In late September, a team of lifeguards from the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) represented Team USA at the Lifesaving World Championships in Riccone, Italy.
The annual championships hosted by the International Life Saving (ILS) Federation took place this year from September 21 through October 2, 2022.
Every two years, the ILS holds the Lifesaving World Championships to showcase the most talented and skilled lifesaving athletes who compete for the title of the world’s best.
This year’s competition was initially held over and postponed since March 2020 due to the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Team USA 2022 was led by Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Jose Abasolo who also served as the team coach; members of Team USA included Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Jake Miller, Ocean Lifeguard Kelsey Cummings, Ocean Lifeguard Jenna Solberg, and Ocean Lifeguard Holly Maine.
Overall, Team USA finished 11th in a very competitive field; the single best event earned the team a bronze medal in the “Mixed Ocean Lifesaver Relay”.
Fifty-two countries were represented at this year’s competition with team members participating in a variety of pool and ocean lifesaving events.
The next Lifesaving World Championships will take place in 2024 at Kurrawa Beach in Australia.
