FLORES PLACES AT OBSTACLE WORLDS

PRESS RELEASE – Ninja Warrior, Rai Flores, made a huge splash at the 2025 Obstacle World Championships in Beijing, China, winning a bronze medal at the event this past weekend.  Obstacle Course Racing combines running with challenging physical obstacles.  

Flores competed in the 100-meter, 400-meter, and 3000-meter events, winning a bronze medal in the 3000-meter 17 and under division.  He posted the 3^rd fastest time for the 17 and under division 400-meter event, finishing 4^th during the medal round.  Flores entered the Elite Division for the 100-meter event, made the world finals, winning his quarterfinal match up against the Philippine competitor.  He was eliminated during the semi-final by reigning world champion Luke Beckstrand from the U.S., who would go on to retain his title, with Flores finishing 7^th overall.

No stranger to international competition, Flores made the National Finals at the Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association World Championships in Dallas, Texas this past July.  He was also selected to compete in the American Ninja Warrior Season 18 Competition with episodes scheduled to air spring of 2026.  

Trained by Guam’s own Ninja Warrior, Deren Perez, owner of Guam’s first Ninja athlete gym, Guma I Sindalu Siha ninja gym, Flores attributes a lot of his success to the guidance and training from Perez.  “American Ninja Warrior and world championships would still be a dream if Deren didn’t bring Ninja to Guam and guide me through the journey. I give my deepest thanks to him as my coach, my friend, and my island brother.”   

Flores competed as a representative of the Guam Modern Pentathlon Federation, (GMPF), a new organization under the Guam National Olympic Committee.  Obstacle Course Racing has replaced Equestrian horseback riding in the Modern Pentathlon and will be fully integrated into the sport during the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.  The Guam Ninja Association, which falls under the GMPF, has been integral in developing Ninja and Obstacle Course Racing world-class athletes.   

GMPF President Katrina Perez stated, “Our mission is to give our athletes the platform they deserve — to showcase their abilities and remind the world that Guam’s talent runs deep and we are so proud of Rai.”

Andrew Collings President of Oceania Modern Pentathlon Confederation and World Pentathlon executive board member stated: “It was amazing to have Guam as the newest member of Oceania represented at the world championship.  Rai competed incredibly well across all events and was a great ambassador for both Guam and Oceania. A highlight for me was to present him with a bronze medal for the U17 3000-meter. I look forward to seeing Rai compete in future events.” 

Flores stated that “Seeing who I’ve become, you wouldn’t guess how much I sucked when I started about 3 years ago. However, if you see the effort we trained with in Deren’s backyard- you would realize how much more we can achieve. Having the new Guma I Sindalu Siha ninja gym can boost learning faster than ever before, and I hope more kids, teenagers, and adults see this opportunity and give it a shot like I did; you never know where these paths can take you until you start.”