Grant McCartney is a flight attendant from Honolulu, Hawaii who is considered by many as a fan-favorite of the show.
American Ninja Warrior[]
American Ninja Warrior 7[]
Grant McCartney at 2015 Venice Finals - American Ninja Warrior
He made his debut in American Ninja Warrior 7 in the Venice Beach qualifying round with an explosive personality after a heartbreaking year. After losing his mother and grandmother earlier that year, McCartney ended up coming onto the scene with a lot of passion and energy.
In the qualifier, Grant put up a notable run. He struggled on the fourth obstacle, Spin Cycle, but improvised wisely but using the second hoop to help re-generate momentum, clearing the obstacle. He later went on to be one of the very few that round to clear the Hourglass Drop, which was the Ninja killer of the night. At the end of the qualifier, Grant cleared the course as one of only seven finishers, placing 6th overall.
In the city finals, he once again completed the back-half of the course, which many Ninjas that round struggled with. He later failed the ninth obstacle, Clear Climb. However, this performance was good enough to get him to the Las Vegas finals, as he placed 5th in the Venice Beach Finals.
In the national finals, he later cleared Stage One with 9.59 seconds to spare. However, in the Stage Two, he failed the Double Salmon Ladder.
American Ninja Warrior 8[]
Grant McCartney at the Los Angeles Qualifier - American Ninja Warrior 2016
He later competed again in American Ninja Warrior 8 in Los Angeles. In the qualifying round, he once again put up a strong run, finishing the course in 10th place with 04:23.47. He celebrated his victory at the top of the Warped Wall, doing "the dab" after finishing the course.
In the city finals, he blazed through the first seven obstacles, but became one of many to fail the eighth obstacle, the Wedge. However, he went far enough fast enough to place 10th overall and moved on to the Las Vegas finals.
On Stage One, Grant was the first competitor to make it past the Flying Squirrel and hit the buzzer, finishing the stage with just 4.81 seconds to spare. But on Stage Two, history repeated itself as he failed on another version of the Salmon Ladder, the Down Up Salmon Ladder.
American Ninja Warrior 9[]
Grant McCartney at the Los Angeles Qualifiers - American Ninja Warrior 2017
On American Ninja Warrior 9 in the Los Angeles Qualifying, he posted the fastest time in the region, which is the first time he achieved that in his career.
During the city finals, Grant was the final runner of the night on the verge of eliminating David Campbell. However, in a shocking disbelief, he fell on the Salmon Ladder, thus allowing Campbell to advance in 15th place. McCartney placed 20th overall, and for the first time, he was not able to advance to Vegas. Thus marking the earliest exit of his career.
He was later shown on the sidelines in Vegas supporting his fellow ninjas.
American Ninja Warrior 10[]
He returned to the Los Angeles region again in American Ninja Warrior 10. He was on his way to complete his fourth qualifying course. But unfortunately, his right foot touched the water on the dismount of the Doorknob Drop, and he was disqualified. This was the first time that had failed on a qualifying course. His time was still fast enough to make the Top 30, placing 23rd overall.
In the city finals, he put up a respectable run, getting revenge on both the Doorknob Drop and the Salmon Ladder. He ended up failing the ninth obstacle, the Baton Pass. Unfortunately, Grant wasted a lot of time dancing for his fans while on the course. This ultimately costed him as given the amount of attempts on the ninth obstacle this round, he was one of the slower competitors to reach the obstacle. At the end of the city finals round, he just missed out on advancing to the national finals as he placed 16th overall. Thus ending his season once again on the city finals, so close to making Vegas.
It is also worth noting that with his season ending on the Baton Pass, this is the first season that Grant's season didn't end on a variant of the Salmon Ladder. Although he missed out on participating in Las Vegas for the second year in a row, he still appeared as part of Jake Murray's "shoe caddy" antic before his run.
American Ninja Warrior 11[]
Grant returned in Cincinnati for American Ninja Warrior 11. This was his first time competing in a regional city outside of California.
In qualifying, he was the final runner of the night, and brought alongside American musician Bootsy Collins as a guest to see him run the course. Though in spite of having fun as usual on the course, he revealed that he would be "more business" on the course after his previous two early exits. He went at a relatively slow pace, just making sure that he completed all the obstacles. When he got to the Warped Walls, he decided to go for the Mega Wall. He came fingertips away on his first attempt, but got up on his second attempt, earning $5,000 and placing 11th at the end of the night.
