Ninja athletes, Rai Flores and Deren Perez, stood tall on the podium for Guam at the O-Zone Games obstacle course competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this past weekend with Flores taking 1st place and Perez claiming 3rd in the open division, besting athletes from 10 countries.  The event, hosted by O-Zone Fitness gym, in conjunction with Asia Obstacle Course Championship 2025, is an annual obstacle course championshipand fitness expo that brings the best Ninja athletes from throughout Asiaand the Pacific together for head-to-head competition. 

In 2023, Perezwon the O-Zone Games open division and in 2024, Flores won the rookiedivision.  Perez, owner of the newly opened, Guma I Sindalu Siha ninja gym and holder of multiple national and international titles, has coached Flores for the past 3 years.

Perez and Flores made the national finals this past July at the Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association World Championships in Dallas, Texas. Additionally,the island will be able to see their ninja skills in action,as theywere both selected to compete on American Ninja Warrior Season 18, which airs spring 2026.

Flores, who just earned a bronze medal at the Obstacle Course Racing World Championships in Beijing, China, has enjoyed the international travel and competing against the best in the world.  “I have hadcountless unseen failures and unknown victories, and finally I’ve found recognition as a champion.  From representing Guam at world finals in the U.S. and China, to American Ninja Warrior, and now on top of the podium, Deren and I have proven Guam’s strength and CHamoru spirit on the world.  My success is always rooted with my familia, and I have ambitions to spread Ninja sports across our island.”

Perez, an active-dutymember of the Coast Guard, was the 2024 Coast Guard Male Athlete of the Year, and continues to compete, win, and coach his Ninja athletes to top national and international finishes.  “Sharing the podium with one of my students is such an amazing feeling. This solidifies the quality in my mentorship and training program. I am beyond proud to have one of my students evolve into a friend and fellow training partner. We can now reach new heights together, heights that I was unable to achieve alone.”