Australian Ninja Warrior contestant Melvin Solo on ‘weird’ filming conditions during coronavirus
A South Yarra Ninja Warrior contestant has revealed the lengths producers went to so contestants could be safe and the Channel 9 reality hit could keep filming during the coronavirus outbreak.
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An Australian Ninja Warrior contestant has revealed he and others had to use hand sanitiser before they tackled obstacles on the hit Channel 9 reality show.
But South Yarra’s Melvin Solo, 21, said using the liquid didn’t make his hands slippery or make him come unstuck on the challenging course.
“Luckily, the hand sanitiser was dry,” he said.
“They had all these guidelines we followed during the show, hand sanitiser stations near the course, and ensuring social distancing.
“It was weird but we knew we had a job to do … ultimately we were grateful they had protocols in place so we could run the course.”
The Channel 9 reality show, which returns on Sunday, had just begun filming at the Melbourne Showgrounds when the coronavirus outbreak hit in March.
It had an early scare when AFL legend Shane Crawford was rushed in to replace co-host Rebecca Maddern.
Madden self-isolated when her Weekend Today co-star Richard Wilkins tested positive for the virus, before she returned to the set later that month.
Solo, a Nandos chef and nursing student, arrived in Australia as a refugee from Liberia when he was six years old.
He said he was proud to make the cut after he unsuccessfully auditioned for the show last year, and did calisthenics and weights training as part of his rigorous preparation.
“As soon as I woke up I got training, every day for 12 months, no days off, three hours minimum a day,” he said.
Solo said he wanted to use his time on the show to make his family proud for the sacrifices they had made to move to Australia.
“They’ve seen me adapt to society and be a better person, do the basics and these small things,” he said.
“I’m making them prouder and prouder, and this is going to blow their minds.”
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