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By: Scotty Morgan
Sandy Zimmerman is a physical education teacher for Medical Lake School District. For 18 years she has been everywhere within the district, including coaching the high school’s women’s basketball team, for now you can primarily find her at Michael Anderson Elementary School, and on June 1st you can also find her on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior.
Zimmerman applied for American Ninja Warrior last year and in March 2016 she got the call that she would be on the show. She was having dinner with her husband, her 3 kids, and some friends and after dinner her phone rang with NBC telling her the good news.
“At first I was just obviously super excited,” Zimmerman said. “I told my kids I’m going to be on American Ninja Warrior. Once it came out of my mouth the reality set in and it was this mixture of excitement but I was so happy I was crying. All my hard work paid off as soon as I got the call.”
“It’s amazing a person from around here is doing American Ninja Warrior.” Said Lori Loggains, a colleague of Zimmerman. “It’s great!”
From the beginning of Zimmerman’s childhood she was faced with challenges, she grew up on welfare and was even in the foster care system.
“I know what it’s like to only have a tub of butter in your refrigerator.” Zimmerman said.
However, she never let that defeat her. She found her passion in sports, health, and in fitness and it motivated her to do better.
“From a really young age I started Judo and my dad wanted us to try every sport which was good you learn so much from sports and having the teachers and coaches around gave me hope,” said Zimmerman. “It made me believe that life can get better.”
Zimmerman maintained her passion in fitness and in health. Having a fitness routine that includes judo, basketball, and her homemade ninja course. She has always stayed in pretty good shape and even has a resting heart rate of 40.
“The ninja training has taken my routine to a whole nother level. I will often times pull two a days and do body weight circuits in the morning and then do obstacle course training in the evening,” Zimmerman said. “We actually built obstacle courses in our basement and in our backyard, but this ninja training is really intense, doing it 6 days a week you can get burnt out on it so I may still do body weight circuits in the morning and then go play basketball in the evening or do judo so that way it’s mentally and physically different.”
On top of her fitness regimens here in Spokane she has also traveled to Boise frequently to use ninja training gyms down there and compete in local ninja competitions.
“It’s very different being around other ninjas with a crowd watching and it kinda threw me off a little, you hear all these ripped and cut men and women say, “I’m a cage fighter and I own this gym and I train here” and all these crazy backgrounds and then it comes to me and I’m a P.E. teacher for an elementary school, I’m almost 40, I have 3 kids, and I train in my backyard.” Zimmerman said.
However, Zimmerman proved herself and faced her doubts head on by competing in 3 competitions down there. Winning first place, twice, and second place. Above all the ninja training, Zimmerman simply wants to inspire.
“My biggest motivation for wanting to do this is being told the biggest compliment you can ever get is that you’ve inspired somebody, this is just an amazing opportunity to just inspire tons of people,” Zimmerman said. “To just tell people to be their best and not just in physical health but in all aspects. When I got back from the show, I felt healthier mentally, and physically and I am just at a really good place.”
“I have known Sandy for 14 years. She is an amazing woman and mother. Sandy doesn’t do anything halfway. She puts in 150% on anything she takes on. I feel like she will do really well on American Ninja Warrior.” Said Brenda Baughman, also a colleague of Zimmerman.
Zimmerman remembers college and wants the student body of SFCC to strive for greatness and excellence.
“I remember college and that was another hurdle in my life that I had to get over. School was hard and it was such a struggle. But, if you find something you’re passionate about and that you want to make a difference in, let that be your motivation. Make a difference in somebody’s life.”
Zimmerman also runs a youth fitness program on the south hill at the Moran United Methodist Church on 65th and Freya every Saturday during the school year for kids K thru 6. It is a free activity and takes place in the church’s gymnasium.
Sandy Zimmerman on American Ninja Warrior airs June 1st on NBC.