By FireRescue1 staff
MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — A two-man firefighting team from Ukraine will be competing this weekend in a Firefighter Challenge regional qualifying event in Martin County, Florida.
Deemed “The Toughest 2 Minutes in Sports,” the Firefighter Challenge is a competitive event, pitting elite firefighter athletes against each other in head-to-head races that simulate the physical demands of real-life firefighting.
The pair – the number one tandem team in the world – had to halt their training to shift their efforts to the current Russian-Ukraine war, but they are now here in the U.S. ready to represent their home country, reported Fox29.
One of the men – Aleksandr Baran – placed second in the world last year with a time of 1 minute, 22 seconds.
The firefighters said they have received overwhelming support from other first responders since arriving in Florida.
The Firefighter Challenge events will be held Saturday and Sunday at Stuart Beach. The national competition will take place in Fort Pierce, Florida, in September.
Learn more about the Firefighter Challenge
The Firefighter Challenge: ‘The Toughest 2 Minutes in Sports’
Your top questions about this elite event, answered