Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Hanks.
Brittany, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My story is about my life and how I came about to where I am today. First off, I graduated from a very small school in a little country town known as Zephyr Texas. I had 8 people in my graduating class so as you can imagine we had about 200-300 kids from kindergarten to senior class. I graduated in 2012 and made my way to college at Tarleton State University in Stephenville Texas. It was far enough away for me to learn independence, but close enough to where if I wanted to visit home I was able too. I chose to major in Biomedical science and eventually go on to medical school to become a doctor. This had been my goal for so long. Along the way through I realized that sometimes the goal you set out to accomplish changes. Not that you just eliminate it, but that it takes new shape and molds into a different goal with the same end result in mind. My goal was to become a doctor because I was passionate about helping and inspiring people. Not only from the patients that I hoped I would help but also to my younger counterparts from middle/high school showing them that you did not have to graduate from a huge school to become something great. Little did I know that the path I would end up taking would inspire so many more people than I could imagine.
It all starts with the hit TV show American Ninja Warrior, which is basically an adult obstacle course. Around my Junior year of college, people started tagging me in videos of this girl who was 5 foot tall and weighed 100 pounds getting up this crazy tall wall, which is known as the warped wall. She was the very first woman in 6 seasons to accomplish this goal. They were all saying, “Brittany, you should totally try out for this show! You could do that!” I sat back and thought wow maybe I could. Of course, had no idea where or how to train for the obstacles on the show. I guess fate was knocking because a few months later I stumbled onto a gym by complete accident. I was visiting the guy I was dating at the time in Dallas and he wanted to play dodgeball at this gym so we went and it turned out to be a gym centered around American ninja warrior. Immediately I knew I had to come back and see just what I was up against. The very next day, I went back to the gym and man was that stuff way harder than I thought. I got through a few obstacles, but I knew at that point I was not as strong as I thought and these obstacles were not as easy as they looked on TV. So, I continuously started coming back just about every weekend to train. Before I knew it, the time to apply for the actual show was upon us. I took my chances and submitted for the 8th season of ANW. Months went by and I had heard nothing. Then it happened. I saw that legendary 818 number everyone talked about and I knew it was finally happening. I had just been picked out of thousands of applicants to compete on ANW. What once was just a dream had finally become a reality.
Unfortunately, my first season did not go at all how I had wished. I ended up going out on the second obstacle. I was devastated. It was one of the hardest moments of my life. To work so hard to have finally gotten my shot and I messed everything up. After that, I had lost all hope at ever getting another shot to redeem myself. Even though I had little hope I continued to train and be disciplined. I was going to make sure that I gave it everything I had to get another shot at competing. I submitted again and I received my call to compete for season 9. I was a little shocked but so grateful I was getting to come back and try again. (with this show you never know if they will take you back so every year its always amazing to get the call).
Of course, once again things did not go as planned I made the second obstacle but messed up the dismount. Lucky for me it was still fast enough to get me into the top 5 women for the finals so I would get to try again. Finals night, I made it all the way to the 4th obstacle. Even though I did not qualify for nationals I was so proud of what I had accomplished. I came back and not only beat the second obstacle that took me out the previous night but I made it all the way to number 4. Redemption for me had been accomplished. The next goal I set for myself was to qualify for Vegas in season 10. Unfortunately, I ended up getting injured which I will explain later after season 9 and I had to fight my way back to where I was which was very grueling. Through it all though I ended up getting a call to also compete on Ninja vs. Ninja last year as well, which was just icing on the cake after accomplishing so much in season 9 and coming back from an injury.
Season 10 is currently being filmed so I can not fully release the results but I can give some inside as to what has currently happened. I was called to compete on season 10 which for our region filmed in March in my home region, Dallas TX at the state fairgrounds. There were a lot of amazing athletes, but my focus was not on beating any other athlete it was about beating myself and about beating an obstacle that had sent me to the ER that prior year that ended up in our city. (Give detail in next section). It was probably one of the most nerve-racking times I have ever competed. I remember being rushed to the hospital after it happened and it was so scary to think I was going to have to face it again. Through the entire night, I told myself I could do it. I could beat this obstacle. As I stepped up to the line, I knew it was about to go down. Obstacle 1 done, then obstacle 2 complete. I was now about to face my ultimate demon. As I got into the glass wall and stood over the trampoline that hurt me I could feel everything just come to a complete stop… and then complete silence. Then, I let go… boom off the trampoline and onto my target. Obstacle 3 completed. At that moment, this huge weight lifted off of my shoulders and the entire crowd exploded. Everyone from the workers to the ninjas knew that I was scared of that obstacle and to finally beat it was one of the most surreal moments of my life. I did go out on the balance after that but my time was fast enough to make it the city finals. Everyone will have to tune in on NBC sometime in July to see if I reach m goal of qualifying for the Las Vegas national finals this year.
