It’s been three years since professional rock climber Natalie Duran competed on American Ninja Warrior (Season 5). The 24-year-old has been busy training and, when not training, working at UCLA Health as a staff clinical research assistant studying Inflammatory Bowel Disease (which shares features of Irritable Bowel Syndrome but isn’t the same). The fitness model even posed wearing an ostomy bag while rock climbing to show how easy it is to wear one and to raise awareness of IBD. (See photo below.)
On the morning of her American Ninja Warrior Season 8 run, Natalie made a fun video that chronicles the hours leading up to her big chance. Although she loves coffee, she opted for mint tea and a banana. She confessed to popping some pimples before getting dolled up for the cameras. When she arrives by shuttle bus at Universal Studios, Natalie (like everyone else) is forced to wait “in the official holding area.” Right before her name is called, Natalie says: “This is my time. It’s a new season, a new me, a new Natalie. You guys are going to remember me.” American Ninja Warrior airs Wednesdays at 8pm on NBC.
Natalie raising awareness for IBD, image: http://uclaibd.tumblr.com/
