Obstacles Are Just Training: NBC's ANW Champion Kai Beckstrand on Recent Win, Firefighting, & T1D
About this episode
On this episode of Up + Adam, we’re joined by Kai Beckstrand, the 18-year-old champion of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior Season 17. Known as the fastest ninja on the planet, Kai has broken records with his speed and precision, hitting buzzers and making history alongside his brother and father. But his story runs deeper than the highlight reel. Kai is also a certified EMT and firefighter, dedicating his life to running into danger when others can’t, and he does it all while managing Type 1 diabetes.
In this conversation, Adam digs into the love of competition that drives Kai, the invisible math and strategy of balancing blood sugars mid-run, and the discipline it takes to live a life defined by grit and resilience. With insights shared from Wendy Theis Sell, a passionate advocate for T1D awareness, this episode explores not just the obstacles on the course but the ones we don’t always see.
Kai Beckstrand is more than a champion. He is a role model for every kid with Type 1 diabetes, and for anyone who has ever been told they “can’t.”
Follow Kai online:
• Instagram: @kai_beckstrand
• Watch his runs on American Ninja Warrior: nbc.com/american-ninja-warrior
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