NINJA WEDDING
Ben and Olivia open up about their future
They’ve tackled warped walls and power towers together and while Ben Polson may have conquered the almighty Mount Midoriyama (the first person in Australian Ninja Warrior history to do so), the show’s grand finale was the perfect ending for the athlete and girlfriend Olivia Vivian.
“This year it couldn’t have played out much better,” Vivian, 31, tells WHO. “Secretly, it would’ve been better if I won. But to end up in the top two spots and race off in that power tower, that was just incredible.”
So, now that their Ninja Warrior dreams have come true, could an engagement be on the cards for the athletic lovebirds?
“At the moment we’re just focusing on being with one another and seeing what blossoms from that,” Polson, 27, coyly answers when WHO broaches the topic.
Vivian adds that while an engagement is a little way off yet, she’s totally committed to Polson. “We really are just so happy,” she says. “Especially now! It’s great to be with someone who just gets you and gets your world. We’re in a really good place right now.” Here, the couple chat about overcoming obstacles and the future ahead …
Ben, how does it feel to be the first to complete the course?
It feels bloody fantastic. For me, winning the show wasn’t about what I’ll receive, it’s more about what I’ve become over the journey. I got bullied a lot in high school and it took away a lot of my confidence. It took a long time to build that back up and Ninja Warrior really helped.
Olivia, you’re the only woman to make it to the grand final in Australia (three times, no less!). How does that feel?
The show has given me a much larger purpose, in the sense that it gave me this platform to help inspire other females and other young girls – strong is sexy!
You must be so proud of each other!
VIVIAN We’re so invested in each other’s success. When I splashed out and my journey was over, to then watch Ben complete stage three, I felt so proud and happy for him that I almost forgot about what I’d done that night.
How do you support each other while also competing?
POLSON I’m not going to lie, when Olivia beat me last year there was definitely an element of my ego being crushed inside. This year, I had to climb the mountain in order to beat her! So there’s always going to be a little back and forth, but the majority of the time it’s always a positive thing. If one of us succeeds, we both do.
What’s next for you professionally?
VIVIAN We’ve put together an online Ninja course, The Ninja Blueprint. We want to help kids reach their full potential.
And what’s next for you guys as a couple?
POLSON Ninja Warrior is a big part of our lives, but there’s also a huge side to us off-camera. I’d love to travel and see Japan and Egypt … This whole experience has been great, but it would also be nice to have some time away from the Ninja hype – until it comes around again next year.
“We love each other ...” – POLSON