The Firefighter Challenge League (FCL), dubbed by ESPN as the “toughest two minutes in sports,” is drawing increasing attention worldwide
The sporting league is open to all firefighters, from junior firefighters to retirees and their mission is to raise awareness of the importance of physical fitness, especially with the high physical demands of being a firefighter
“Our mission is to create a tool where firefighters can come and improve their fitness,” said Melissa Campbell, chief executive officer of the FCL, now in her 15th year with the organization
The FCL holds events around the world and has seen an increase in participants over the last couple of years, including first-timers, long-standing members and even three 70-year-old competitors
“You’re going to see a lot of change in the FCL,” Campbell told Firehouse. “This isn’t just a U.S. thing. It’s a worldwide thing. We have events that are happening all over the world.”
Competitor numbers are rising
At its 2026 season-opener event at FDIC, they saw a 39-registrant increase from exisitng FCL members and 70 more first-timers
One of those newcomers was Firefighter Carly Wopat, of the Santa Barbara, CA, Fire Department, who broke the California state record and the national female record with her blazing time of 2:35.82 in her first race
- West Region Classic (Nevada): 138 new competitors in a one-year span
- Midwest Region Classic (Indiana): 144 new competitors in a two-year span
- Northeast Region Classic (Pennsylvania): 171 new competitors in a two-year span
- Southwest Region Classic (Kentucky): 188 new competitors in a two-year span
- U.S. National (Alabama): 65 new competitors in a two-year span
- World Challenge (Tennessee): 24 new competitors in a two-year span
There has also been an increase of 46 new female competitors in the last two years, while male participation has nearly doubled in that period of time. Together, the participants represent 44 states and 364 fire departments across the United States
Community drives competitive spirit
Competing in the FCL is a grueling task. The physical and mental demands of the course are extraordinary, yet not impossible. It gives firefighters the chance to apply their firefighting training in a competitive challenge.
The course gives firefighters a focus for improving their physical and mental fitness, and the biggest aspect competitors emphasize is the community you gain when you step onto the course for the first time
“I was pleasantly surprised by the community and how supportive everyone was,” Wopat recalled. “Everyone was so positive and genuinely excited for me. Being able to chat with everyone about how to improve my time, the different stations and techniques, that’s the biggest benefit to going and racing.”
Firefighters Andi Barrickz, of the Minneapolis Fire Department, and Alexander Elliot, of the Parris Island, SC, Fire Department, are two newcomers who share the same premise
“The community part drives me more than the physical part,” Barrickz said. “That’s what hooked me, the people. The people there are so good. The whole crew, the officials and the announcer, everybody is so supportive and encouraging.”
“It doesn’t matter your <a href="https://healthylife7.com/criminals-exploiting-public-interest-in-weight/” title=”Criminals ‘exploiting’ public interest in weight”>weight, your age,” Elliot said, who started racing in his 30s. “Don’t be afraid of whatever you’re thinking about, because the amount of love you get from everyone there is insane.”
Barrickz recalled that while preparing for her first race in June 2025, she attended the open practice the day before the event and saw a couple of female firefighters. She said they took her through the whole course and gave her tips on how to approach the competition
“While I competed, they were both screaming for me, cheering for me, and I don’t even know these people,” Barrickz told Firehouse. “That turned out to be like all the people who compete at the FCL events.”
No matter where you are on your fitness journey, FCL participants are going to be your biggest fans. It doesn’t matter what your goal is—whether it’s finishing the course, shaving 10 seconds off your time, or breaking a state record—the league’s community is there to back you up
Even within the competition, fellow participants push one another to become the best versions of themselves
“One of the guys that I raced with at Nationals, Blake Christensen, he goes, ‘I’m not racing against you; I’m racing with you’,” Elliot said
Advice for those on the fence
It’s tough for newcomers to gauge the difficulty of the race until they compete. Across the board, the event is more difficult than people anticipate, yet as soon as you race for the first time, you get hooked.
“They see where they’re at, and whether they finished or whether they’ve set a record, they are determined to come again, do better, and create those goals,” Campbell remarked
Barrickz, Wopat and Elliot all spoke about how their first race was a humbling experience. Even with the YouTube videos they watched, the training they put in, and the advice they sought, they still were humbled
“We try to let people know the first time: don’t blow up those stairs,” Campbell said. “Pace yourself. You’re not competing with anyone but yourself.”
Pulling the trigger on competing can be a big commitment, but the newcomers’ advice is that you gain so much from competing, even just one time
“You have nothing to lose,” Wopat advised. “It’s only a win-win situation. I’m a big proponent of doing hard things, and I think the firefighter challenge is both mentally and physically demanding. You’re going to make friends and meet so many amazing firefighters who are also into fitness and pushing themselves.”
“If you’re thinking about it, do it,” Barrickz encouraged. “You’re never going to feel like you’re ready, because it’s hard, no matter what. You need to just go ahead and go for it. You really have nothing to lose.”
“Never be embarrassed by your time, because you’re the person who is going to harp on your time more than anyone else there,” Elliot said. “This course is truly for anybody who wants to come out, be competitive, or be a part of this family, because it truly is a family. It’s literally for everybody.”
Leveling up
The FCL is growing, and more people are being exposed to the positive, uplifting community it offers. As firefighters train for a common goal and push themselves to physical and mental limits, they create a bond with one another
“Fitness has equaled health and longevity in this career,” Campbell said. “It’s a career that takes a toll on the body. The stronger you can develop on this course, the better you get your mindset on what your body’s capable of over a controlled load.”
It’s about becoming a better firefighter, getting more in shape and scultping a mindset that can get you through the toughest events.
“You can also be like the fittest person ever, but if you don’t have the mental integrity, it’s going to be hard to get through,” Barrickz said
The FCL offers firefighters a support-driven community to help them improve as humans and as firefighters, with benefits ranging from physical betterment to mental strength
