Posted: July 8, 2004

Triathlon: Estonia’s Tamm wins Triathlon Championship for Firefighters

NÜRNBERG/ROTH, Germany (July 4, 2004) – Margus Tamm (EST) is prepared to be a hero on the tarmac everyday, but the Tallinn, Estonia, airport firefighter-rescuer and triathlete became a world champion today, winning the 2004 Long Distance Triathlon World Championship for Firefighters in 8:47.09, hosted at the Quelle Challenge Roth triathlon (3.8 km Swim/180 km Bike/42.2 km Run). Three firefighters from the City of New York’s FDNY surprised Tamm by greeting him for the final 40 meters or so in the packed stadium, and they were on hand for celebration and ceremonies all weekend.

Tamm’s 8:47.09 win took 54:55 for the swim, 4:48.54 to ride 180 km, and 3:00.21 to run the marathon, plus a few quick minutes to change from wetsuit to bike gear, then later to running togs. Shortly after his finish, he waited at the finish line for his rival, Michi Hofmann (GER), a firefighter in Nürnberg, who was overjoyed with his 8:54.28 day (52:00/4:43.08/3:16.48). Firefighter-athletes from more than 10 nations participated in individual and relay categories, and they stood out from the rest of the 3677 athletes with their fire-engine red bib numbers.

“I expected 4:40, but the wind changed directions on the bike. For the run, the more you go, the better it comes,” said Tamm, truly a long-distance athlete. On his win and new title, he added, “it gives a powerful feeling. Always, when you’re satisfied with you race, you get more energy in the end of the race. And to be the world champion, it is a proud feeling. The field was very strong, harder than last year.”

When asked if he knew he had competition right behind him, Tamm said, “I looked with a little bit of interest and got some information (on Hofmann). It is important that you have some understanding of what the race will be, but you still have your own race.”

After the race, the Estonian told the German that he was impressed by his cycling, calling him Lance Armstrong. Said Hofmann, “in Schwanstetten, at the run turnaround, (I was) 10 or 12 minutes behind Margus, but then I had a (leg) cramp and the problems were beginning.” He was hardly disappointed, though.

“I had two finish lines. My first was my time – I hoped I can make a race under nine hours, and 8:54 is not so bad, and it was only my second long-distance race. My second was to be in the first five firefighters. It’s like a dream,” the 23-year-old said.

German firefighter-rescuer and one of triathlon’s most popular race announcers, Dirk Werk, interviewed Tamm and the New Yorkers at center field to the 4,000-plus spectators great delight and cheers. They were heroes for all, but also a conduit for many to express their respect and gratitude. FDNY Larry Parker, Lt. Brian Whiston and Fred Bischoff were rescuers at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

“After September 11th, these guys from New York, they are something higher. If you don’t have to do what they went through, then you don’t know what that work could be like,” said Tamm, who was only too proud to share his day with them. Ironically, the race was on July 4th, the United States’ Independence Day, and the FDNY men were full not just of pride, but they sensed the appreciation from the international community for what they and their country endured.

“You can’t believe the feeling we get from the people here and how many people (on the other side of the world) thanked us. It’s an amazing feeling, and they’ve treated us so well, you can’t imagine,” said Whiston. “We’ve also had a lot of fun.”

Still, there were somber times, too, throughout the weekend as a few silent moments were taken at the pre-race pasta party, race swim start and Firefighters’ championships awards ceremony. It was clear that the European athletes and spectators understood and were moved by them. As well, firefighters from Roth and surrounding communities provided home-stays for all of the visiting firefighter-athletes, and a firefighters’ expo was adjacent to the main, triathlon gear expo, and all of this provided more opportunity to bond.

All three New Yorkers are experienced triathletes, too, and while they weren’t in peak shape to race this weekend, Parker competed as a relay team member with European firefighters Michael Durmeier and Christian Hacker. Between Parker’s “In Memory Of” triathlon jersey which listed all of the fallen firefighters’ names, and his mates’ dress blues, tens of thousands of international athletes and fans were in awe and honored to have them in Roth.

Tamm, a seven-time star in Roth, finished eighth overall last summer, in 8:42:00. He was also second overall in the World’s Best triathlon series, which tests an athlete at Olympic, half-iron and iron distances all in one month’s time, and races around the globe, including the Ironman World Championship, in Hawaii, and Strongman Triathlon, in Miyakojima, Japan.

Hofmann, who races for TSV Roth sports club, won the Firefighters European Championship for Triathlon Olympic distance race in Duisburg, Germany. Hofmann was just featured in the November issue of Germany’s Triathlon magazine, too.

The historic Bavarian race saw 3,677 athletes from 42 countries this year, among them the world’s fittest firefighters and world-class professional athletes. The firefighters are not new to triathlon, though. Twenty years ago in 1984, Franz Michels, a firefighter from Nürnberg, was the fastest athlete at the Franconian Triathlon – the first triathlon ever in Roth. His win caused quite a stir among fans of triathlon, a sport only beginning to become what it is today.

The 2004 Long Distance Triathlon World Championship for Firefighters is held by TEAMChallenge GmbH on behalf of the Deutsche Feuerwehr-Sportföderation e.V. (German Firefighters Sports Association) and is organized in close cooperation with the fire brigades of the County of Roth and Nuremberg fire service. For post-race results, news and photos from the 2004 Long Distance Triathlon World Championship for Firefighters, Quelle Challenge Roth and Triathlon Festival, and Deutsche Triathlon Union’s ultra-distance International German Championship, visit www.ChallengeLive.com and www.Challenge-Roth.com.

Quelle Challenge Roth’s sponsors include: Quelle AG, Deutsche Post AG, N-ERGIE, DB Regio, Opel AG, Newline, Nürnberger Nachrichten (Nürnberg Newspapers), Bayrische Versicherungskammer, Maxim, Phillips, Erdinger Alkoholfrei, Sparkasse Mittelfranken-Süd, ADAC, Arndt, Recaro, PowerBar, County of Roth, City of Roth, City of Hilpolstein, Coca-Cola, Frankenbrunnen, Zeus Copy, Paladin, Hofmann, Jura Kaelte, Lorenz & Partner, INKO Energy, Flor & Sohn, Spedition Heinloth, and BIESTMILCH.

From: Steve Handwerker