Firefighters fly the Bitou flag high
PLETTENBERG BAY - Local firefighters kept the Bitou flag flying high with their exceptional performance at the Toughest Firefighter Alive competition held in Mossel Bay last week.
The Bitou team not only carried themselves well, but also brought home several awards. This competition is based on the international Toughest Firefighter Alive Challenge, which falls under the umbrella event of the World Firefighter Games (WFG). This year, more than 240 participants from different fire service institutions around South Africa demonstrated their fitness levels and skills.
"The team had fun and competed well with other teams while also behaving themselves very well throughout. They won the hearts of many at the games and brought back some of the awards that were on offer," Bitou's communications team said.
One of the winners was Nomawonga Grootboom, who participated in the competition for the first time. She not only won gold in her age category, but also walked away with the award for best newcomer. Grootboom, who is currently in her 14th year of service, said it took a lot of training, which she started at the beginning of the year. She is regarded as one of the strongest members of the team.
Her colleagues describe her as someone who does not speak much, but when she does, the team listens. "Her words usually lift the team when the chips are down."
Aliyaah Arnolds and Dazell Jacobs also won bronze medals in their age categories. Both were part of the female relay team who won silver medals in 2022.
Jacobs, who is in her ninth year of service
and did her fourth stint at the competition, was described by her team members as a dedicated team player who does not shy away from tough encounters. Arnolds, who is in her seventh year of service and completed her second performance at the competition, said her sports background played a role in her performance as a firefighter.
The Wittedrift High School alumnus represented her school in the 100m sprint during her school career.
Another bronze medal went to Nico Krigga. Krigga is an avid long-distance runner and a member of the Kurland Running Club. His colleagues described him as someone who lets his hard work speak for itself. The rest of the team consisted of a general mix of firefighters.