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 qualifying round with an explosive personality after a heartbreaking year.
In the city finals, he failed the Clear Climb. However, this performance was good enough to get him to the Las Vegas finals, as he placed 5th in the Venice 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, where he finished the course in 10th place with 04:23.47.
In the city finals, he blazed through the first seven obstacles but shocked everyone by failing 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 shockingly 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 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 go to Vegas in his whole ninja career. However, he was shown on the sidelines in Vegas supporting his fellow ninjas.
American Ninja Warrior 10[]
He returned to the LA 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 had a strong run, by getting revenge on both the Doorknob Drop and the Salmon Ladder. He ended up failing the ninth obstacle, the Baton Pass. Grant wasted a lot of time dancing for his fans while on the course, and unfortunately, he just missed out on advancing to the national finals as he placed 16th overall. 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 outside of California. In qualifying, he was the final runner of the night, and he revealed that he would be more "business" on the course. 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. Although he missed the big ring on Ring Chaser, he was able to make the landing by using the smaller ring as he missed the big 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.
American Ninja Warrior 13[]
Grant returned to compete in season 13 in the third episode of qualifying. Before his run started, it was shown that Grant he did a polar ice plunge in Alaska with Nick 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.
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 were supposed to advance to the semifinals, one semi-finalist 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 episode of qualifying. His run was cut from the broadcast, but it was revealed he failed Padlock and did not advance, having placed 22nd overall.
This is also the third time Grant's season ended on a non-Salmon Ladder obstacle. It should also be worth noting that had Grant not been selected to run as an alternate, this would've been the first season where Grant did not attempt a 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 and after the filming of American Ninja Warrior 17, with a Instagram video that he posted alongside Daniel Gil that he didn’t compete for the season and had quietly retired from the show.
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.
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 | |
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) |