The Foreign Service Journal, September 2015

82 SEPTEMBER 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS Diplomatic Security Wins Gold in 2015 World Police and Fire Games Ten AFSAmem- bers from the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security were among more than 12,000 athletes compet- ing in this year’s World Police and Fire Games. The biennial event—which boasts the world’s largest pool of competi- tors, beating out even the Olym- pics—was held in Fairfax, Virginia, fromJune 26 to July 5. Active and retired law enforcement and fire service personnel from roughly 70 countries competed. Estab- COURTESYOFCHRISDEEDY SA Bart Brown took 20th in the triathlon competition. COURTESYOFCHRISDEEDY SA Nick Dornsife bikes to 11th place in the triathlon. COURTESYOFCHRISDEEDY From left: SAs Chip McElhattan (ret.), Leslie Jones, Kendal Beels and Bart Brown. Beels took first in the 200-meter and fourth in the 400-meter freestyle swim events. COURTESYOFCHRISDEEDY SA Chris Deedy grabs 15th place in the CrossFit competition. COURTESYOFCHRISDEEDY AFSA/MARIAC.LIVINGSTON lished in 1985, the games are held to honor the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to serve and protect. Events ranged from traditional favorites such as bodybuilding and soccer to the less conventional tug of war and orienteering. DS special agent (SA) athletes participated in the half-marathon, cross- country, softball, CrossFit, freestyle swim, open-water swim, breaststroke, Special Agents Jan Hiemstra (left) and Denise Timmermans in the running portion of the triathlon. biathlon, triathlon, street cycling, mountain biking and world’s toughest competitor events. SAMaria Amaya was a top competitor in her class, taking first place in the women’s 10,000-meter cross-country race and second in the women’s half-marathon. SA Kendall Beels placed first in her class in the women’s 200- meter freestyle swim. SAs James Billington and Allison Meconi took home the bronze in their class in the biathlon team competition, and SA Patrick Leonard won third in his class in the men’s triathlon. Several other DS ath- letes performed well in their respective competitions. AFSA congratulates all DS athletes and looks forward to cheering them on at the 2017World Police and Fire Games in Montreal. n —Maria C. Livingston, Associate Editor