American Ninja Warrior competitor Chad Riddle returns to honor his late wife — hitting the buzzer with her memorial stone
The stone is made from the ashes of his wife, Caitlin. Before his July 20 run, the educator and father passed it to their son, Aaron, so she could be there too — then carried it to the buzzer on August 3.
Santa Fe, N.M., (July 30, 2026) — When three-time American Ninja Warrior competitor Chad Riddle stepped onto the Season 18 course in an episode that aired July 20, he was not competing alone. He’s a dedicated obstacle course racer who has traveled across the United States competing for more than 15 years. During that run, he carried a stone made from the cremated remains of his wife, Caitlin, who died in 2024.
Before the run, Riddle placed the stone in the hands of the couple’s son, Aaron, so his late mother could be part of the moment, keeping the promise he made to Caitlin that he would return to the course and run again. An educator for 16 years and a motivational speaker, Riddle has spoken openly about grief while raising Aaron on his own, sharing stories of resilience with educators and community audiences.
“It’s an opportunity to just soak in a memory that I shared with her.” said Chad Riddle.
Riddle’s return caps more than a decade in the sport:
- He first competed in Season 6 and returned for Season 10, earning the nickname the “Kindergarten Ninja.”
- On July 20, he powered through a hard hit on the Greased Lightning obstacle before falling at the Cubes.
- Navigating some of the toughest physical and mental challenges in the sport, he has built a message of perseverance, resilience, and overcoming adversity.
- In 2026, Chad partnered with Parting Stone, the company that created Caitlin’s solidified remains, to help more people learn about the service and its impact. As part of the partnership, Parting Stone contributed to his son’s college fund in June 2026 and compensated Chad for his support.
Riddle’s run resonated on the broadcast, with one American Ninja Warrior commentator capturing the moment: “Aaron running down to watch with his grandparents, he’s giving mom the best seat in the house. Wow. It’s just beautiful.”
Riddle’s Season 18 journey continued on Aug. 3, when he pressed the buzzer with Caitlin’s memorial stone in hand, carrying her across the finish one more time. Watch him hit the buzzer on Aug. 3 here, and revisit his emotional July 20 run here.
Learn more about Parting Stone at partingstone.com.
About Chad Riddle
Chad Riddle is a three-time American Ninja Warrior competitor and obstacle course racer who has competed across the U.S. for more than 15 years. For the past 16 years he has also worked as a teacher, principal, and motivational speaker, sharing stories of perseverance, resilience, and navigating grief with educators, corporate teams, and community audiences. He is a devoted father to his son, Aaron. Learn more at chadriddle.com.
About Parting Stone
Parting Stone pioneered solidified remains, a new form of remains for families choosing cremation. Instead of ashes, families receive a collection of 40–80+ smooth stones. Funeral home partners offer the choice during arrangements by asking, “Would you like ashes or stones?” Since 2019, Parting Stone has served more than 13,000 families. The company is headquartered in Santa Fe, N.M. For more information, visit partingstone.com.
