For Praj Dela Cruz, her first appearance on American Ninja Warrior was not measured by how far she went on the course, but by the opportunity to carry the Philippine flag onto one of the world’s biggest obstacle stages.
The 15-year-old climbing standout made her rookie appearance in the latest season of the sports entertainment reality show, where competitors from different backgrounds test their strength, speed, and endurance through challenging obstacle courses held across various cities.
Dela Cruz showed promise early in her run, attacking the course with confidence before her journey ended at the Diamond Dash obstacle.
While the result was not what she had hoped for, the young athlete walked away with a bigger victory—representing the Philippines, the local climbing community, and her family on an international platform.
“There have been a lot of climbers featured on ‘American Ninja Warrior.’ All of them have been successful. Some of them I know. And being able to say, well, I’m not just a climber, I’m representing the Philippines, is very important because that competition is all about representation,” she said.
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MEET YOUR LEAD MEDALISTS
Praj Dela Cruz and John Veloria win gold in the elite women’s and men’s lead finals at the 2026 PCI National Championship.
Elite women’s winners: Praj Dela Cruz, Lissa Vidal, Joanne Ala
Elite men’s winners: John Veloria, Paul Suson, Jannuel… pic.twitter.com/uOG2wcw2oz
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) June 28, 2026
For the Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist, simply earning a spot on the show was already a dream fulfilled.
Having grown up participating in obstacle sports and climbing, Dela Cruz saw her American Ninja Warrior appearance as a milestone in a journey that started when she was still young.
Her rapid rise in climbing has already produced historic achievements. At just 14 years old, Dela Cruz delivered the Philippines’ lone medal when sports climbing returned to the regional meet after a 14-year absence, earning a bronze medal at the Southeast Asian Games.
The three-time national boulder champion is not satisfied with simply making an appearance, however. She is already looking ahead to another chance on the show, hoping to return stronger and better prepared.
“I’m trying to apply again. Hopefully they’ll take me back. I’ll see how I do and maybe I can improve my skills and hopefully I can do better in that competition,” she said.
Beyond her own goals, Dela Cruz hopes her international appearances can help grow the sport in the Philippines and encourage more young athletes to pursue climbing.
Her latest return to the country gave her another chance to showcase her progress, as she competed in the lead and bouldering events of the 2026 PCI National Championship. She left the competition with two gold medals in the women’s elite lead and bouldering categories.
With those victories behind her, Dela Cruz is now shifting her focus toward another major challenge—the World Climbing Youth Championship, scheduled from July 18 to 25.
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