Now, at this moment in my life, things have changed quite a bit. After my first season on ANW, I knew that this is where my heart truly was meant to be and I decided to put school on hold for awhile. It is always an option but I want to take the chances I can why I am young. One of the last things I ever want to do is regret for not taking the once in a lifetime opportunities I was given. Of course, a ninja is not a profession, but it has opened up so many doors. I am currently a lab technician that works in an infertility lab where I help infertile couples to have babies. It is a very rewarding job, but not my forever job. So, I work and continue to train for the show and am apart of a very rewarding charity know as Cheer 4 your life, along with other events I do around town.
American Ninja Warrior has taught me so much. Not only has it enabled me to push to conquer obstacles on the course but also in my life. It has brought me to charity opportunities, job offers and even to the love of my life and I could not be more thankful. Honestly, never in my life did I think I would be living the life I am and getting to do all the amazing things I am getting to be a part of. It is truly a blessing and I am still inspiring people everywhere. Even though my goal/future plans have changed the overall goal is still the same. To help people and inspire them to do amazing things and show them that through hard work, dedication and perseverance that anything is possible.
From wanting to go to medical school to try out for a TV show that has virtually changed my entire life it just goes to show that when you follow your dreams you never know what doors will open for you or who you will meet if you just take the chance.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Of course, not all roads are smooth. Mine was a bit rocky at certain times but I never let it beat me. One story I like to tell is the one where I had a professor tell me when I was in college that I was not smart enough to go to medical school. As you can imagine that was one of the most devastating things you could ever hear, especially coming from a mentor who is suppose to encourage you and help you to find a way to succeed in their class. There was no do better or try this is was straight you are not smart enough to do this. I remember the Christmas following my grandfather Bob Fowler and I were discussing the subject as he was a retired dentist and had to take many of the classes I was currently taking. He looked at me with all the wisdom in his eyes and told me, “Brittany do not ever let anything tell you that you can not do something. If you want to be a doctor keep working and it will happen one way or another.” My grandfather had been told the same thing in his undergrad. A professor told him he would never go to dental school and would never graduate. That man not only went to dental school but he graduated with honor. He inspired me so much that day. I will never forget those words. He actually ended up passing away in the spring after that Christmas. That was the last time I ever go to speak with him. To this day I never forget what he told me. I work hard for the things I want and even when things seem impossible I know that there is always a way. I believe it is important for people to understand that just because someone thinks you can not do something does not mean anything because the only person holding you back is yourself.
One other very difficult time I had which I said I would explain here was when I got hurt, right after season 9. See after you get knocked out you are allowed to test the obstacles for the rest of the athletes, so my boyfriend and I drove around the country testing a few of the cities. We tested in Kansas where we were both top testers and decided to go to Denver Colorado to test the last city before Vegas. Little did I know this trip was going to change a lot in my life.
We got there to test that day and, of course, I was really eager to jump on some obstacles. They called me up to test a new obstacle known as the bouncing spider. (Basically, you had to crawl through a plexiglass wall and drop down onto a trampoline that would then shoot you up to some hanging pillars which you would grab and then swing off of to dismount the obstacle.) I jumped up and scaled my way through the wall and was over the trampoline. I had already watched several people hit it so I thought nothing of it. I let go…. then, I went straight into the water. I knew as soon as I had surfaced that something was wrong. I looked at my friend Brandon and told him to pull me out immediately. When he did my knee was basically turned sideways. A doctor came over and pushed it back into place and all I remember is him holding me and letting me squeeze his hand as I screamed out in pain. They called the ambulance and we went straight to ER where we spent about 3 hours there for them put on and take off a brace several times making me scream from the pain and telling me that I would need to do an MRI when I returned to Texas. At that moment I was a mix of emotions. Disappointment, pain, and depression.
