Gold medal winning firefighter puts Tyne & Wear on the global sporting map

A Firefighter who plies her trade by helping to save people’s lives throughout Tyne & Wear has recently returned from Denmark with a haul of three gold medals.

Keen athlete, Vicky Haswell has been a serving Firefighter with Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) for over 22-years and currently works alongside colleagues on Green Watch at Rainton Bridge Community Fire Station.

Vicky, who lives in her hometown of Sunderland with her son William and their cocker spaniel Billy, returned triumphantly from the 15^th World Firefighters Games in Aalborg with gold medals for the 400m, 800m and the javelin.

Across her career at TWFRS Vicky has worked at Washington, Sunderland Central, Farringdon and Rainton Bridge Community Fire Stations.  Vicky is also an active member of Sunderland Harriers AC, a club she has represented for over thirty years.

Vicky continues: “I enjoy pushing myself to see what I can still achieve. I’m so competitive and love the feeling of being able to train hard, with a focus on a certain

competition in the athletics season.

“Sport plays such an important role in my life and is something that brings so many people closer together fr

om different clubs, organisations and other blue light services.  Sport has also been the instigator for nurturing some of my strongest life-long friendships; a monthly donut club was even born out of a collective love for sport which for me is priceless.

“I would encourage not only my fellow colleagues but everyone everywhere to try engaging with some kind of sporting activity. As it’s good for your heart, mind, body and soul.”

Vicky used a small grant donated to her from the TWFRS Sports and Welfare team, which was put towards her travelling costs for the World Firefighters Games in Denmark.

Vicky is no stranger to competing on the international stage as she competed at the World Masters Championships in 2017 for the GB over 35’s team in Malaga, and in 2019 at the European Masters Championships in Jesolo, Italy.

“I was really proud to wear the colours of the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service’s sporting team during the World Firefighters Games,” said Vicky.

Athletics runs in the family as Vicky’s son William is a keen runner.  A couple of years ago after COVID he raised over £2000 for the Fire Fighters Charity by running two miles a day for a month.  Vicky’s sporting heroes include Dame Kelly Holmes, heptathlete Katerina Johnson Thompson, and middle-distance runner Keely Hodgkinson.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Stewart Nicholson, said: “What an amazing achievement by Vicky to bring home three gold medals to Tyne & Wear.  We value sports and welfare across the Service and encourage our colleagues to pursue team and individual participation from lawn bowls to football and from swimming to cycling.

“Vicky’s hard work and dedication is testament to her desire to do well when representing the Service and Tyne & Wear as a whole. Vicky a big well-done from us all.”

Vicky is preparing herself for the next World Firefighters Games which is planned for Saudi Arabia in two years’ time, when Vicky will again be donning the Tyne and Wear jersey to represent the region.

TWFRS Authority

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