Mann on a mission

Lanny Mann (right) and daughter Madelyn celebrate his bronze medal win at the World Police and Fire Games along with fellow medalists from South Africa and Moscow.by Matthew Fox

The Calgary Fire Department's Lanny Mann, BKin'01, earned a bronze medal in the Senior A Cross Country 10-km race at the World Police and Fire Games, held in August in Vancouver. Mann ran his race in a time of 33:32.5.

"It was a fun experience, a bit different from what I'm used to because the participants represented the full spectrum from recreational to super-elite athletes," Mann said by phone recently from his Canmore home. "I felt strong in the race, and I was happy with the result and the way I was able to compete."

Joining Lanny on the podium to accept his medal was his 21-month-old daughter, Madelyn.

The Vancouver Games drew more than 10,000 active-duty police officers and firefighters from all over the globe. More than 2,100 gold medals were awarded from July 31 to August 9. The Games are held at a venue around the world every two years.

Lanny just completed his first full year as a Calgary firefighter and was competing in his first Games. A frequent participant in cross country, road and track races, he hopes to compete in the 2011 Games in New York City.