FORMER Mount Gambier resident Ricko Tralongo has proven he can match the strength and stamina of top athletes after setting the Australian Ninja Warrior record this week.
Completing the course in just over one minute and 12 seconds, the determined 32-year-old showed no signs of weakness as he ran through the many challenging obstacles with ease.
However, tackling wet weather and slippery equipment, Mr Tralongo said it was a nerve-racking yet exciting few moments.
“The course was definitely hard – you don’t get to train on it before, you just have to go for it,” he said.
“It was quite intimidating standing there watching athletes and Olympians tackling the course – you would see them fall off and think wow it must be harder than it looks.”
Involved in a car crash which left him with a torn calf muscle, Mr Tralongo knows all to well the inner strength needed to face challenges.
“It took me around a month after the crash to build my strength again but luckily it doesn’t have any impact on me anymore,” he said.
Training for around four months in the lead-up to the challenge, Mr Tralongo said he only decided to enter the competition after friends suggested he take part.
“I hadn’t heard of the show before then, but I like doing pull-ups, chin- ups and things like that so thought why not give it a go?” he said.
“I was pretty surprised that I was selected, so to get through to the semi-finals was amazing.
“I just want to inspire people to get off the couch and get fit – taking part in Ninja Warrior isn’t out of anyone’s reach, you just have to try.”
