USA Ninja Challenge’s collaboration with USA Pentathlon Multisport is creating exciting new opportunities for young athletes while increasing visibility for the sport and strengthening franchise growth.
By USA Ninja Challenge
The evolution of Olympic sports rarely sees such dramatic changes as the recent replacement of equestrian show jumping with Ninja racing in the Modern Pentathlon Multisport. At USA Ninja Challenge, we’re proud to be at the forefront of this historic transformation through our partnership with USA Pentathlon Multisport. This collaboration is more than just a strategic alliance — it marks a fundamental shift in how youth athletics connects to the Olympic movement.
Our partnership, which began in late 2023, emerged from a chance meeting at a competition where our paths crossed with Kevin Montford, who is the CEO of USA Pentathlon Multisport. From that initial connection, we recognized the potential to create a win-win situation that would benefit both organizations while supporting the Olympic movement. As leaders in youth Ninja programming, we understood that this partnership could revolutionize how young athletes approach their training and competitive goals.
The collaboration has already yielded significant results. Through our internal competition structure, we developed a successful fundraising program that generated $10,000 in support for USA Pentathlon Multisport. This initiative provided crucial funding for Olympic training while helping educate the public about Pentathlon and its evolution as an Olympic sport. Many Americans are familiar with Decathlon but have limited knowledge about Pentathlon and its five distinct disciplines. More importantly, few understand that Olympic sports in our country rely entirely on private funding and support.
Working closely with Kevin, we’ve developed a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond traditional fundraising. We’re launching a new donation platform that will offer Pentathlon-branded merchandise co-branded with both organizations’ logos. These items — jackets, shirts and patches — will help raise awareness and excitement for Ninja racing’s Olympic future while giving young athletes a tangible connection to their aspirations.
This collaboration arrives at a crucial moment as Ninja racing prepares to make its Olympic debut as part of the Modern Pentathlon Multisport at the 2028 Games. Having witnessed the cyclical surge in gymnastics enrollment following each Olympics, we anticipate a similar phenomenon for Ninja sports. By strategically positioning ourselves ahead of this milestone, we’re helping our franchisees prepare for increased enrollment and community interest. This timing allows our gyms to establish themselves as premier training facilities before the expected wave of Olympic-inspired enthusiasm.
Our partnership focuses on developing dedicated training centers for our instructors across the country. By investing in these facilities, we’re enhancing the quality of instruction while strengthening our network of Ninja gyms nationwide.
The educational component of our partnership cannot be overstated. Our organization is taking a leading role in helping both athletes and parents understand the Olympic pathway. We’re providing guidance on proper Olympic terminology and branding, ensuring compliance with International Olympic Committee standards while maximizing the promotional benefits for our franchisees. This knowledge sharing extends to our entire network, enabling our gyms to speak authoritatively about the Olympic movement and their role within it.
As we continue to develop this partnership, our focus remains on promoting Ninja sports as a whole. We’ve learned valuable lessons from our experience in gymnastics — that our true competition isn’t other Ninja gyms but rather the myriad of alternative sports and activities vying for youth participation. This perspective has shaped our collaborative approach to growing the sport, encouraging networking and mutual support among Ninja facilities regardless of their affiliation.
For our franchisees, this Olympic connection represents a significant opportunity for business growth and community impact. The partnership elevates Ninja training from an exciting recreational activity to a legitimate path toward Olympic achievement. This enhanced credibility helps attract new customers while providing existing members with clear goals and advancement opportunities. Additionally, the partnership opens doors for special events, training clinics and competitions that can generate additional revenue streams while strengthening community ties.
One of the most exciting aspects of our partnership is its role in developing fundamental athletic skills. Ninja training encompasses crucial elements like balance, agility, flexibility, core strength and grip strength — skills that translate to success in virtually every sport. This comprehensive physical development makes our programs valuable for aspiring pentathletes as well as any young athletes seeking to build a strong foundation for their athletic career.
The future of Ninja sports has never been brighter, and USA Ninja Challenge is proud to lead the way in partnership with USA Pentathlon Multisport. Together, we’re not just training athletes — we’re helping to write the next chapter in Olympic history. As we approach the 2028 Games, our collaboration will continue to evolve, creating new opportunities for athletes, franchisees and communities across the nation. This partnership represents more than just a business alliance; it’s a commitment to the future of sport and the development of tomorrow’s Olympic athletes.