Scott Swanson
American Ninja Warrior star Travis Rosen challenged local charter school students to hang tough when life is difficult and to work hard to better themselves during an appearance at Sweet Home Charter School Wednesday, Feb. 6.
Rosen, who grew up in Eugene and became an All-American gymnast at the University of Iowa, is a nine-year veteran of the show and eight-time finalist.
He appeared due to the efforts of Sweet Home Charter School fifth-grade teacher Jeff Tomkins, who said he was looking for a speaker for the school’s Readathon program and after striking out on some more local prospects, discovered that Rosen was going to be in the area, where he went to Churchill High School.
“I heard he had an event in Eugene,” Tomkins said. “It was remarkable. There was a little cost, but he already had an event, so he was very gracious with us.”
Rosen spent about 45 minutes talking to first- through sixth-graders from both Sweet Home Charter and Sand Ridge Charter School in Lebanon, which sent a couple of buses full of kids.
He showed videos of some of his competition exploits, noting that he had to overcome big obstacles and odds, and acknowledging that he is sometimes nervous.
“You just have to push through,” he told the children.
He also demonstrated a handstand that lasted at least a minute, far longer than those attempted by three volunteers from the audience. He said he normally would be inclined to do a backflip for the kids, but after breaking his right ankle last year in three places during a bad landing in a Season 10 competition, it hadn’t healed well enough yet.
Tomkins said the Readathon program emphasizes both individual challenge and team bonding, which Rosen addressed, telling the children that although he competes individually, he also likes competitions in which he works with other team members and they have to support each other.
This year’s Readathon is based on the American Ninja Warriors, Tompkins said.
“Aspiring to greatness is the theme of the whole event,” he said. “It’s about teamwork and encouraging one another, really about working together.”