By Michael Oppermann
Star-Banner
OCALA, Fla. — Lately, local firefighter/EMT James Hammortree is as familiar with the thunder of cheering crowds as he is the sound of wailing emergency vehicles; he has triumphed in athletic competitions four times in the last three months.
In May, Hammortree, who is stationed at the Salt Springs Fire Station, traveled to Brevard County to compete in the Florida Firefighter Games, nicknamed the Firefighter Olympics. There, he won a gold medal in wrestling’s heavyweight class.
The following month, he competed in the annual Police and Fire Games in Sarasota County, where more than 5,000 competitors representing 200 different agencies competed in more than 45 events. Hammortree earned gold medals in folk-style wrestling and submission grappling (Brazilian Jiujitsu).
Full Story: Fighter lifts weights, trains in-between calls