"American Ninja Warrior" is an individual competition that challenges elite athletes with a series of extreme obstacle courses requiring strength, speed, balance, stamina -- and a certain willingness to sacrifice their bodies -- until only the winner remains.
But two suburban firefighters have made a name for themselves on NBC's TV show by working as a team.
Aurora firefighter Dan Polizzi and Streamwood firefighter Brandon Mears have become known as "The Towers of Power" since they first met during a taping of the show's fifth season in 2013.
This year, for the first time, each made it to the national finals in Las Vegas during the same season. Their individual performances were taped in June for broadcast beginning Monday night.
The two friends train together, motivate each other and cheer for one another.