Dr. Rich Shoemaker, a 1995 Cheltenham High School graduate, is a former American Ninja Warrior contestant and a current Philadelphia-area emergency room physician.
Dr. Shoemaker found himself in the national spotlight in 2015 after being chosen for an episode of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, which features competitors battling through a series of challenging obstacle courses across the country.
Dr. Shoemaker made it to the national finals in Las Vegas, Nevada. The full list of his appearances on the show can be found in his “Ninja Guide“:
| Season & Episode | Run Time | Place | Furthest Obstacle | Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANW Season 8 (2016) – Las Vegas Finals – Stage 1 | #4 – Jumping Spider | |||
| ANW Season 8 (2016) – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City Finals | 00:04:47.21 | 14 | #8 – Flying Shelf Grab | |
| ANW Season 8 (2016) – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania City Qualifiers | 00:01:30.84 | 21 | #5 – Rolling Thunder | |
| ANW Season 7 (2015) – Las Vegas Finals – Stage 1 | #4 – Jumping Spider | |||
| ANW Season 7 (2015) – Orlando ,Florida City Finals | 00:04:59.36 | 13 | #8 – Cannonball Alley | |
| ANW Season 7 (2015) – Orlando, Florida City Qualifiers | 00:03:21.35 | 12 | Hit Buzzer / Completed Course |
From Sasukepedia Wiki’s entry:
Richard first competed in Orlando in American Ninja Warrior 7, where his run was cut in qualifying but it was revealed that he finished the course placing 12th. In the city finals, he was one of the many competitors that failed Cannonball Alley. Richard did, however, place 13th and advanced to the national finals. His run on Stage 1 was digested but it was shown that he failed the Jumping Spider.
Shoemaker returned to compete in Philadelphia in American Ninja Warrior 8. His run in qualifying where at the start line, he was shown doing a “Bruce Lee” nunchuk move before running. Shoemaker was one of many to fall on the Rolling Thunder, but placed 21st and advanced to the city finals, where he failed the Flying Shelf Grab. Shoemaker placed 14th overall and made his second trip to the national finals. His run on Stage 1 was cut but it was revealed that he failed the Jumping Spider again.
In 2016, he discussed his appearances and his faith with Christian Medical & Dental Associations. An avid rock climber, he shared his fitness regimen with Academic Life in Emergency Medicine in 2017.
A graduate of Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, Dr. Shoemaker went on to attend Temple University’s College of Medicine and Drexel University for his emergency medicine residency.
According to local historian Chuck Langerman, he was a superb wrestler at Cheltenham and set a then-school record for career wins with 99. During his senior season, he had a 28-match winning streak.
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Photos courtesy of Ninja Guide, Christian Medical & Dental Associations, Twitter, Facebook