“It’s just a complete honor to be representing Mexican young girls and I get to inspire those girls and it’s a priceless type of experience for sure.”
As Hispanic Heritage Month began last Tuesday, UTRGV student Gloria Sophia Orta premiered, alongside other Valley competitors, on NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior”.
The NBC show consists of a competition in which athletes from across the country compete in rounds of obstacle courses to “earn” $100,000 and the title of American Ninja Warrior.
The 20-year-old explains what it felt like to get the call informing her that she will be the first female Ninja from Brownsville and Matamoros.
“There wasn’t going to be a season, because you know [COVID-19] and all this like there’s no season this year,” Orta said. “Then super randomly they called me and I was bawling my eyes out. I have the video and it was just ridiculous.”
Orta competed alongside Holly Cavazos and Abel Gonzalez, her coach from AXIOS Warrior Academy in Mission. She credits Gonzalez for pushing her to apply for the show.
“My coach, Coach Able, this is actually his eighth year competing on ‘American Ninja Warrior’ so he’s really good and he’s super well known and it was just an honor to be able to be mentored by him and so that’s kind of how I got started,” she said.
The UTRGV psychology junior says the show has allowed her to become an inspiration for younger generations of Latinas.
“This is for them,” Orta said. “It’s not about me anymore, it’s about them. Just thinking about who you’re doing it for, who you’re representing. That’s going to get you through absolutely everything because you realize there’s a much bigger picture than just yourself.”
Orta was born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and immigrated to the U.S. at six-years-old. Her father Francisco Orta says that the announcement was a “mix of feelings” for himself.
“Yes, I was choked [up] but at the same time not so much surprised because I’ve seen it early as her father,” Francisco said. “I know what she’s been through in her life, all her efforts and dedication and discipline in different sports, in activities, and in general in life.”
Orta plans to continue her education to obtain a master’s degree and work on projects to serve U.S. immigrants. The athlete also plans on competing again on “American Ninja Warrior” in future seasons.
To see Orta’s full obstacle course run, visit NBC.com/americanninjawarrior.
FOR VAQUERO NEWS, I’M JUSTIN ELIZALDE.
