Modesty Reigns at ‘Toughest Competitor Alive’ Games

You might think winning a gold medal in a Toughest Competitor Alive competition would make you want to puff out your chest a little.

But one winner, Daniel Altruz of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said of his daylong athletic effort: “I was lucky today. Everybody trains hard.”

That sentiment was typical at the U.S. Police & Fire Championships this week in San Diego. Yes, it was about competition, but it was equally about camaraderie and support in a band of brothers (and sisters).

As entrants racked up pull-ups, they heard shouts of “I know that you have a few more in you,” “Do one more for your mother” and “One more, one more!”

Despite his modesty, Altruz dropped a few jaws when he completed 38 pull-ups.

On the final day of the multisport championships, a decathlon-style event decided “the toughest competitors alive” at Mt. Carmel High School.

But even a decathlon is limited to five events a day. This one had eight over an eight-hour period.

Starting at 7 a.m. and ending about 3 p.m., 26 entrants did a 5K run, shot put, 100-meter dash, 100-meter swim, 20-foot rope climb, bench press, pull-ups and an obstacle course. (See rules here.)

“Being an example for my growing kids is the most rewarding,” said Detective Natalie Plascencio, a 20-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department. “Love it, love to challenge myself, and I’m turning 42 this year.”

Plascencio competed in two events as part of a four-member team. She did the swim and shot put despite knee and back injuries.

Said Tony Encinas of the Vernon Police Department: “You’ve got to be in pretty good shape to do all of this events. It keeps me in good health and gives me a goal.”

The rope climb is often considered the toughest challenge in the competition. Participants weren’t able to use their feet as they climbed to the top of Mt. Carmel’s gym.

• Related: Run and Gun! Shooting for Medals at U.S. Police & Fire Games
  

But depending on a person’s conditioning and past experiences, some events were a little daunting.

Veronica Saucedo of LAPD said she nearly drowned during her team years and used the swim part of the competition to “overcome my swim issue.” She admitted to having “jitters” in the pool, but completed her 100-meter swim.

Medal winners Sunday in the various age groups (and weight categories) were:

Women 35+: Sarah Morrow, Jacksonville, Alabama Police Department
Women 30+: Veronica Salcedo, LAPD
Women 18+: Kristina Tudor, LAPD
Men 18+: Bradley Kamau, El Cajon Fire Department, gold; Matthew Castro, silver
Men 30+: Daniel Reyes, Nassau County Police Department
Men 30+ over 200 lbs.: Stephen Johnson, LAPD
Men 35+: Adam Loo, LAPD
Men 40+: Daniel Altruz, Los Angeles County Fire Department, gold; Zack Zamudio, Madera County Sheriff’s Department, silver; and Lewis Litwiler, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Department, bronze
Men 18+ over 200 lbs.: Louis Kinoshita, El Cajon Fire Department
Men 40+ over 200 lbs.: Douglas Tracy, Nevada Department of Public Safety, silver; Brian Kearns, West Covina Police Department, silver; and Anthony Encinas, Vernon Police Department, gold
Men 45+: Timothy Kearns, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, gold and Jason Herr, San Jose Police Department, silver
Men 50+: Andrew Castro, LAPD
Teams: Jake Cutting, El Cajon Police Department SWAT, and Kris Ulibarri, Santa Ana CHP, gold; and Matt Castro and Andrew Castro, silver
Mixed doubles: David Martinez, Buena Park Police Department and Melissa Tewell, gold; and Kristina Tudor, LAPD, and Adam Loo, LAPD, silver

Next up, in July, are the World Police & Fire Championships in Fairfax, Virginia.

Four-person team Kristina Tudor, Rick Santos, Natalie Plascencia and Stephen Johnson receive their awards

Louis Kinoshita of the El Cajon Fire Department receives his medal from Sgt. David Milkos.

An entrant pushes himself to another pull-up.

Melissa Tewell of the Buena Park Police Department, David Martinez of the Buena Park Police Department and Kristina Tudor of the LAPD receive mixed double team medals.

Sgt. David Miklos monitors competitors.

The tire obstacle was the last challenge in the course.

Andrew Castro, 51, of the LAPD was the oldest entrant and his son, Matt Castro, 27, also of the LAPD, was the youngest competitor.

Jason Herr of the San Jose Police Department sprints to a wall climb.

Lisa McKean of the SDPD competes in the rope climb.

Jorge Olivas of the Blackhawk Fire Department in Colorado traverses the monkey bars in the obstacle course.

Andrew Castro of the LAPD competes in the rope climb.

Kristina Tudor of the LAPD waits for the signal to lift.

Matt Castro of the LAPD drags a 165-pound dummy at the beginning of the obstacle course.

Doug Tracy of the Nevada Department of Public Safety competes in the bench press.

Veronica Saucedo of the LAPD crosses monkey bars in the obstacle course.

A judge and spotters monitor an entrant in the bench press.

Rick Santos of the LAPD competes in the bench press.

Brian Kearns of the West Covina Police Department competes in the rope climb.

Lewis Litwiler of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Department in Colorado completes 20 pull-ups.

Bradley Kamau of the El Cajon Fire Department tries for one more pull-up.

Sgt. David Miklos checks Jorge Olivas of Blackhawk Fire Department near Denver as he does a pull-up.

Kristina Tudor of the LAPD raises her chin doing a pull-up.

A judge watches as an entrant does the bench press.

Doug Tracy of the Nevada Department of Public Safety clears a wall in the obstacle course of the Toughest Competitor Alive event.

An entrant hurdles at the beginning of the obstacle course.

Daniel Reyes climbs over a wall in the obstacle course.

Kris Ulibarri of Santa Ana CHP leaps over the fence climb in the obstacle course.

Louie Kinoshita does the bench press in the Toughest Competitor Alive event.

Jason Herr of the San Jose Police Department competes in the rope climb in the Toughest Competitor Alive event. Athletes couldn’t use their feet.