Charles Kim

Charles Kim was a competitor for NBC American Ninja Warrior 8. Charles resides in downtown Chicago and has been working as a software engineer in the technology consulting field for 10 years, earning over 1 million mileage points through work travel. He learned how to train for Ninja Warrior in his hotel rooms while traveling for work, showcasing impressive body weight strength and technique that caught the producers' attention. His fitness videos have become viral and featured by Viral Thread, Unilad, and People Are Awesome.

He had 3 ankle surgeries in 2016, one even right before competing on the show. However, though Charles fell on the Swinging Spikes and ultimately placed 33rd in the Indianapolis qualifier, he notably made a proposal that had aired on broadcast of American Ninja Warrior to his current wife, Kristine Valenzuela.

Kim also has a labrador puppy named Miko, who has gone viral, with over 3.5 milion views on YouTube, Miko also has at least 100 followers on Instagram. His Instagram can be accessed from ☀here.

Trivia

 * Charles is the second competitor to propose on ANW on broadcast, with Ben Melick being the first in Season 7, and later Casey Suchocki in Season 9