Australian Ninja Warrior season 4 explained

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The fourth season of the sports entertainment reality competition series Australian Ninja Warrior premiered on 26 July 2020 on the Nine Network.^[1] The season is hosted by Rebecca Maddern, Ben Fordham, Freddie Flintoff and Shane Crawford.^[2]

Production

On 17 October 2019, the series was officially renewed for a fourth season at Nine's upfronts, also confirming Fordham, Maddern and Flintoff were returning.^[3] The series was again relocated, with filming taking place at Melbourne Showgrounds in Ascot Vale.^[4] ^[5] ^[6] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, production introduced audience lock-out, meaning members of the public could not attend as audience; only family members of contestants were allowed to attend.^[7] Co-host Rebecca Maddern, was temporarily placed in self-isolation and replaced by Shane Crawford for two heats, before being cleared and returning to filming.^[8] ^[9] Crawford returned to the season as the sideline commentator for the semis and Grand Final after Freddie Flintoff had to fly back to the UK before coronavirus pandemic measures came into effect.^[10]

Format Changes

Power Tower - The Power Tower will see the two furthest fastest Ninjas from each heat and semi-final run go head-to-head side by side on an all new obstacle, climbing five 1.5m high steps, before a 2.35m leap to the first bar, travel 4.5m to the vertical pole, which they will slide down to an unsteady horizontal beam, move across a 3m beam to the next pole and climb 5.5m, then lache 1.75m to the horizontal ladder before leaping onto the platform and race to hit the buzzer.
- Advantages
  - Heats - The winner will receive a 10-second time advantage into the semi-finals, meaning 10 seconds will be taken off their final time.
  - Semi-finals - The winner will receive a second chance advantage into the Grand Final, meaning if they make a mistake during their run, they can re-run the course again.

Rounds

Underline represents the contestant who won the Speed Pass in the qualifying heats as a result of winning the head to head competition on the Power Tower.

represents the contestant who won the Safety Pass in the semi-finals as a result of winning the head to head competition on the Power Tower.

Italics denotes female competitors.

Episode 1

Heat 1

This episode aired on 26 July 2020. Only 6 competitors completed this course, with a large number of athletes bowing out on the Doorknob Drop. Returning athlete Ashlin Herbert received a 10-second advantage for the semi-finals, after beating Daniel Mason on the Power Tower.

Quintuple Steps
Tic Toc to Net
Bridge of Blades
Doorknob Drop
Double Squirrel
Warped Wall

! Rank ! Competitor! State ! Time ! Furthest Obstacle
1	Ashlin Herbert	VIC	1:26
2	Daniel Mason	VIC	1:42
3	Zak Stolz	VIC	1:58
4	Jake Baker	VIC	2:25
5	Stewart Furze	SA	2:38
6	Steve Taylor Madin	VIC	4:06
7	Michael Mischefski	VIC	1:20
8	Rhys Landwehr	WA	1:48
9	Troy Cullen	VIC	1:05
10	Chris Poppleton	VIC	1:06
11	Ryan Solomon	QLD	1:16
12	Matthew Matazita	VIC	1:17
13	Josh O’Sullivan	NSW	1:10
14	Dan Bird-Smith	QLD	1:24
15	Cian Maciejewski	NSW	2:02
16	Skye Haddy	QLD	2:04

Episode 2

Heat 2

This episode aired on 27 July 2020. Only 2 competitors completed this course, with a large number of athletes bowing out on the Doorknob Drop. Returning athlete Ben Polson received a 10-second advantage for the semi-finals, after beating Olivia Vivian on the Power Tower.

Quintuple Steps
Tic Toc to Net
Bridge of Blades
Doorknob Drop
Flying Shelf Grab
Warped Wall

! Rank ! Competitor! State ! Time ! Furthest Obstacle
1	Ben Polson	WA	2:16
2	Olivia Vivian	WA	5:53
3	Eddie Burrill	QLD	3:16
4	Jack Martin	QLD	1:06
5	Danielle Smith	WA	1:07
6	Todd Smith	QLD	1:12
7	Tom Nicholson	VIC	1:13
8	Brendan Nachtigal	VIC	1:14
9	Justin Flegler	QLD	1:15
10	Nathan Burley	QLD	1:21
11	Jade Genet	QLD	1:22
12	Monika Siemonek	QLD	1:34
13	Mel Armstrong	VIC	1:35
14	Eloni Vunakece	NSW	1:36
15	Sarah Blackmore	VIC	2:03
16	Raphaela Wiget	SA	2:13

Episode 3

Heat 3

This episode aired on 28 July 2020. Only 3 competitors completed this course, with a large number of athletes bowing out on the Bar Hop. Returning athlete Sam Goodall received a 10-second advantage for the semi-finals, after beating Matt Filippi on the Power Tower.