In the city finals, he had a strong run before he failed on the final transition on the Slam Dunk. But this was still good enough for him to get back to Vegas for the first time since American Ninja Warrior 8. Like qualifying, he placed 11th overall.
On Stage One, he had a close call Tire Run, but he saved it and later was able to once again clear the stage with 6.56 seconds left.
Unfortunately, history repeated itself as he failed the Extension Ladder on Stage Two, making it the third time he was eliminated by a variant of the Salmon Ladder on Stage Two, as well as the fourth time his season has been ended by the Salmon Ladder.
American Ninja Warrior 12[]
Grant returned in the first episode of Season 12 where he invited Mike Wright and Kamerion Wimbley to his group. Although he missed the big ring on Ring Chaser, he was able to make the landing by using the smaller ring. He later attempted the Mega Wall where he failed this time, but he was able to scale the smaller Warped Wall placing 7th overall and moving onto the semi-finals.
Grant participated in the first night of the semifinals, pulling off one of his most creative intros, pretending to introduce Zuri Hall before switching places with her. On the course, he almost had trouble with Burn Rubber but still made it through. Grant slowly got up the Salmon Ladder and was able to beat it, but he failed one obstacle later on Corkscrew when he couldn’t reach the second corkscrew. Because he took too long on the other obstacles, he was too slow to advance and didn’t move onto the finals. This is also the second time his season ended on a non-Salmon Ladder obstacle.
American Ninja Warrior 13[]
Grant returned to compete in season 13 in the third episode of qualifying. This season, he was partnering with fellow competitor Nick Hanson, anticipating on bringing a "full send" on the course this season. Before his run started, it was shown that Grant he did a polar ice plunge in Alaska with Hanson, diving into the frigid waters for nearly 30 seconds.
On the course, Grant made it through the first three obstacles easily, choosing to take Domino Effect on Split Decision. However, in a sudden turn of events, he failed the fourth obstacle, Air Surfer, when the board got uneven causing him to go downward into the water. This ultimately marked his worst qualifier performance on ANW, not even getting to attempt the fifth obstacle in a qualifier round for once. At the time he failed the obstacle, he was in the 28th spot where he was in danger of not moving on with four runners to go. Unfortunately, Vance Walker, who was the last runner of the qualifier, pushed him out of the top 30. Placing 31st overall, this ultimately become the first season in Grant's career where he did not make the Top 30. His buddy Nick Hanson, also shockingly failed the same obstacle as him.
Although neither of them made the Top 30, one semifinalist from the second night had to drop out, and so Grant was offered a spot to run as an alternate, having placed 31st in the third qualifier round. His run was cut from the broadcast, but it was revealed he failed Padlock and did not advance, having placed 22nd overall.[1]
This is also the third time Grant's season ended on a non-Salmon Ladder obstacle.
American Ninja Warrior 15[]
After taking American Ninja Warrior 14 off, Grant returned in the third round of qualifying. Grant flew across the first few obstacles, but took a lot of extra swings on the bungee with Kite Surfer, but he cleared it. However, on Lasso Launch’s blind move, he accidentally launched so high he lassoed the cow’s head, a move that was lethal to his run, falling soon after. However, he still moved onto the semifinals in 8th place.
In the semifinals, his race against teen rookie Sebastian Chrismer was digested. Grant had the early lead, but lost it and fell behind on Beehive, and while Chrismer got to Slingshot, Grant failed Sideways, losing the race and ending his season for the third straight time in the semifinals.
Grant wasn’t chosen to compete in American Ninja Warrior 16. After the filming of American Ninja Warrior 17, he posted on an Instagram video alongside Daniel Gil that he didn’t compete and had quietly retired from the show. Although he did not compete that season and had ultimately retired, he was honored on the broadcast of ANW 17 as #4 of ANW's Best Start Line Moments. As well as a previously never seen before moment as Grant was attacked by the dinosaurs at the start of the course during ANW10 (presumably in Miami).
Other Appearances[]
In American Ninja Warrior Junior 2, he was one of the coaches for the 11-12 year age group, along with Jessie Graff.
