Isaac Caldiero facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isaac Caldiero
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Occupation | Carpenter, ninja sport athlete, rock climber |
Isaac Caldiero (born March 2, 1982) is an amazing American athlete. He is famous for being the first person to win American Ninja Warrior. He competed in several seasons of the show, including seasons five, six, seven, and ten. Isaac achieved "Total Victory" in season seven by finishing all four difficult stages of the National Finals course. He won a $1,000,000 prize because he completed the final stage faster than another competitor, Geoff Britten.
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Isaac's Journey and Skills
Working as a Carpenter
Isaac Caldiero is a skilled carpenter. This is his main job outside of his athletic pursuits.
Rock Climbing Adventures
Isaac is also a very talented rock climber. He started climbing when he was 15 years old. When he was 17, he began bouldering, which is climbing on large rocks without ropes. He is especially good at "highball bouldering," which means climbing very tall boulders. Isaac was one of the first people to climb a super difficult route called "The Present" in southern Utah without ropes. This shows how strong and brave he is!
Competing on American Ninja Warrior
Isaac Caldiero became a well-known name through his appearances on American Ninja Warrior.
Early Seasons: Learning and Growing
Isaac first appeared on American Ninja Warrior in season five. He made it all the way to the National Finals in Las Vegas. However, he had a small problem on an obstacle called the Jumping Spider. He couldn't hold on and fell. He later joked that it was a "wardrobe malfunction," meaning something unexpected happened with his grip.
In season six, Isaac did very well again. He advanced to the National Finals for a second time. He successfully completed Stage 1 of the Finals course. But his journey ended on Stage 2, where he failed on a tough obstacle called the Double Salmon Ladder.
Becoming the First American Ninja Warrior
Isaac returned for season seven, and this was his big year! He once again reached the National Finals. This time, he made history by becoming the first person ever to finish Stage 3 of the course. Another strong competitor, Geoff Britten, also finished Stage 3. Both Isaac and Geoff moved on to the final Stage 4, which involved climbing a tall rope.
Geoff Britten went first and completed the rope climb within the time limit. Isaac Caldiero went second. He also completed Stage 4, but he did it in a faster time than Geoff. Because of his faster time, Isaac was officially declared the winner. He earned the title of the first "American Ninja Warrior" and the $1,000,000 prize.
Some fans and competitors debated who was "first" because Geoff finished the course before Isaac. However, Isaac explained that the rules are clear: the winner is the one who finishes fastest. He compared it to other sports where speed determines the champion. Isaac is widely recognized as the first American Ninja Warrior champion.
After the Win: Spokesman and Return
After his big win, Isaac did not compete in season eight. Instead, he worked as a spokesman for the show and one of its sponsors. He also participated in a celebrity special of Ninja Warrior Germany in 2017.
In 2018, Isaac decided to come out of retirement for season ten. He competed in the Indianapolis region. He successfully cleared the qualifying course. However, he fell early in the Indianapolis city finals and did not make it to the National Finals that year.
Isaac's Life Outside the Show
Isaac Caldiero is the son of artist Alex Caldiero and the brother of poet Sara Caldiero. Even after winning a million dollars from Ninja Warrior, Isaac continues to live a simple life. He enjoys helping to create Ninja Warrior gyms. You can often find him bouldering at places like Stone Fort or volunteering his time. He also loves traveling the world with his friends. Isaac lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.