'Titanium Woman' Zoe Featonby is back for Ninja Warrior

This year Canberra's 'Titanium Woman' Zoe Featonby is heading back onto the obstacle course with the top 18 firmly in her sights.

Featonby had a strong start on the reality show's gruelling course last year, making it to the fourth obstacle before going, "for a bit of a swim too early".

"At the time I was super excited, I had so much fun. I felt very privileged to have been on the course and I heard that a lot of people fell earlier so I was pretty estatic that I sot that far. I was probably more disappointed later on when I found out that I finished 19th and missed out by one spot going into semis," she said.

"But it just started the fire in the belly and has driven me to come back and train harder and hopefully go bigger this year".

Featonby earned the name 'titanium woman' due to the titanium rod and five screws in her spine, inserted as part of an anterior fusion to correct severe scoliosis as a teenager.

Before season one, most of Featonby's training was pole dancing with some weight training thrown in. This year she's been more strategic, adding gymnastics, and bouldering to improve her grip strength.

"I've never done gymnastics in my life but I figured you're never too old to start," said Featonby.

"One of the semi-finalists from last year also has a facility in Canberra, so I've been training with him and just working on different skills. And then I've been bouldering at BlocHaus. The rock climbers did so well last year so you'd be crazy not to imitate their training."

Based on a concept from Japan, the Ninja Warrior franchise has spread to 20 countries, and the show pits contestants against a giant obstacle course.

Season two of Australian Ninja Warrior starts on Sunday July 8, and will have a mix of new contestants, plus those like Featonby who want a second stoush with the challenging course.

"I feel more pressure this year to perform. I think the expectation is definitely on the returning Ninjas because we know what we're in for. The new ninjas probably have their own expectations but in terms of the general public, they have that expectation that you should do better than last year because you've had 12 months to train," said Featonby.