American Ninja Warrior Brian Burke Beats That Wall And Autism
Written by SAPL on June 11th, 2019 in Asperger People In The News, Film and TV.
Walk the Plank. The Shrinking Steps. A warped and mega wall.
Sounds like an obstacle course from a video game or a funhouse for children. Anyone who’s ever watched NBC’s American Ninja Warrior knows that while these look fun to watch, they can be brutal on those who are competing.
This season’s show has a standout for several reasons.
He’s a 19-year-old engineering student with autism that can be described as “inspirational.”
Brian Burke has always been an athlete. He’s an accomplished gymnast who’s started in childhood and this definitely aided him in every jump, swing and land during the 4-minute obstacle course. Which is what makes him so exciting to watch, even if you aren’t cheering for him being the Asperger star.
Many of the athletes who compete on American Ninja Warrior are lucky enough to make graceful falls (or splashes if they land in water). This guy is more than graceful–he’s a bird in air. Years of lessons on the balance beams and poles have given him this edge. And when the crowd is quiet enough for you to hear every thud and stomp on the surface each competitor gives off, you simply do not get any of that from Burke. Every grasp, every landing, every step made this guy seem light as a feather.
Which leads to his next amazing trait–his smaller stature. While the muscular guy who’s past careers include professional sports, military and other extremely masculine groups, his physique–like many gymnasts–is one that’s compact and powerful. Every effort he made during the opening night in L.A. is enough to make even the heavy weightlifter wonder, “What kind of protein powder do I need to move like that”
The Colorado State kid finished in the top 10 during the season 11 debut and has obviously beat more than “that wall.”
