schedule. I just prayed, “God, give us a baby that’s conducive to our current lifestyle” and we got Isla. She is a calm, cool, collected, and sociable baby.

Season 17 is getting back to basics, yet shaking things up! How do you feel about a bracket style tournament instead of a race up Mt. Midoriyama for the finals?

For the first time ever, the national finals are not as we’ve known them. There’s no stage one, two, three, or four this season. We’ve had some head-to-head races before in the previous semifinals the last couple of years, but nothing like this. It’s really going to showcase not just the strength of these athletes, but their speed . You no longer have to just beat the course. Now you’re up against another top-level professional Ninja athlete. You’ll see some big wipeouts, some big upsets, but also some wild, crazy saves and amazing moments.

I love seeing ninjas race side-by-side, but it’s definitely the new school of ninja. What’s it like to adapt to the evolution of the sport?

I’m not the oldest in the game, but the last 10 years, I’ve seen so much evolution and growth. I do believe that side-by-side is largely going to be where we are going to settle. It showcases techniques and shows how much we can push the limits as athletes. The sport is still evolving. I mean, there’s going to be obstacle course racing in the Pentathlon event at the 2028 Olympic Games. I’m just glad I’m here for the ride, and I am excited to play a role in it, however I can.

Congratulations on hitting your 30th buzzer! How does it feel to achieve this milestone?

From day one, my goal was hitting as many buzzers as I can [laughs]. Then the challenge has been to make my continued journey an adventure. Of all the milestones that I’ve reached, the 30th buzzer is among the top. Once you complete one accomplishment, you’re like, “what’s the next one?” I want 35, I want 40, I want to see how many buzzers I’m capable of hitting during the rest of my career. I’m feeling good, still feeling like I’m in the prime of my life and that I’ve got many more years ahead of me in this sport, I promise you that.

Did anything feel different about that run?

Just another run [laughs]. I don’t really get butterflies or nerves that much anymore. I mostly feel more joy. Every time I step on that course, I’ve got another opportunity to do what I love and to exemplify love of life. I know that whatever happens—if I hit a buzzer or have a fast time or fall— I get to use that moment to be a good role model and show people that no matter what obstacles we encounter in life, we can get back up, we can learn, we can grow, and we can get through anything. I love how this show is such an encouraging place. I’m grateful to be part of it.

You’ve been one of my favorite ninjas for a long time. I watched you win back in 2020, I’ve watched you achieve total victory and not take home the prize, and I’ve seen you take some falls. How do you come to grips with the highs and lows of this sport?

When I first stepped into a Ninja Warrior gym 13 years ago, I remember thinking to myself, I want to do this. I wanted nothing more than to run courses, maybe even get on the show one day. When I did, I made a promise to my family, to my friends, and even to the Lord, I was like, “okay, God, I’m gonna do my very best. I’m going to work hard, and trust you with the rest.” Now being a father, I understand how important role models are and that’s how I want to live my life.

We’re not always in control of what happens to us, but we are 100% in control of how we respond. Being on a TV show, you have to realize that people are watching you. How you react, for better or for worse, is going to impact people. On my good and bad days, I want to represent the values that I try to live by. I tell people, the next time you fall or get an F on your report card or get passed up for the promotion, just pat yourself on the back and say, “hey, if my friend Daniel Gil can lose a million dollars on American Ninja Warrior, not once but twice and still get back up and have a smile on his face, then I can get through this, too.”

You are always on the sidelines, rooting the new generation of ninjas on. How did you find your way to that mentorship?

100% as a byproduct of having mentors in my life. I would not be the man or the athlete that I am today if not for the different men and women who came into my life and took me under their wings. With this new generation of athletes, I am trying to just love on them and explain to them that there are eyes on them because of this platform. What they say and do matters.

I also stress that they are not the sum total of their accomplishments in this sport. I tell them that your worst days don’t have to define you. When you can keep a clear goal in front of you, it’s okay to stumble along the way as you’re running uphill towards the greatness that you’re chasing. I have many students that I trained as kids who are now racing alongside me and hitting buzzers themselves. It’s a joy like no other.

You’ve mentioned before that Ninja obstacle racing is now a part of the pentathlon in the 2028 Olympics. Are you tempted to start training? Or are you in full-on dad mode?

[Laughs] Gosh, can I say both? I am in dad mode, but I’m also still training full-time. I’m starting to talk to some sponsors. I’d have to put in some work to compete in the modern pentathlon, which is running, swimming, sharpshooting, fencing, and obstacle discipline. I’ve got obstacles down. Running’s good. Pretty good swimmer; excellent sharpshooter. Fencing would take a little bit of practice, but I’ve still got several years to train for it too. I could also easily see myself being a coach for the current modern pentathletes who are swapping out equestrian with obstacle discipline. I’d be open to commentating too.

Anything’s possible! ANW alum Meagan Martin did commentary on the rock climbing events at the 2024 games.

She did an amazing job. One of my mentors told me, “Daniel, dance with the one that brought you.” Ninja is what brought me to where I am today, and I’m going to continue to be involved with the global ninja community as best as I can. We’ll see how things progress. I would love nothing more than to represent the sport on the highest level in the Olympics.