Taiwan firefighters continue medal haul at World Police & Fire Games in U.S.

Taipei, July 3 (CNA) Taiwanese firefighters won four golds, a silver and two bronzes on Wednesday, to bring Taiwan's medal haul at this year's World Police & Fire Games (WPFG) in Birmingham, Alabama, to 39 so far.

The medals put Taiwan at sixth place currently behind the United States, Brazil, India, Canada and Spain.

On the fifth day of the biennial event, there were golds for swimmer Chen Sin-hua (陳信樺), who came first in the men's 30-34 50-meter breaststroke, and weightlifter Lin Kuan-yi (林冠儀) in the men's over-35 83 kilogram bench press.

Chen completed 50m with a time of 29.81 to beat out his other firefighting competitors to take Taiwan's first medal in swimming.

According to Chen, while 2025 was his third time participating in the WPFG, the year was also his first time competing in six years.

As such, he was quite nervous competing at the event, but added that he was also happy to get the opportunity to swim against his peers from other nations.

Meanwhile, Liao Kun-ti (廖坤帝) won silver in the men's over-35 105 kg bench press.

The bronze medals were won in the bench press men's over-18 bracket in the same weight class by Lee Hsin-yeh (李欣曄) and also in the 30-34 year-old men's discus by Liu Yu-chung (劉又中).

Two additional gold medals were won in the demanding Ultimate Firefighter team category by firefighters of the "Taiwan Pioneers" team.

Taiwan Pioneers' Wednesday victory came on the back of combined efforts between Chang Wen-tsung (張溫宗), Cian Jheng-ruei (錢正叡), Chang Ying-hsi (張英熙) and Huang Shun-sheng (黃順生) in the men's 40-49 years old bracket.

Participants in the challenge must complete a series of strenuous tasks while fully equipped, including running with two 20-meter hose lines on their shoulders and an air cylinder on their backs.

They also carry hoses, climb a tower with weights and drag a 79-kilogram dummy across a 15-meter stretch while walking backward.

Taiwan Pioneers were named world champions in the event, which doubled as the U.S. Southeast Regional Classic with the Firefighter Challenge Championship Series.