American Ninja Warrior is the place to be on the small screen for athletes tackling obstacle courses that look downright impossible for those of us who can't defy gravity. Competitors have their mettle tested both physically and mentally, and some simply can't make it very far in courses. Stuntwoman extraordinaire Jessie Graff has proven that she has what it takes to make it to the end of some of the most challenging courses in American Ninja Warrior history, and she has broken a number of records while doing so. Now, Graff has revealed to CinemaBlend how much pressure she faces after making so much history, saying this:
A ton! The more time and effort I invest into this, the more devastating it would be to fail. It's become such a part of my life and identity, that it feels like I have so much to lose. It's scarier every time I do it. But I pride myself on being a person who conquers fears. I use that pressure to push me harder during the months prior to competition, and set it all aside at the starting line, where it would only serve as a distraction. But even more importantly, I remind myself that no matter how far I go or how early I fail on the course, the strength and confidence I've gained in pursuit of the goal is more valuable than the results of an obstacle course.
Jessie Graff made a name for herself in American Ninja Warrior history many times over her career so far, reaching heights and making leaps that no other woman had made in competition before. She has worn superhero costumes to conquer daunting obstacles in ways that would have made Wonder Woman and Supergirl proud. As of the end of Season 8, Graff is the only woman who has qualified for the Las Vegas finals more than once. By this point, all eyes are on Graff when she attempts a new course, and she has become a role model to many as she faces obstacles that might have once been considered impossible for female athletes. No wonder she feels pressure!
The pressure certainly hasn't stopped her. In fact, it seems that all the pressure has pushed Jessie Graff to work even harder to hone her abilities and face her fears. While she hasn't necessarily been able to power through obstacles that stump even the brawniest of male competitors, she has clearly learned over the years how to use her unique size and strength to go at obstacles in often unconventional ways. Her background as a stuntwoman on series like Supergirl and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. shows whenever she lands an impossible leap, and it's difficult not to get sucked into a YouTube vortex of videos of her runs. Check her out!
Does anybody else feel the urge to high-five Jessie Graff after racing up that Warped Wall? We can see her back in action on American Ninja Warrior when the show returns to NBC on Monday, June 12 at 8 p.m. ET. Luckily for those of us who don't want to wait so long, she'll also appear in in the special USA vs. the World event that will pit the best of the best American competitors against teams of all-stars from Japan and Europe. Graff is the very first woman to make it to one of the all-star teams, and a sneak peek indicates that she'll be breaking more than one record on USA vs. the World.
You can catch Jessie Graff and the rest of Team USA on Sunday, June 4 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in TV news, and don't forget to check out our summer TV premiere schedule to discover all your viewing options now and in the coming weeks. Be sure to drop by our rundowns for cable/streaming and broadcast TV renewals and cancellations as well. If streaming is more your style, our Netflix premiere schedule will help you out.