Quintuple Steps
Butterfly Wall to Zipline
Bridge of Blades
Bar Hop
Flying Shelf Grab
Warped Wall

! Rank ! Competitor! State ! Time ! Furthest Obstacle
1	Matt Filippi	QLD	1:17
2	Sam Goodall	WA	1:38
3	Zed Colback	WA	2:34
4	Alex Matthews	WA	2:34
5	James Sayers	VIC	1:44
6	Matt Laycock	QLD	1:57
7	Nic Manning	NSW	3:15
8	Harry Cole	VIC	0:46
9	Rhys Menzel	SA	0:54
10	Danial Wyles-Wall	QLD	0:55
11	Luke Filippi	QLD	0:56
12	Alex Bigg	SA	1:10
13	Jarryd Sutton	SA	1:11
14	Luke London	VIC	1:12
15	Daniel Tolli	VIC	1:30
16	Will Kelly	SA	1:55

Episode 4

Heat 4

This episode aired on 2 August 2020. 10 competitors completed this course, with a large number of athletes bowing out on the Basket Toss. Returning athlete Charlie Robbins received a 10-second advantage for the semi-finals, after beating Bryson Klein on the Power Tower.

Quintuple Steps
Butterfly Wall to Zipline
Bridge of Blades
Bar Hop
Basket Toss
Warped Wall

! Rank ! Competitor! State ! Time ! Furthest Obstacle
1	Charlie Robbins	VIC	0:47
2	Bryson Klein	NSW	0:48
3	Rainer Scheu	QLD	1:01
4	Rob Patterson	QLD	1:02
5	Mike Snow	VIC	1:27
6	Fred Dorrington	QLD	1:42
7	Michael Fisher	QLD	1:47
8	Jordan Papandrea	NSW	1:55
9	Zac Perillo	VIC	2:21
10	Clem Vertigan	VIC	2:36
11	Alexander Robinson	NSW	1:37
12	Tony Torrisi	QLD	2:02
13	Chris White	WA	2:03
14	Donny Byrne	WA	2:04
15	Paul Culloty	QLD	2:14
16	Matthew Bowles	WA	0:21

Episode 5

Semi-final 1

This episode aired on 3 August 2020. The top 12 competitors all completed the course. Returning athlete Zak Stolz received a second chance advantage for the Grand Final, after beating Jordan Papandrea on the Power Tower.

Snake Run
Rolling Log
Diving Boards
Ring Toss
Slingshot
Warped Wall
Barrell Roll
Spider Jump
Invisible Ladder

! Rank ! Competitor! State ! Time ! Furthest Obstacle
1		VIC	3:03
2	Jordan Papandrea	NSW	3:43
3	Rob Patterson	QLD	4:07
4	Mike Snow	VIC	4:57
5	Troy Cullen	VIC	5:12
6	Zed Colback	WA	5:37
7	Todd Smith	QLD	5:38
8	Eddie Burrill	QLD	5:38
9	Stewart Furze	SA	5:48
10	Sam Goodall	WA	5:51
11	Alex Matthews	WA	6:00
12	Jack Martin	QLD	6:12

Episode 6

Semi-final 2

This episode aired on 4 August 2020. Five competitors completed this course, with a large number of athletes bowing out on the Slingshot. Returning athlete Charlie Robbins received a second chance advantage for the Grand Final, after beating Matthew Bowles on the Power Tower.

Snake Run
Rolling Log
Diving Boards
Ring Turn
Slingshot
Warped Wall
Barrel Roll
Spider Jump
Invisible Ladder

! Rank ! Competitor! State ! Time ! Furthest Obstacle
1		VIC	5:03
2	Matthew Bowles	WA	5:15
3	Bryson Klein	NSW	5:40
4	Fred Dorrington	QLD	6:49
5	Olivia Vivian	WA	10:17
6	Harry Cole	VIC	6:51
7	Ben Polson	WA	2:01
8	Alex Bigg	SA	2:02
9	Jake Baker	VIC	2:09
10	Rainer Scheu	QLD	2:18
11	Ryan Solomon	QLD	2:19
12	Rhys Landwehr	WA	2:30

Episode 7

Grand Final, Stage 1

This episode aired on 9 August 2020.

Competitors had to complete Stage 1 within 3 minutes and 45 seconds to advance to Stage 2. Only 8 of the 24 semi-finalists managed to complete all the obstacles in time. Olivia Vivian became the first woman to advance to Stage 2 of the Grand Final in the history of the Australian competition.

Snake Run
Rolling Log
Balance Bridge
Ring Turn
Flying Shelf Grab
Warped Wall
Ferris Wheel
Spider Jump
Chimney Sweep

! Rank ! Competitor! State ! Time Remaining
1	Zak Stolz	VIC	0:37
2	Mike Snow	VIC	0:32
3	Jordan Papandrea	NSW	0:19
4	Charlie Robbins	VIC	0:13
5	Ben Polson	WA	0:07
6	Olivia Vivian	WA	0:06
7	Alex Matthews	WA	0:05
8	Matthew Bowles	WA	0:02

Episode 8

Grand Final, Stage 2

This episode aired on 10 August 2020. Contestants had 2 minutes and 15 seconds to finish the six obstacles that were Stage 2.