Trivia[]
- Because of the modified semifinal round in ANW15, this is the only season where Grant competed where he did not attempt a Salmon Ladder or any variant of it. Had Grant not competed as an alternate semifinalist in ANW13 however, that season would've been the first season that he did not attempt a Salmon Ladder.
Team Ninja Record[]
| Season | Episode | Round | Heat | Opponent Team | Opponent | Result | Notes | Individual Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team: Golden Hearts | ||||||||
| 1 | 2 (Qualifying) | Round One | 1 | NorCal Ninjas | Sean Noble | Win | 1-0 | |
| 1 | 2 (Qualifying) | Round Two | 3 (Anchor Run) | Towers of Power | Dan Polizzi | Loss | Dan beat Grant to the buzzer by 0.3 seconds. | 1-1 |
| 2 | 1 (Qualifying) | Round One | 3 (Anchor Run) | Tré Amigoz | Andrew Lowes | Win | 2-1 | |
| 2 | 1 (Qualifying) | Round One | 4 (Sudden Death) | Tré Amigoz | Tremayne Dortch | Win | 3-1 | |
| 2 | 1 (Qualifying) | Round Two | 3 (Anchor Run) | Party Time | Brian Arnold | Win | 4-1 | |
| 2 | 11 (Finals) | Round One | 1 | NorCal Ninjas | Sean Bryan | Loss | 4-2 | |
| 2 | 11 (Finals) | Round Two | 3 (Anchor Run) | Team TNT | Travis Rosen | Loss | Grant fell at the Tire Swing. | 4-3 |
| 3 | 5 (Qualifying) | First Matchup | 1 | Average JoJo's | Jo Jo Bynum | Win | 5-3 | |
| 3 | 5 (Qualifying) | Final Matchup | 3 | Three Wishes | Thomas Stillings | Loss | 5-4 | |
| 3 | 12 (Playoffs) | First Matchup | 3 | NorCal Ninjas | David Campbell | Win | 6-4 | |
| 3 | 12 (Playoffs) | Final Matchup | 1 | Iron Grip | Mathis Owhadi | Loss | 6-5 | |
Relay Showdown Record[]
| Season | Episode | Competitor (Obstacle Attempted) | Opponent Team | Opponent (Obstacle Attempted) | Result | Notes | Relay Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team: Golden Hearts | |||||||
| 2 | 1 (Qualifying) | Natalie Duran (1-3) Grant McCartney (4-6) Neil Craver (7-9) |
NorCal Ninjas | Anna Shumaker (1-3) Brian Kretsch (4-6) David Campbell (7-9) |
Win | 1-0 | |
| 3 | 5 (Qualifying) | Natalie Duran (1-2) Neil Craver (3-4) Grant McCartney (5-6) |
Average JoJo's | Jessica Clayton (1-2) Jimmy Bogle Jr. (3-4) Jo Jo Bynum (5-6) |
Win | Both Neil and Jimmy fell at the Floating Tiles. Therefore, Grant and Jo Jo resumed the relay after a 5-second countdown. | 2-0 |
| 3 | 5 (Qualifying) | Natalie Duran (1-3) Grant McCartney (4-6) Neil Craver (7-9) |
Three Wishes | Brittany Hanks (1-3) Thomas Stillings (4-6) Brian Burkhardt (7-9) |
Win | Brian fell at the Zig Zag Climb and injured his shoulder. | 3-0 |
| 3 | 5 (Qualifying) | Natalie Duran (1-3) Grant McCartney (4-6) Neil Craver (7-9) |
Three Wishes | Brittany Hanks (1-3) Geoffrey Lancaster (4-6) Thomas Stillings (7-9) |
Win | 4-0 | |
| 3 | 12 (Playoffs) | Natalie Duran (1-3) Grant McCartney (4-6) Neil Craver (7-9) |
Iron Grip | Tiana Webberley (1-3) Mathis Owhadi (4-6) Daniel Gil (7-9) |
Loss | 4-1 | |
American Ninja Warrior Results[]
| ANW | # | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Failed Double Salmon Ladder (Stage Two) | Failed the transition to the seventh rung. | |
| 8 | Failed Down Up Salmon Ladder (Stage Two) | ||
| 11 | Failed Extension Ladder (Stage Two) |