The might stuff: CFD’s Hamilton shines in firefighter competition
“Firefighting is a lot of awkward heavy things that I can carry around, so it makes it easy to train for it.”
On a typical call, a firefighter might carry someone down a flight of stairs. At a recent competition, one Acton first responder pulled a 40,000-pound truck down the street.
Samantha Hamilton finished among the top competitors at this year’s World’s Strongest Firefighter competition in Columbus, Ohio, last month, placing 15th overall out of roughly 150 participants — and third among women.
Hamilton said she’s been part of the contest for four years, starting at about the same time she began working for the Acton Fire Department. She first got interested in the event after seeing it on social media.
“I said, ‘Sure, why not?’ and signed up,” Hamilton said, adding that she previously worked in physical therapy and competed in strength competitions before becoming a firefighter.
Hauls of fame
Challengers faced a range of events, including hefting fire hydrants, deadlifting tires, and, yes, pulling a fire engine. Hamilton hauled the massive truck 30 feet in 60 seconds.
Hamilton trains year-round, typically working out six days a week while balancing her shifts with the fire department. She said her routine focuses on the core movements common in strongman competitions, such as deadlifts, carries, pulls, and overhead presses.
The training, she said, mirrors the physical demands of her job.
“Firefighting is a lot of awkward heavy things that I can carry around, so it makes it easy to train for it,” she said.
Despite placing among the top contestants, Hamilton is still working to improve. She said she competes in a higher weight class and is about 30 pounds lighter than others in her division.
Looking ahead
Her goal is to continue building strength over the next year. And even though she’s competing at strongman competitions, she sometimes runs into people who doubt her abilities, even during emergencies.
“They’re always like, ‘I don’t think you can lift me. Can you get one of the guys to lift me?’” she said.
Hamilton said the competition also provides an opportunity to connect with firefighters from across the country and around the world, and “it gives us something to look forward to every year.”
She hopes her story shows people that firefighters can handle the demands of the job, regardless of gender.
“It doesn’t matter if a male or female is showing up on the call,” she said. “We’ll still be able to help you.”
