Almost 30 years and 6,000 miles separated Dan Yager from his roots.

Now, after reconnecting with his biological family from across the world, the Fort Collins salon owner credits an unlikely source for speeding up their reunion: the NBC show "American Ninja Warrior."

Yager, a 34-year-old rock climber, has competed on the show since 2015 and most recently advanced to the city finals, beating out 103 other qualifying round contestants in Denver to secure the second-fastest obstacle course time in an episode that aired July 17.

In that same episode, a Korean translator stood on the sideline with Yager's wife, Sherri, and their two young children. In the translator's hands was an iPhone and on its screen was Yager's biological father, Facetiming into the event after a years-long search for his son.

Yager was adopted from South Korea by Colorado couple Ray and Cherie Yager in 1988, when he was 5 years old.

He grew up in Colorado, calling Conifer, Lakewood and Littleton home at various points. Thirteen years ago — around the time his biological father's search for his son began — Yager moved to Fort Collins, where he and his wife run Old Town's Namaste Salon.

"As a kid, growing up, I had always wanted to eventually search for my dad, but I wanted to wait until I was mature enough to handle that," Yager said. "As I got older, I kind of lost interest. I didn't feel like I had a hole to fill. I was happy. I was fulfilled."

But last spring, Yager's parents received an email from the agency they adopted Dan through. It was vague but told the family they were trying to locate a male adoptee who was adopted out of South Korea in 1988.

Around the same time — as the agency was confirming Yager's identity — Yager's half sister was able to connect with him on Facebook. She and Yager's father still live in South Korea.

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"My dad wasn't watching TV and saw me (on the show) or anything," Yager said. "But (through 'American Ninja Warrior') I became a searchable figure."

Yager, who was encouraged to try out for the show by friend and fellow competitor Noah Kaufman, is part of the Wolfpack Ninjas pro team — an elite group of rock-climbing Ninja Warrior contestants.

"Because of my successes on 'American Ninja Warrior,' I became a name that was higher profile," Yager told the show. "... Because of that, (my father) was able to search and find me."

Yager's father and half sister flew to Fort Collins to meet him in September.

"They came and stayed with us in our house and we were packed in there, all sitting around the table," Yager said. "... Despite the language barrier, it all felt oddly natural.”

Now, as he continues to compete on "American Ninja Warrior," the show serves as a fun tie for the family.

"They think it’s cool," Yager said of his family's feelings toward the show. "It’s a neat thing to connect us and share."