Hi! I’m Emerson.
I’m Emerson Smith, or Emme for short, a competitive pole vaulter, former American Ninja Warrior, and aspiring architect based outside of Chicago. I’ve found my stride as a pole vaulter, propelling myself (literally) to new heights; and as a teammate, expressing a spirited and supportive attitude, on and off the track.
🏆 Current PR — 11’6”
🏆 Increased vault 21” from January 2024 to July 2024 (9’9”→11’6”)
🏆 2024 Nike Outdoor Nationals, Eugene Oregon – Emerging Elite (11’3”)
🏆 2024 Illinois High School Association State Track Meet (11’3”)
🏆 Athlete Warrior Games National Champion
What started as a fun way to celebrate my birthday quickly grew into a full-blown passion for the challenges and obstacles of Ninja-style training. I joined Ultimate Ninjas Chicago and had the opportunity to train with Jessie Lebreck, American Ninja Warrior competitor and University of Maine Hall of Fame Decathlete. Training with Jesse and the Ultimate Ninjas Elite Team, I quickly learned my strengths on the course: I’m agile, coordinated, fearless, and tactical in my decisions as I move through obstacles.
American Ninja Warrior: Where it All began
Beyond the physical challenges, this sport helped me build confidence, mental toughness, and find support in a close knit community outside of my other sports. I knew I could take this training to new heights.
Successfully competing in local and national Ninja Warrior competitions led to competing on seasons 2 and 3 of “American Ninja Warrior Junior," a spinoff of the original show designed for younger contestants, like me! The pressure of competing head-to-head against boys and girls my age on national television presented a whole new set of obstacles– adding mindfulness exercises alongside more rigorous physical training helped me remain focused, calm, and centered.
Success Leads To NBC’s American Ninja Warrior
Now, I rely on my pre- and post-competition visualization and reflection routines, along with my strength and agility, developed through years of American Ninja Warrior training, to accomplish my goals as a competitive pole vaulter.
Upper body strength and body awareness in the air. These were the first two things my pole-vaulting coach noticed about me when I joined my high school track team. I was introduced to pole vaulting that day and did my first ever “Bubka” drill. Today, I train at RISE Pole Vault club under the direction of Luke and Jake Winder. RISE is home to 36 USATF National Qualifiers, 13 National Championships, 17 Illinois State Championships, 73 Illinois State Medals, and 204 Illinois State Qualifiers.
Pole Vaulting: Reaching New Heights
Pole vaulting requires speed, strength, mastery of technique, an understanding of physics, and a fearlessness to run toward an obstacle and launch yourself into the air upside down and backwards, many of the same skills it takes to complete a ninja course.
When my pole hits the box and my trail leg leaves the ground, I feel powerful and free. Every muscle is engaged and yet I feel like I’m floating. That’s what I love about this event. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in my short time as a vaulter.
I am focused, driven, disciplined, and committed to perfecting my technique. I am not afraid of hard work and I’m also a good listener. I’m coachable and motivated to learn from my teammates and coaches. The satisfaction of a PR is so much better when I can support, and feel supported by, my teammates during the process.