Team Latin America is back with a vengeance for USA vs the World

USA vs the World is just a few days away! Team North America will take on three other teams from around the globe. They’re going to have some tough competition. We’ve taken a look at Team Asia, now, let’s meet the tough-as-nails Ninjas on Team Latin America.

Team Latin America

The Latin American team made its USA vs the World debut during the 2017-airing competition. They placed third behind Teams USA and Europe. This year, they’re back with that experience under their belt and a drive to prove themselves.

Team Captain: Danee Marmolejo

David Becker/NBC

• Age: 25
• Height: 5’8”
• Weight: 150
• Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico

USA vs the World experience:

• Season 8

Ninja Warrior/Sasuke experience:

• USA vs the World, season 8

What you should know:

• Professional Free Runner from Mexico City
• Has been free running since he was 15 years old
• Participated in multiple international Free Running competitions and taught workshops around the world.
• Won first place in Mexico at the Central Parkour Championship, and was a finalist in Los Angeles at Firestorm’s Free Running event
• Won the International Parkour Championships in Vancouver in 2014.
• Trains 6 days a week, weekdays strength training and cardio in a gym, on weekends trains Parkour

What he had to say:

“Last year, on the Propeller Bar obstacle, I grabbed the rope, and it slipped. I had to grab it with all my might. And that cut open my hand, and it was bleeding all over the place, which was really hard for the rest of the obstacle courses.

This year, I actually trained a lot more resistance with my body. I mix it up a bit. Not just parkour, but also the climbing, a little bit more calisthenics, a little bit more techniques towards Ninja Warrior stuff because we don’t have facilities in Mexico that have Ninja Warrior obstacles. I had to adapt with what I had.

This is the second year that Team Latin America will compete. We have a bigger team, a stronger team, focusing. And I think we’re gonna do way better.”

Karl Fow

David Becker/NBC

• Age: 29
• Height: 5’7”
• Weight: 171
• Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela

USA vs the World experience:

• Season 8

Ninja Warrior/Sasuke experience:

• USA vs the World, season 8

What you should know:

• Professional Free Runner from Venezuela
• Started the first Parkour Academy in Venezuela – FOW Academy.
• Started the FOW Academy in Mexico City this year
• Is a certified Master Teacher of Parkour
• Named an “All Star Athlete” by the World Free Running and Parkour Federation
• Has traveled the US and trained in Ninja Warrior gyms on obstacles

What the team captain had to say:

“Karl is one of the strongest teammates. He’s a really complete athlete. He’s really, really strong. He’s really agile as well because he does parkour. So he’s really good for stages one and two. I think he’s one of our best athletes here.”

Marco Jubes

David Becker/NBC

• Age: 34
• Height: 5’6”
• Weight: 137
• Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela

USA vs the World experience:

First season participating

Ninja Warrior/Sasuke experience:

First season participating

What you should know:

• World Champion Venezuelan climber
• In 2015, he was rated the #6 climber in the world, and #1 in Spain
• Won the Latin American championship in 2002
• Won the Spanish Championships in 2015
• Competed in the X Games in 2002 for Speed Climbing and came in 5th place
• Now works part-time as a rock setter for the IFSC, where he designs World Cup competitions for Spain
• Coaches for Spain’s national climbing team

What the team captain had to say:

“We have two new team members, Marco and Sebastian. They’re two climbers. They’re internationally known. And they have won competitions. They’ve traveled the world, and they’re really complete athletes. Their strength and core can help us a lot in Stag Two and Stage Three.”

Sebastian Prieto

David Becker/NBC

• Age: 27
• Height: 5’4”
• Weight: 125
• Hometown: Bogota, Colombia

USA vs the World experience:

First season participating

Ninja Warrior/Sasuke experience:

First season participating

What you should know:

• #1 ranked climber in Colombia
• Has been the National Champion for the last two years
• Climbing for 11 years
• Competes in national and International competitions, has represented Colombia in multiple international competitions
• Trains every day of the week. He climbs in a gym during the week, and on rocks in the mountains on weekends.

What the team captain had to say:

“Last year was rookie season for us. We didn’t have experience. We didn’t know about the obstacles or what to do. But this year, we are more prepared. We know what to expect. And now, we actually know how to do stuff. We have a strategy, and we’re going for it.

I think our team is really, really strong, compared to last year, because now, we have strategy. Now, we have more strength, more preparation, and I think we’re gonna kill it.”

Team Latin America will hit the stage on Sunday, March 11 at 7pm on NBC!