After a spectacular finale, one thing is certain: Lukas Kilian is the second Ninja Warrior Germany Allstar – and the 29-year-old can’t really believe it yet. He has been practicing ninja sport since 2019, and a good three years later he not only won his first major title, but also turned his hobby into a profession.
In the exclusive sport.deinterview, “Clucky Luke” explains how sport has changed his life, how he experienced the big final evening and what he intends to do with the 50,000 euro prize money. He also reveals that he briefly considered giving up after the early knockout last year.
Lukas, have you realized by now that you are Ninja Warrior Germany Allstar?
Luke Killian: Not quite yet! I haven’t been around that long and I don’t come from competitive sports either, so it’s much harder for me to keep up with the others as a normal person.
Do you think someone had you on their list as the winner?
Not necessarily. But I think a lot of people don’t really deal with the athletes and other names are just more present on the show. Everyone knows Sladjan Djulabic, René Casselly or Moritz Hans. But if you’re not a big fan of the show, you don’t have people like me on your list. I myself would have expected six or seven people to win the thing in the normal season. And with Allstars it’s even harder to predict.
Did the win surprise you?
The road is long and there are many variables. In all seasons so far, I made a mistake that I couldn’t correct, and then I was out. My preliminary runs were also a bit shaky this time, so I couldn’t really grasp it. After last year, my priority was not to hit my head anyway, so I was happy to reach the final. It took me a bit to get in, but I grew in the competition.
Were you able to party afterwards or were you exhausted?
Mentally I was extremely fit and wide awake, but physically I was extremely broken. I also got a pretty deep cut on my finger and couldn’t bend it for a long time. We still sat together in the evening and chatted a bit about it. But there’s a video from breakfast the next day that shows I actually needed a walking stick. After that I just lay on the couch for a week because I couldn’t move anymore. I saved the real celebration for the broadcast.
Let’s look back at your duels on the big night: what went through your mind when you were drawn against René Casselly, first Ninja Warrior Germany and someone who likes to go full throttle?
When René was pulled, everyone said: “Please not against me!” I don’t have very good eyesight. I didn’t realize I was going to play against him until everyone looked at me. I think a lot of people have already written me off. I thought to myself, “It was a cool season and at least I made it to the finals.”
But then I asked myself why I should give up now. I’ve seen everyone fall and René is only human. I didn’t want to create a hurdle in my head. But of course that was difficult because everyone told you how awesome your opponent was. You have to be mentally strong. And then I said to myself that as a favorite he can only lose. It was an up and down of emotions.
In the second duel against Max Görner it was probably almost the other way around, wasn’t it?
I know that Max trains a lot and has been doing ninja longer than me. But he said to me before the duel that he respects the endless ladder to heaven and doesn’t necessarily have to go up there. But then everyone told him not to write himself off. That was a tightrope walk in his head too and he told me five minutes later that he would give everything.
It was then clear to me that I had to step on the gas. And that’s what I did, I was completely in mode. Normally I always save my energy because I’m afraid that I won’t be able to do any more and fall off somewhere. But then I didn’t care and I didn’t know any limits anymore, just full send.
Was there a moment that evening when you realized that you could really do it?
When we stood in front of the endless ladder to heaven, I was sure that no one else would climb up there apart from Sladi. I had trained them beforehand because I always prepare for everything and I knew that I could do it with my technique. But when I fell, I thought of Yasin, who finished third last year after a mistake on the same rung. That’s why I was so angry.
Did you actually talk to Sladi, who has now come second twice in a row?
My first words on the Power Tower were, “I’m so sorry bro!” I wouldn’t have begrudge anyone more than him because this was his second time at this point. I really like it and it’s one of the reasons I still do the sport at all. When I was just starting out with ninja, he gave me a lot of courage at a competition. That pushed me a lot back then because he was a role model for me.
It wasn’t cool for him, of course, but he’ll keep going and he’ll eventually win a title. If you keep going after moments like this, you’ll eventually win, it always is.
You are the best example: Last year you were eliminated in your first duel in the first Allstars season. How fast did you put that away?
I was about to quit because it just broke me. I was physically fitter than ever and believed I could win the thing. But I wasn’t mentally fit enough. After that, you ask yourself if that really makes you happy. But a week later I was back in the training hall because I was up for it. I knew then that it was the right thing to do – and at some point it paid off. I’ve been looking for my sport for years and found it in Ninja.
Now you have even earned 50,000 euros with your sport. What role does money play for you?
I don’t care about the coal. That’s why it’s so easy for me to always take something with me – whether through the Power Tower or the Mega Wall. I always only think about the fact that I want to create something – not about the fact that there is money for it. I only realize that when it’s in the account. In fact, I haven’t spent anything yet. I’m pretty good with money and don’t buy as much nonsense as other people might. I will probably invest it in our hall.
Are you actually going to open your own hall soon? How did that happen?
Yes, I’m a managing partner at Stuntwerk Senden together with a buddy. We’re still building there. It’s been a dream of mine for a long time, but never concrete. Last year I messaged the stunt company via Instagram and asked if they were looking for someone to oversee the indoor ninja area or build obstacles. That’s how we got talking.
I was with the federal government until the end of 2020, after which I started studying. But in the second semester I didn’t enjoy it at all anymore. At first I only wanted to do it in the hall on the side, but in the end it turned out that I can still get involved completely – also because I was already well connected in the scene.
How easy was the decision for you?
I gave myself two more weeks to do it because it was a life decision that 99 percent of people advised me to finish college with. Of course it’s a commitment, but I’m making a dream come true. I see every day now that it’s exactly what I always wanted – even when it’s stressful. Winning on Allstars makes it perfect because we’ll be opening now shortly after it airs.
This means that in Ninja you have not only found the sport you have always been looking for, but also your job.
It’s a funny twist, but I also contributed a lot. I’ve done a lot in recent years that at first glance didn’t do me any good. Once I rebuilt the entire aluminum truss in Benni and Arleen’s garden without training on it. I learned a lot that helps me now – apart from the fact that I like to do them both a favour.
I was also extremely busy with the matter, watched all the seasons from the USA and Germany. At the end of 2019 I started building obstacles myself and was allowed to hang them in the hall at Christian Balkheimer’s. My father was then happy that he could teach me the craft that had never interested me before.
Do you think that this ambition brought you your first title now?
If you have talent, which I already bring with me because I’ve been doing some kind of sport all my life, and then put a lot of energy into it, it can almost only be good. I just used that. I wasn’t satisfied with just confirming my achievements.
There are a few people who always make it to the final, but always fail in almost the same place. They all have the potential to win the show. It is always crucial how you approach the matter. I’ve been going full throttle since 2019, didn’t stop when I could swing well because I wanted to swing perfectly.
Where are you headed with this attitude in the next regular season of Ninja Warrior Germany?
I probably won’t be that badass in season 7 because I don’t have much time to train right now. But I also know that I will be fighting for the title in season 8 because I will be so fit if everything goes well. I’ll be physically able to retrieve the thing. I know what I have to train for. In my hall I can build my own obstacles and work on compensating for my weaknesses. That takes me to the next level.
The conversation was conducted by Maike Falkenberg