A contender with Colorado connections has become the first to win “American Ninja Warrior,” a physical contest so tough no winner had ever before been declared. Isaac Caldiero, born in Salt Lake City, and current resident of Las Vegas but identified on the air as from Ft. Collins, won the $1 million prize and became first contestant to win NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” over the show’s seven seasons. More than 3,500 athletes have competed since the series began in 2009.

Per NBC, Caldiero, a 33-year-old professional rock climber, scaled the course’s towering Stage 4 rope climb in 26.14 seconds, narrowly beating out fellow competitor Geoff Britten, who had reached the summit in 29.65 seconds just moments before. Both competitors achieved something that nobody has in prior seasons, which was to both reach and defeat the course’s Stage 4 obstacle.

According to his NBC bio, in addition to competing around the world, Caldiero has played an important role in the establishment and conservation of some the most nationally recognized climbing destinations, including the Buttermilks in Bishop, Calif., and both Joe’s Valley and Moe’s Valley in Utah. Caldiero currently lives in Las Vegas with his girlfriend, Laura Kisana who is also a competitor on the show.