Tough enough

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This article was published 26/07/2023 (803 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jeff Schirr won the gruelling Toughest Competitor Alive (TCA) event a year ago at the 2022 World Police and Fire Games in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and now has a chance to repeat in his hometown.

Those that dare challenge for the moniker of Toughest Competitor Alive, must complete eight different events in a single day.

Competitors compete in the following events in order: five-km run, shot put, 100m dash, 100m swim, 20-foot rope pull, bench press, pull-ups and an obstacle course.

Specialization in one or two of the events at the cost of another can be problematic for participants.

“It’s tough, you can’t just train all year round for being an endurance runner because then you’re not going to be super strong on the strength aspects,” said Schirr.

“You need to figure out a training strategy that basically encompasses all those training modalities that allows you to be this totally functional athlete.”

Schirr puts himself through the intensive training for the TCA because the event requires many of the same skills he needs as a first responder.

“The reason why I like it is because it basically applies so well to the first responder world, that’s what the public expects us to ultimately be able to do, to be that functional person that’s going to be able to help them.”

Schirr is a member of the Manitoba RCMP Emergency Response Team. He and his colleagues are expected to help people in some of the most difficult situations.

“We are a specialized team that prioritizes anything that is extremely high risk, such as things that involve firearms, things that involve barricaded people,” said Schirr.

The reigning gold medallist says he never thought he would get the chance to compete in the WPFG in his hometown and encourages the public to come out and watch the different sports and events taking place across the city.

“It’s special in so many ways,” he said. “I feel like I want to take this opportunity to be able to bring the city of Winnipeg as much as I can to see these events.”

Schirr wants folks to come out and see the games because it is an opportunity for the public to see police officers, firefighters and first responders in a different light than they are accustomed to seeing them. He hopes the environment of the WPFG could even encourage conversations between the public and individuals they normally see in uniform.

“You take that uniform off that individual and they are still the same person they are still a first responder, but now that you have taken that uniform off of them maybe that makes them a little bit more approachable.”

Before he sets foot on the track at the University Stadium at the U of M for his five-km run, Schirr has an important role to play at the opening ceremonies Friday night at Canada Life Centre. To kick off the games, Schirr and two other competitors, will rappel from the rafters of the building.

“I’m hoping it’s going to be pretty exciting for people, anything to build up that hype and excitement for the games… hopefully I don’t get tangled up as I’m coming down, that would be non-optimal,” he said with a chuckle.

The Winnipegger is also passionate about giving back to his community. Schirr organized a “Charity Pull-up Challenge” station at the RCMP booth in the World Police & Fire Games Trade Show at the RBC Convention Centre. Competitors at the games can pay five dollars to attempt as many pull-ups as they can with the proceeds going to the Special Olympics and the Wounded Warriors foundations.

“It was just something fun that we could do and apply it in a good direction. It was my very small piece that I could do to give back, I am super lucky to have a good team behind me, they were like, ‘This is a great idea we’re going to help you’ and they have.”

The booth has been up since Wednesday morning and will continue to run until Saturday.

donald.stewart@freepress.mb.ca