Chad Riddle is a three-time competitor on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, a longtime educator and school principal, motivational speaker, and obstacle-course athlete whose journey is about far more than conquering a Ninja Warrior course.
After losing his wife to Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Chad turned one of the most difficult chapters of his life into a mission to honor her memory and show his son what it means to face life’s biggest challenges head-on. His journey into competitive obstacle racing became a powerful lesson in perseverance, discipline, courage, and refusing to let adversity define your future.
With more than 15 years competing in obstacle-course racing across the country and years of experience as an educator and principal, Chad brings a unique perspective to the conversation—one that connects the worlds of athletics, education, parenting, leadership, and personal resilience.
On School of Hollywood, Chad talks about what American Ninja Warrior taught him about failure and determination, the personal story behind his competitive journey, raising a son through adversity, and why sometimes the greatest victory isn’t crossing the finish line—it’s finding the strength to keep moving forward.
Chad Riddle proves that the real Ninja Warrior isn’t the person who never falls. It’s the person who keeps getting back up.
