Sam Sann is a gym owner who came from Cambodia, then came to America after the former went communist. In addition to competing, he helps train other American Ninja Warriors. With his partner, Karen Madaras (until 2024), he recently opened "Sam Sann Warriors - All Star Ninjas", a ninja gym in the Houston, Texas area. He previously owned the gym "Iron Sports Fitness".
American Ninja Warrior[]
American Ninja Warrior 4[]
He first competed on American Ninja Warrior 4 in the Midsouth Region. His run was cut, but it was mentioned in the next season that he went out in qualifying on the Jump Hang.
American Ninja Warrior 5[]
He then competed in American Ninja Warrior 5 in the Denver qualifying region. In qualifying, he breezed through the first four obstacles but suffered a leg injury after dismounting the Delta Bridge. He still managed to clear the Warped Wall on his first try and conquered the qualifying course. In the Denver finals, he struggled with the Warped Wall taking him three attempts to clear it. Due to fatigue, Sam failed the very next obstacle, the Salmon Ladder. However, he was selected as a wildcard to Vegas.
On the Vegas course, Sam cleared the first obstacle easily but had a terrible jump on the Giant Cycle which resulted into him face-planting onto the platform.
American Ninja Warrior 6[]
He returned in American Ninja Warrior 6 with vengeance and cleared the Dallas qualifying course. On the finals course, Sam destroyed his nemesis but failed the very next obstacle, the Swinging Frames. At the end of the episode, he was in danger of being knocked out of the Top 15 by Dillon Gates, (known as the Giant Slayer, because of his infamous elimination of Brent Steffensen back in qualifying). Luckily for Sam, Gates failed on the Salmon Ladder, so he moved on to the National Finals in 15th place. On the first stage, he cleared the first obstacle with ease. But unfortunately, history repeated itself as he once again failed the second obstacle the Giant Cycle as he couldn’t get a firm grip, causing him to fall into the water.
American Ninja Warrior 7[]
Sam Sann at the 2015 Houston finals.
Now with the success of his gym and a large fanbase, Sam competed in American Ninja Warrior 7 at the Houston qualifying region, where he easily cleared the qualifying course and even kissed the top of the Warped Wall when he scaled it, placing 11th.
In the Houston finals, he put on a ferocious, and emotional run. He took a slow, steady approach to the course and completed all ten obstacles with finesse. He was one out of only two competitors to complete that whole finals course and automatically qualify to Vegas. At 48 years of age, Sam stood as the second oldest competitor in ANW history to complete a city finals course. He was also the only competitor in the Houston region to complete both city qualifying & finals courses. During the Houston Finals, it erroneously stated that he received wildcards the past 2 years, but he actually placed 15th in the Dallas Finals, which means he advanced to the national finals without being wildcarded in ANW 6.
In the Vegas finals, however, his woes continued as he yet again failed the second obstacle, this time being the Propeller Bar.
American Ninja Warrior 8[]
Sam Sann competed in American Ninja Warrior 8 in Oklahoma City. In qualifying, he made it to the fourth obstacle, the Tire Swing, where he surprisingly fell on the dismount. He didn't made it to the top 30 for the first time since his debut.
American Ninja Warrior 9[]
Sam was originally going to compete in the San Antonio qualifying of American Ninja Warrior 9, but due to recovering from a surgery to the L5 disc on his back, he waited four more weeks to compete in Denver, buying him more time to recover from his back injury. Though he still wasn't 100%, he still was able to compete on the course. Sam once again fell in qualifying, this time being the Rail Runner, but was able to make the top 30, placing 26th.
In the city finals, Sam's run was digested but it was shown that he was disqualified on the Paddle Boards for touching the center axis. He placed 26th overall at the end of the Denver finals, and did not make it to the national finals for the second straight year.
American Ninja Warrior 10[]
He again competed in Dallas on American Ninja Warrior 10. Although his run was not shown for the first time since his debut, it was revealed that he shockingly failed the Bouncing Spider, an obstacle that he was able to get past in Denver last season, not moving on to the city finals.
American Ninja Warrior 13[]
After a three-season absence, he returned in the first episode, making it to the 5th obstacle, V Formation falling on the downward part and moving on to the semifinals, placing 26th overall.
In the semifinals, he then made it through the first three obstacles where Matt remarked: “He is looking to get back to the national finals for the first time in six years.” But that dream could not come to pass, where instead, he failed the Spinning Bridge and placed 20th, once again not making it back to the national finals.
American Ninja Warrior 14[]
He returned for his ninth season in the fourth round of qualifiers. He run was not shown, but he failed the Log Runner in Split Decision, not moving on to the semifinals. It's worth mentioning he got past the Log Runner 6 years before this fall.
American Ninja Warrior 15[]
He returned for his milestone tenth season during the second episode (third round) of qualifiers. His run was digested, but it was shown that he once again had a second-consecutive fall on the Log Runner, ending his tenth season in heartbreak.
Sam is set to compete on American Ninja Warrior 17.
Team Ninja Record[]
| Season | Episode | Round | Heat | Opponent Team | Opponent | Result | Notes | Individual Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team: Iron Grip | ||||||||
| 1 | 5 (Qualifying) | Round One | 1 | Lab Rats | Chris Wilczewski | Loss | Sam fell at the Dancing Stones. | 0-1 |
| 1 | 5 (Qualifying) | Round Two | 1 | Ninja Brittens | Dustin McKinney | Loss | 0-2 | |
American Ninja Warrior Results[]
| ANW | # | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 55 | Failed Giant Cycle (Stage One) | Competed as Wildcard. |
| 6 | 5 | Failed Giant Cycle (Stage One) | |
| 7 | 20 | Failed Propeller Bar (Stage One) |