Maggi Thorne has everything it takes to be an American Ninja Warrior: strength, grit, and determination. Over the years, we have seen her fight back time and time again, including last season when she had the best run of her career despite hitting her face on the Diving Boards. Maggi looked visibly shaken and was bleeding, but managed to keep going until her grip slipped on the Coconut Climb.

We later found out that Maggi actually got a concussion on the run, which unfortunately wasn’t her first brain injury.

“I remember the first time I watched the OKC City Finals run, it felt like watching someone else. It was one of the strangest feelings,” Maggi told ANWN. “I watched it first at a watch party in VA for the State Games of America with so many people around it felt like being on set, it was hard to settle into the moment. After I watched it alone in my hotel room, then again, and again and I have watched it about once a week since. Sometimes it’s to try and jog memories, sometimes to remind myself on the hard days that’s still who I am—a fighter, survivor, and overcomer.”

“As an athlete, I’ve trained myself to segment pain, and as a person, too. Truly, I could likely have broken my jaw or finger, etc. and the ATS team would have to drag me off the course. My heart is to fight on against all odds. This statement may make some queasy or eyes are rolling faster than a teenager rolling IG, but it’s who I am and I will never shy away from it. The message God put in my heart since day one of why I wanted to compete on Ninja Warrior came to life....inspire people to Never Give Up,” she said.

Recovering from a Traumatic Brain Injury

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) defines a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a “disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury.” It can happen to anyone, and “effects of TBI can include impairments related to thinking or memory, movement, sensation (e.g., vision or hearing), or emotional functioning (e.g., personality changes, depression).”

Maggi admitted the recovery process can be difficult. “I hate it,” she said, “but embrace it. When we face hardship it doesn’t mean we have to like it—we can accept it without affection for the moments, but we DO choose if the next steps are a process of transformation, declaration, and willingness to enter the journey....or stay stuck.”

For eight hours a week over the last seven months, Maggi has received treatment at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital’s Traumatic Brain Injury Program. “Never Give Up has so many meanings,” she said. “This year I had to really hear my own words because I wanted to give up during recovery. In July, I told the rehab team in the most casual tone possible I was on the verge of an emotional breakdown. They didn’t know how to take it the way I said it, but it was such a moment of vulnerability to feel so ‘weak,’ but that was one of my greatest moments of strength to ask for help, to tell people I wasn’t doing ok and needed more help.”

She explained that a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is often called an invisible illness because people look “fine” on the outside, even though they are barely holding it together on the inside. “This week, for a fifth time, my recovery was extended because of the issues that remain with my vision. Short if it, my eyes do not work together and the vision rehab days lay me out for not just the rest of that day, but sometimes the day after or the rest of that week. It is a battle I WILL keep fighting, will not give up on and will win, but I have no timeline anymore for it.”

The Decision to Leave American Ninja Warrior

“On the morning of September 11th of this year, the day after my TBI rehab was extended a third time, I called the producers to let them know I was not coming back for season 12,” she said. “It was a huge weight lifted to actually say it, but painful at the same time to see the reality before me and continue to wrestle with walking away from Ninja Warrior and competitive sports in general (honestly it was a dream to be in the Titan Games, too—that slipped away as well). As usual, Anthony Storm was so kind and noted I am always welcome around, the producers have done a great job of making us feel cared for and like family. The reality is I cannot risk another hit to my head like what happened in OKC finals in the next year and if I have to choose being a fun, functional parent or on a TV show, being Mommy wins every time.”

That being said, “ANW has been and will be my family, the athletes, the staff, and especially the fans. Every time I was on set or that moment you take a peek at the audience when you are on the course, there is an overwhelming sense of gratitude... I’ve saved every single fan art, note, message and photo sent through the years and can’t tell you how often I have looked through all of these over the last year on hard days,” Maggi shared.

Her Advice for Future Ninjas

If you have a dream to become a Ninja, Maggi encourages you to “SHARE YOUR STORY and APPLY! ANW is family, an opportunity to love others through our shared passion of this beautiful blend of sport overcoming obstacles on and off a course. Never let anyone discourage you from what you know you are meant to do. This is YOUR story and nobody can steal the pen to what is being written, so keep after it and I can’t wait to cheer everyone on in their goals and dreams. I also want to express deep gratitude for everyone’s continued support, prayers, kind messages. I will in every way still be a part of the Ninja community, even starting off the first weekend in January at Movement Lab Ohio doing a Ninja Camp and more events will be released through the year!”

What’s Next for Maggi

Maggi explained that she hasn’t been able to balance her typical workload this year, so “first my kids are prioritized in my time with them, taking care of them and providing for them. As hard as it has been for us as a family, I’ve been really open with my kids about it, letting them come to appointments, they see me sick, they’ve seen my panic attacks and also, how to walk through these things, lean into the Lord, and allow others in. They pray over me daily to be healed (annnnd yes that includes Mommy being able to drive on long trips again to take them to a beach, lol). In general, so many people have been understanding and helped my kids and I through this. Thankfully of all of the things I’ve ‘lost’ this year, being able to speak, to encourage others remains and that has been a strong part of my life still.”

While we may not see her on American Ninja Warrior again, Maggi is continuing her mission of empowering and inspiring people to Never Give Up by speaking and attending events as her recovery allows. She launched a brand-new website at maggithorne.com to focus on three key areas in which she feels she can help others: Equip, Empower, and Encourage. She will also be releasing a series to help others train, come back from injuries, and build the mental toughness required to be a Ninja.

The bottom line for Maggi Thorne? “The TBI has FORCED balance in my life and eight months later the slower life is welcomed joyfully as a gift from God. I fully trust what God is going in my life and have SO MUCH JOY.”

For more information on TBI, Maggi shared the following resources: