Firefighter Challenge 2022
Participants from around the world compete for ‘Toughest Firefighter Alive’
Four-day event featured teams from Brazil, Germany, South Africa, the U.K, and across Saudi Arabia.
Aramco’s Fire Protection Department hosted its annual Firefighter Challenge recently at the iconic King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) tower. The challenge showcased the remarkable abilities of our protective heroes, and for the first time, firefighters from all over the world joined the battle to become “Toughest Firefighter Alive”.
Aramco president and CEO Amin Nasser inaugurated the event, and took the opportunity to recognize Aramco’s winners at the Firefighters World Games 2022 in Portugal, represented by gold medal winner Abdulrahman S. Khurayji. Also supporting the competition was senior vice president of HR and Corporate Services Nabeel A. Al-Jama’, and vice president of Safety and Industrial Security Aali M. Al-Zahrani.
The four-day event comprised of hotly contested challenges between international, local, and Aramco divisional teams, including those from Brazil, Germany, South Africa, and the U.K., as well as Civil Defense, Aramco Joint Venture companies, the Saudi Electricity Co. and more.
Firefighters overcame real life obstacles with phenomenal speed and skill. Scaling a three-meter wall was made to look easy, for example, and competitors took dragging a 50 to 70 kg dummy for between 40 and 70 meters in their stride. The crowd was awed by displays of strength that pushed boundaries.
This event is part of our continuous effort to have our mindset and body strength ready to protect lives and save assets at all times.
— Aramco firefighter Faisal H. Al-Dalbahi
“Our performance during the competitions is a reflection of our non-stop daily training for our duty … saving lives and protecting assets is the key motivation for us,” Al-Dalbahi added.
Marie C. Schumann, a volunteer firefighter from Germany, was named the stair run winner for the International Female Challenge. “Helping and rescuing others with the team is something I always wanted to do. After my day job, and in my free time — even in the middle of the night — I’m ready to respond,” she said.
Jens Lüdeke, a passionate firefighter from Germany, agreed with Schumann’s sentiment: “I have been part of different firefighter championships since 2010, and the toughness of these competitions make us healthier and keep us going.”
In addition to the heroism on display, parades of firetrucks (some even offering a ride), food vendors, and the opportunity to try on protective clothing and tackle simulated fires kept audiences entertained.
In addition to the firefighters challenge, there was another challenge for the children, comprising of entertaining awareness and firefighting tasks. The program attracted many participants and was extended, as per the direction of the CEO.
The Toughest Firefighter Alive (TFA)
Male Category
• 1st Place — Jens Ludeke (Germany) – 5 mins 6 secs.
• 2nd Place — Jonn Leonard (United Kingdom) 5 mins 26 secs.
• 3rd Place — Adnan Qatifi (Saudi Arabia) 5 mins 27 secs
Female Category
• 1st Place — Sara Gomez (Brazil) 6 mins 33 secs.
• 2nd Place — Clara Seo (Brazil) 6 mins 44 secs
• 3rd Place — Maariyah Baigham (South Africa) 7 mins 52 secs
National Toughest Firefighter Alive (TFA) 20+yrs Category
• 1st Place — Husain Al Yami (Northern Remote Area)
• 2nd Place — Nawaf Kadi (Western Region)
• 3rd Place — Abdullah Alaryani (Saudi Aramco)
National Toughest Firefighter Alive (TFA) 30+yrs Category
• 1st Place — Mansour Dossary (ABQ Division)
• 2nd Place — Mutiq ALSubbaiy (Saudi Aramco)
• 3rd Place — Abdullah Halawani (Western Region)
National Winners (Feel the Burn 2022)
• 1st Place — Saudi Aramco
• 2nd 2nd Place — Civil Defense
• 3rd Place — SATORP
Aramco Fire Protection Department (Winners)
• 1st Place — Northern Remote Area
• 2nd Place — Western Region Division
• 3rd Place — Udhailiyah Division
International Winners (Stair Run Challenge-Male)
• 1st Place — Jens Ludeke (Germany)
• 2nd Place — Fahad Jaafri (Saudi Aramco)
• 3rd Place — Emile Conrad (South Africa)
International Winners (Stair Run Challenge) Female
• 1st Place — Marie Schumann (Germany)
• 2nd Place — Sara Gomez (Brazil)
• 3rd Place — Clara Seo (Brazil)