We returned home and it turns out that I had dislocated my knee, chipped a piece of bone off my knee cap and had severe bone bruising to the head of my femur. I could not straighten my leg at all. My boyfriend had to pick me up and set me in the shower. I had to be helped to walk down stairs and even put my clothes on. I tried to do as much as I could by myself because I wanted to get back to normal as soon as I could. I started to rehab a few weeks after. I rehabbed myself though my entire injury. It was one of the most grueling tasks I have ever done. The things we take for granted every day like just being able to walk is amazing. You never learn to appreciate something until it is taken away from you.
Of course, I told myself I never wanted to touch that obstacle again. Then, I find out that the same obstacle is in our city for season 10. My heart crumbled. I honestly laid on the floor and cried my eyes out. I told myself I did not want to compete and I just wanted to call someone and tell them I was done and that I could not do it. Then after a few hours, I realized that I could not let myself do that. I could not give up because I was scared. I had worked so hard to come back from my injury to prepare for this season and I was going to let this one obstacle stand in my way. No, it was not happening. So, I bucked up, wiped my tears away and told myself I was going to do this. I was going to conquer my fear even if I went swimming again I was going to get on this trampoline. From my previous story, you know I conquered the obstacle and it was so exhilarating. If anything I hope that this story shows people that ever when you are at your lowest that you can come back and be even stronger. Do not let what happened in the past define you. You can create your own future and make it into whatever you want if your willing to work for it.
As I said before, your past should never define who you are as a person. I also grew up with a single mom and my father is a drug addict. There were times where we did not have much money and even food was hard to come by but I never let that take hold of the person I knew I could be. I think the events in my life have molded me into the hard working person that I am today. If I have learned anything is it’s not to admire those who have everything and to hate where you come from and the things you have had to endure. Use them as fire to push you to do better and be the person and have the life you want to live. Just like I said before to create your future into what you want it to be because it’s your choice.
Please tell us about NA.
American Ninja Warrior is a hit family TV show on NBC. It is a show where everyday people try to tackle a series of obstacles to make it to the end to hit a final buzzer.
I am an american ninja warrior athlete. I have now competed on 3 seasons of ANW and 1 season of Ninja vs Ninja (USA network). I have also participated in the ninja leagues and competitions we have around the country.
My nick name is the “blue Ninja”, which is based on my grandfather. He was a navy man so his favorite color was blue. People also know me as “Hanks”, which is what everyone calls me in my hometown.
In the sport of ANW, I am one of the smallest women that compete. I am 5’1″ and 105 pounds.
I am most proud that I have come back every year and done better and better. I, of course, have still fallen and made mistakes but everyone falls. The fact that we can all get back up after failing and come back and keep trying is amazing to me. It shows that we do not let our mistakes define who we are in this sport and that we keep pushing to come back stronger than before.
As an individual, I have had some rough areas in life that a lot of people haven’t, but I do not let any of those things stop me from going after what I want.
I think as a sport, ANW is so much different than any other sport I have ever been a part of. This is not a sport where you root for one person and boo another. Yes, we are all competitors and we are competing but it’s not about beating other athletes it is about beating the course, which is what I love. Even if you know the guy behind you has a chance to knock you out you still root for them. It hurts when it happens, but you still walk up to that guy and tell him good job you did awesomely. The community is absolutely amazing and filled with some of the best people. The atmosphere is unlike any other and I would not trade it for anything.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I think if I could go back to my first season competing I would try to calm myself a lot more and just take one obstacle at a time. Sometimes you over think things and I think my first season I did that a lot. I was thinking about all the different obstacles instead of focusing on the one that was right in front of me.
Honestly, with my life, I would not change anything. My life by no means was perfect but I truly believe that the hardships I went through and the things I had to overcome made me into who I am today. Without those lessons in life who knows I might not have ever tried out for ANW, thus, changing my life completely.
Even though things are difficult sometimes, I believe you always learn from it and there is always something positive that comes out of it even if you can not see it.
Pricing:
- Pricing ranges from $15-$25 depending on specials
Contact Info:
- Email: brittanyhanks12@yahoo.com
- Instagram: bhanks_blueninja
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brittany.hanks.5
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