Medal haul for volunteer firefighter at international games
.jpg "John Mangrum (front row, second from left) with the Australian swim team at this year's games")
John Mangrum (front row, second from left) with the Australian swim team at this year's games
CFA member John Mangrum has represented Australia and brought home a haul of medals from the World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) in Alabama, US.
The WPFG are a biennial Olympic-style competition with thousands of athletes representing first responders from many countries across the world.
Competitors represent law enforcement, firefighters, and officers from corrections, probation, border protection, immigration, and customs.
There are typically over 60 sports in the program at the games ranging from swimming events to axe throwing.
John who is a member of Anakie Fire Brigade has been attending the games since 2019 and said he loves that he can combine his love of sport with being a firefighter.
"Sport is a way of life," he said.
"And being a firefighter is even better, I love it."
In Alabama, John competed in a number of swimming events including butterfly, backstroke, and the relay.
He also joined the South Australian Police Force dragon boating team, and even stood in for Canada and India in their teams.
Despite battling some health issues John has always bounced back and found great success at the games.
This year he bought home nine medals; three medals in Dragonboat Racing (two gold and one silver) and six medals in his swimming events (two gold, three silver and one bronze).
He said he loves the international community you are able to build through the games.
"I plan my travel based around where the games are," he said.
"It keeps me training and it keeps me fit but you also develop really strong friendships and you keep in touch throughout the year, and then you see each other at the games and it is really special."
John has always been passionate about sport, even having competed with the USA and he is in the pool seven days a week, but he said he also loves being a part of his local CFA brigade.
"When I moved here from the states in 2017 I knew I wanted to join up to give back to the community," he said.
Next year, John is heading to the World Firefighter Games in October in Saudi Arabia where he will again take on swimming events, indoor rowing, and the ultimate firefighter challenge which combines a large stair climb, hose carrying, dragging a dummy, a chainsaw carry, and sledgehammering wearing firefighting gear.