Houston – Houston is no stranger to high-level competitors, and one of its brightest is Barclay Stockett known to fans as the Sparkly Ninja. She’s small but mighty with a fierce presence on the American Ninja Warrior course.
Fresh off season 17 and one day before she leaves for her honeymoon, Stockett joined Houston Life on Zoom to talk about the close-knit Ninja community, her recent wedding, and the excitement of competing in the 5th annual Women’s Championship.
She described the Ninja world as a global family explaining that her circuit takes her around the world testing obstacles and training with fellow athletes in places like Germany, Italy and France. Despite the international travel, Houston remains an important home base, and Stockett said she’s grateful for the local support that has followed her career.
Recently married in Hawaii, Stockett shared highlights from a ceremony with family and friends including fellow Houston-based teammates who attended. She and her wife plan a coastal honeymoon up the Pacific Coast Highway through California and Oregon, and they’ll even bring along their dog, Norrell.
Stockett is especially excited about the upcoming all-female episode: the 5th annual Women’s Championship airing on NBC. She called the lineup ‘‘powerhouses’’ and praised the visibility the special gives elite female athletes.
Beyond individual competition, Stockett and the community are working to elevate the sport. She mentioned ongoing efforts to grow Ninja into an Olympic discipline, and the international reach of competitions only underscores that ambition. For athletes like Stockett, the dream is to expand opportunities and inspire the next generation.
Watch Barclay and 17 other top athletes compete in the special annual Women’s Championship on NBC Monday at 7 p.m.