Former Olympic gymnast Paul Hamm finds new calling as ninja warrior

Paul Hamm has conquered many obstacles as the greatest American male gymnast of all time.

The 2004 Athens Olympics all-around gold medalist still has the burning desire to compete — not as a gymnast but as a ninja warrior.

In the team version of "American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs. Ninja," Hamm joined forces with former Olympic gymnast Jonathan Horton and Olympic pole vaulter April Steiner Bennett in the best-of-five single-elimination obstacle competition.

"I want to show what I'm capable of," Hamm said in the March 15 episode. "I want to go against these other really good ninjas and see where I stack up.

"I would imagine that there are some ninjas out there that would want to take down an Olympic gold medalist.

"Well, come and get it."

Kevin Klein of Fast Kats accepted the challenge and defeated Hamm, who struggled on the floating tiles in the head-to-head matchup.

"It's an honor to run with him and get the win," Klein said about Hamm.

But Hamm's team bounced back to win, 3-1, after the Fast Kats failed on several obstacles. 

In the next round, Hamm, 35, pushed Brian Arnold but struggled on the rumbling dice and fell to the veteran.

"I remember watching him on TV years ago, and he was so inspiring," Arnold said. "It was mentally tough to beat your hero like that. I'm so honored I got to race him."

Hamm's team was later swept by Arnold's Party Time team, 3-0.

Hamm, who was born in Washburn and lived in Waukesha, first competed on “American Ninja Warrior” in 2016. He now lives in Downers Grove, Ill., and coaches at Premier Gymnastics Academy.