CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Matt Barclay knows the importance of hard work first hand.
The Charlotte native and now an American Ninja Warrior competitor was clinically obese just three short years ago.
"It was a tough time doing just about anything," Barclay remembered. "Going up the stairs, I would get to the top of the stairs winded."
With hard work and the drive to become a better person, not just for himself but for his family, Barclay lost 90 pounds to become what the show dubs him as, the "Downsized Ninja."
Just before starting his amazing weight loss journey, Barclay and his wife had adopted a little baby boy. Barclay wanted to make a lifestyle change so he could stay in his son's life.
"I was tired all of the time, and I could not continue to live that way," Barclay said.
One night, Barclay said he was watching American Ninja Warrior with his wife and remembered thinking, "man I could do that."
At that time Barclay was still obese.
"It was time for me to turn that around," Barclay said.
For three years Barclay began his strict ninja training diet. He ate healthily and joined a ninja gym.
"I've probably lost between 80 and 90 pounds of fat and then put on a whole bunch of pounds of muscle," Barclay said.
In Miami back in 2018, Barclay's dreams of competing on NBC's hit show American Ninja Warrior became a reality.
The "Downsized Ninja" got the chance to compete on the world stage with other notably famous ninja warriors.
"It was so exciting to be there with all my friends and competitors and to really get out there and see what I can do," Barclay said. "Performing when you're 20 feet up under the lights and the cameras are rolling, it's just so exciting. It's unlike any other obstacle course in the world."
Barclay's run on season 10 of American Ninja Warrior ended when he slipped on the third obstacle.
"I made it through the first two obstacles," Barclay said. "The floating steps and then the flywheels and what a blast."
The third obstacle, Razor's edge, was an agility obstacle.
"It took me out," Barclay recalled. "I fell, hard, I ran a little too heavy footed and it just spun the piece out from under me."
Barclay said though he fell during the Ninja Warrior course, the fact that he was even able to compete was an immediate win in his book.
"For me, getting to ANW from where I had been was already a win, already a success. Just the fact that I was able to get to that starting line last year," Barclay said.
Once back home in Charlotte Barclay immediately re-started his ninja training. The same obstacle that took him out in season 10 of ANW, took him out again.
This time, Barclay wasn't sure if he was going to make it back up.
"I took a hard fall and I snapped my tibia and fibula," Barclay said. "It was a really bad break. I hurt more than I have ever hurt before."
PHOTOS: The Downsized Ninja
Barclay said this fall was his worst nightmare coming true.
"I remember getting back from the hospital I kind of had a decision to make, Barclay said. "I could go back to the way I was or I could continue to be a ninja."
Barclay knew what he had to do.
"I made that decision every day, that I was not going to give up. That I was going to push through this injury and commit to continuing my training," Barclay said.
The ninja's hard work and intense training paid off. Just 6 months after his devasting fall, Barclay is headed back to the American Ninja Warrior stage.
"To anybody watching the show and thinks man I really wish I could do that I would say to them, 'go for it." Look, I think I am a walking, jumping example of the fact that you can do it."
Barclay is headed down to Atlanta, Georgia the weekend of March 23 to compete in season 11 of American Ninja Warrior. Be sure to watch season 11 on NBC to cheer on our local 'Downsized Ninja."
Click here to follow the 'Downsized Ninja''s journey.
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