MARBLE FALLS — At 57, Brian Magerkurth could spend his free time taking on 18 holes of golf. But then, that just wouldn’t be him. As a student-athlete at Marble Falls High School, Magerkurth loved to throw himself skyward in the pole vault. “I love pole vaulting,” he said. “You get to combine sprinting, gymnastics and everything.” Watch his audition video.
Even today, Magerkurth maintains a high level of physical fitness and activity. In fact, he’s never really allowed himself to get out of shape. As a physical fitness instructor at West Point, he had to keep himself fit. “It’s just part of who I am,” he said.
But when a colleague urged him to try out for the NBC show “American Ninja Warrior,” Magerkurth balked. He admitted he didn’t know much about the show, and when he did look it over, he wasn’t sure it was up his alley. But after a bit more urging, Magerkurth caved and submitted his application along with a video he and his son, Tyler, produced for consideration.
Then, Magerkurth got the word: He was in. “I think they had somewhere around 50,000 applicants and picked only 400 for this season, so that’s why I think I’ve already won,” he said. Full Story»