Sam Sann is a 50 year-old man who came from Cambodia, then came to America after the former went communist. He owns a gym in Houston,Texas where many American Ninja Warrior competitors train on.
He first competed on American Ninja Warrior 4. His run was cut, but it was mentioned in the next season that he went out in qualifying on the Jump Hang.
He then competed in American Ninja Warrior 5 in the Denver qualifying region. In ANW 5, he breezed through the first four obstacles but suffered a leg injury after dismounting the Delta Bridge. He still managed to clear the Warped Wall on his first try and complete the qualifying course. In the Denver finals, he struggled with the Warped Wall taking him three attempts to clear it. Due to fatigue, Sam failed the very next obstacle, the Salmon Ladder. However, he was selected as a wildcard to Vegas. On the Vegas course, Sam cleared the first obstacle easily but had a terrible jump on the Giant Cycle and face-planted onto the platform.
He returned in American Ninja Warrior 6 with vengeance and cleared the Dallas qualifying course. On the finals course, Sam destroyed his nemesis but failed the very next obstacle, the Swinging Frames. This time though, Sam qualified for the Vegas finals, finishing in the 15th spot. On the first stage, Sam cleared the first obstacle with ease. But history repeated itself as Sam couldn't get a firm grip on the Giant Cycle causing him to fall into the water.
Sam Sann at the 2015 Houston finals.
Now with the success of his gym and a large fanbase, Sam competed in American Ninja Warrior 7 at the Houston qualifying region looking better than ever. Sam easily cleared the qualifying course and even kissed the top of the Warped Wall when he scaled it. In the Houston finals, Sam put on a ferocious, and emotional run. He took a slow, steady approach to the course and completed all 10 obstacles with finesse. Sam was one out of only two competitors to complete that whole finals course and automatically qualify to Vegas, and at 48 years of age, Sam stood as the second oldest competitor in ANW history to complete a city finals course. In the Vegas finals, however, Sam Sann's woes continued as he failed the second obstacle (the Propeller Bar) yet again.
Sam Sann competed in season 8 in Oklahoma Qualifying. He made it to the fourth obstacle, the Tire Swing, where he surprisingly fell on the dismount. He didn't made it to the top 30.
Sam was originally going to compete in San Antonio in ANW9, but due to an L5 disc injury on his back, he waited four more weeks to compete in Denver, buying him more time to recover from his back injury. Though he still wasn't 100%, he still was able to compete on the course. Sam once again fell in qualifying, this time being the Rail Runner, but was able to make the top 30, placing 26th. In the city finals, Sam's run was digested but it was shown that he was disqualified on the Paddle Boards for touching the center axis.
Sam again competed, this time in Dallas in ANW10. Although his run was all cut, it was revealed that he shockingly failed the Bouncing Spider, an obstacle that he was able to get past in Denver last season.
| ANW | # | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANW5 | 55 | Failed Giant Cycle (First Stage) | Qualified as wildcard |
| ANW6 | 5 | Failed Giant Cycle (First Stage) | |
| ANW7 | 20 | Failed Propeller Bar (First Stage) |