Rope Jungle
Spin Hopper
Salmon Ladder
Unstable Bridge
Wing Nuts
Cat Grab
Wall Lift

! Rank ! Competitor! State ! Furthest Obstacle! Time Remaining
1	Charlie Robbins	VIC	0:22
2	Zak Stolz	VIC	0:15
3	Ben Polson	WA	0:09
4	Matthew Bowles	WA	0:04
5	Alex Matthews	WA
6	Olivia Vivian	WA
7	Jordan Papandrea	NSW
8	Mike Snow	VIC

Grand Final, Stage 3

Unlike the first two stages, no time limit was imposed on the Ninjas to complete Stage 3. Completion of this stage resulted in progressing to Stage 4.

Hang Climb
Body Prop
Crazy Cliffhanger
Floating Doors
Flying Bar

! Competitor! State ! Furthest Obstacle
Charlie Robbins	VIC
Zak Stolz	VIC
Ben Polson	WA
Matthew Bowles	WA

Stage 4, Mount Midoriyama

Competitors have to climb up a single rope up 20 metres to the top of Mt. Midoriyama within 30 seconds. For the first time in 4 seasons, 3 people made the top of Mt. Midoriyama. They are allowed to hit the buzzer before fully completing the ascent to the top.

! Rank ! Competitor! State ! Time to ascend! 2020 Season Result
1	Ben Polson	WA	25:56
2	Charlie Robbins	VIC	26:56
3	Zak Stolz	VIC	29:80

Obstacles by episode

Heats

Time Limit 1:50

! Heat 1! Heat 2! Heat 3! Heat 4
Quintuple Steps	Quintuple Steps	Quintuple Steps	Quintuple Steps
Tic Toc to Net	Tic Toc to Net	Butterfly Wall to Zipline	Butterfly Wall to Zipline
Bridge of Blades	Bridge of Blades	Bridge of Blades	Bridge of Blades
Doorknob Drop	Doorknob Drop	Bar Hop	Bar Hop
Double Squirrel	Flying Shelf Grab	Flying Shelf Grab	Basket Toss
Warped Wall	Warped Wall	Warped Wall	Warped Wall

Finals

Semi-final 1! rowspan=2
Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3
Semi-final 2	Grand Final
Snake Run	Snake Run	Snake Run	Rope Jungle	Hang Climb
Rolling Log	Rolling Log	Rolling Log	Spin Hopper	Body Prop
Diving Boards	Diving Boards	Diving Boards	Salmon Ladder	Crazy Cliffhanger
Ring Toss	Ring Turn	Ring Turn	Unstable Bridge	Floating Doors
Slingshot	Slingshot	Flying Shelf Grab	Wing Nuts	Flying Bar
Warped Wall	Warped Wall	Warped Wall	Cat Grab
Barrel Roll	Barrel Roll	Ferris Wheel	Wall Lift
Spider Jump	Spider Jump	Spider Jump
Invisible Ladder	Invisible Ladder	Chimney Sweep

Notes and References

Web site: Returning: Australian Ninja Warrior 2020. TV Tonight. 13 July 2020. 13 July 2020. David. Knox.
Web site: Ninja Warrior gets Sunday premiere date on Nine. TV Black Box. 12 July 2020. 21 July 2020.
Web site: Upfronts 2020: Nine: Informer 3838, Halifax, returning reality juggernauts.. TV Tonight. 16 October 2019. 17 October 2019. David. Knox.
Web site: Audience tix: Australian Ninja Warrior. TV Tonight. 19 February 2020. 19 February 2020. David. Knox.
Web site: Nine locks in new location for AUSTRALIAN NINJA WARRIOR. 18 February 2020. 19 February 2020. 19 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200219055603/https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2020/2/19/nine-locks-in-new-location-for-australian-ninja-warrior?format=amp. dead.
Web site: Australian Ninja Warrior moves to new location + tickets now available. Media Week. 19 February 2020. 19 February 2020.
Web site: No live audiences for Q&A, The Project as TV hopes to avoid worst. SMH. 15 March 2020. 16 March 2020. Karl. Quinn.
Web site: COVID-19: Rebecca Maddern / Survivor reunion / Aust. Got Talent delay. TV Tonight. 17 March 2020. 17 March 2020. David. Knox.
Web site: Rebecca Maddern cleared, returns to Ninja Warrior.. TV Tonight. 18 March 2020. 18 March 2020. David. Knox.
Web site: Freddie Flintoff forced to leave Australian Ninja Warrior mid-season due to coronavirus border closures. 9Now. 3 August 2020. 3 August 2020. Rachael. Gavin.