There are a few things that come to mind when fans think of the Arnold Sports Festival. Of course, he himself has Arnold Schwarzenegger. Next are Arnold Classic and Arnold Strongman Classic. Many consider these to be the top two weekend tournaments in Columbus, Ohio, with many fans from all over the world attending each year.
One competition that hasn’t received the attention it deserves is the competition for the strongest firefighters in the world. Schwarzenegger recognizes the courage and dedication of these civil servants, raises awareness of what they are doing, and offers the opportunity to achieve glory on one of the most spectacular stages in the fitness industry. We are hosting this contest in the hope that it will be. The seven-time Mr. Olympia is one of many events held each year and is a fan of the contest.
“I love giving them our stage and spotlight to show fans of the Arnold Sports Festival how strong these firefighters are,” Schwarzenegger said.
Six firefighters participated in the original competition, but it has grown significantly since then. “Arnold has always wanted to bring strength sports back to Muscle Beach,” explains contest organizer Noah Justin. “Now we are in Columbus. Our competitors have tripled and this time more countries have joined. The goal is to grow this every year.”
The 2022 contest was held on Sunday, March 6th at the Greater Columbus Convention Center and was attended by 16 firefighters from many locations around the world. The contest was fully streamed on Schwarzenegger’s Facebook page. All of these athletes trained, ate and did their best to prepare for this contest, using their community careers and the passion of civil servants.
One athlete, Cathal McNally, felt that the tournament was so important that he had to travel from Dublin, Ireland to attend the event.
“I’m very proud to be a firefighter (as is the case with all firefighters) and just last year started the Strongman sport,” McNally shared. “When I saw the advertisement for the strongest firefighter in the world, I realized that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent my fire brigade and my country on the international stage.”
The stage and spectators provided additional motivation and incentives to compete as well. McNally was 9th overall, but being in front of the crowd and knowing the special people at home was very meaningful to the firefighters.
“The other competitions I’ve done so far have been in the gym and in the parking lot. This was the main stage of the Arnold Expo, in front of thousands of people. The whole of my extended family I was able to go home and have a party and see me compete online. “
Athletes had to attend four events: log press for personnel, sandbag carry for distance, deadlift for personnel, and thread drag. The various events acted as a blend of both Strongman’s sport and the actual obligations firefighters may have to perform in extreme situations. The 2022 champion was Daniel Camacho of Phoenix, Arizona Fire Department. Camacho came in third on the log press, raising the £ 250 log overhead six times. He then took second place in the punching bag carry, carrying a 220-pound bag over 10 laps around the course.
Camacho then withdrew £ 525 in 11 iterations at the field’s second-most deadlift event. Two men have been tied up with twelve personnel. Last but not least, he took second place on a sled drag. He didn’t win the individual events, but the well-placed consistency in all four events gave him an overall victory.
- 1st – Daniel Camacho –58 points
- 2nd place – Brooks Larkin – 52 points
- 3rd place – Marcus War – 49.5 points
When asked about the decision to compete, Camacho revealed that when he decided to apply, he was about to end his 11-year strongman career.
“I actually saw the first one in 2019 when they had it in Santa Monica,” Camacho explained. “Since then, I’ve wanted the title for myself.”
He applied for it in 2020, but it was not accepted. He was clearly called for this year’s competition and was accepted two weeks before the competition. Camacho explained that the situation he and other competitors faced was quite different from the situation of competing full-time with a strongman to earn a living.
“We have to answer and there are long shifts. Here in Phoenix on a particular day, there can be 10 to 15 calls per shift,” says Camacho. “You may miss a meal, skip training, or not sleep before training. This is, of course, very important for recovery and essential health.”
But in the end it was worth it. Camacho moved from almost retiring to winning the entire contest on the Arnold stage in front of a packed house. He has received many messages and positive comments from his fellow firefighters and supporters, as well as media requests for interviews. Obviously, retirement is the farthest thing from his heart, and he says he’s already coming back in 2023 to defend his title.
“The way they treated us wasn’t like any other contest I went to. I met Arnold many times. His security and team took care of us. It was. I was the best stage I’ve ever had. Next year I’ll definitely be back to protect the title. “
The world’s strongest firefighters contest may have just started in the last few years, but if the 2022 contest was any sign, it’s definitely coming back in the next few years. Schwarzenegger said it best when asked why it was so important to hold this as part of his festival each year.
“I play action heroes in movies, but our firefighters and first responders are real action heroes,” he says.
