It takes a lot of failure to get to success. Just ask Jonathan Horton.
Everyone hears the about the medals, titles, and accolades, but they will never fully understand the amount of failures that had to come first. I fell hundreds of times in competition, and thousands of times in training... it was worth it. #throwbackthursday #motivation #gymnastics #olympian #highbar #calesthenics
Posted by Jonathan Horton on Thursday, February 28, 2019
Jonathan’s athletic career is one that gymnasts dream of. His accolades include:
- Three NCAA titles with Oklahoma
- 2006 NCAA all-around champion
- 2008 USA Gymnastics Men’s Athlete of the Year
- Three-time American Cup all-around champion
- 2010 World all-around bronze medalist
He’s also taken home silver and bronze Olympic medals. But, you know, no biggie.
Jonathan has turned that incredible skill and focus to American Ninja Warrior. He made his debut on the show in season six. In season eight, he took time away after an injury that ended his bid for the 2016 Olympics, returning in season nine with a new passion for the sport. While he hasn’t made it to the National Finals yet, he’s determination has seen him through to the City Finals twice, and to the Qualifying buzzer twice.
Jonathan returned to the course for season 11 in Oklahoma City. The results of that run will be revealed later in the summer when the season airs.
In gymnastics and Ninja Warrior, Jonathan is a competitor to be respected. Which is why the video he shared on Facebook is so meaningful. He collected some of his more memorable gymnastic competition failures, low moments in his athletic career, and shared them for everyone to see. The purpose was to show the process that goes into creating success.
Here’s the caption Jonathan shared with the video: “Everyone hears the about the medals, titles, and accolades, but they will never fully understand the amount of failures that had to come first. I fell hundreds of times in competition, and thousands of times in training... it was worth it.”
While the video is specific to his gymnastics experience, it’s very easy to see the direct relation this has to American Ninja Warrior. We all know the sport has one truth; Everyone falls. Everyone.
But that’s just the path it takes to find your way to success. Those that accept the failures and the falls, learn from them and keep charging on, become what we know to be as shining examples of American Ninja Warrior.
Thank you for reminding us of that lesson, Jonathan!