Huge congrats to Officer Demetrios James Vakertzis!
While most of us are busy “lifting a finger” or “pushing a mouse”, there are some out there taking weights to a whole new level!!!
We recently welcomed home GRPD silver medalist Ofc. Vakertzis from the 2019 Police and Fire World Games in Chengdu, China. He is the first City of Grand Rapids employee to compete in this worldwide competition created specifically for police and firefighters. Since its inception in 1985, this biennial competition has grown to include over 60 different sporting events and 10,000 competitors. Ofc. Vakertzis competed in the push pull event which included a bench press and dead lift. Ofc. Vakertzis earned an overall silver medal in the 40-45 age category after benching 365 lbs and dead lifting 600 lbs. After being brought to tears on the podium, Ofc. Vakertzis wants to share his pride of this honor with all of us here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and across the country.
Lifting weights and maintaining strength has been a lifetime passion for Ofc. Vakertzis. For the past ten years, he has been working with his private lifting coach out of Texas, Josh Bryant, and exercising on average of 2 hours a day in preparation for this competition. He is thankful for the support of his family throughout his training and the competition – his wife even had the opportunity to go to China with him - and of course all those that contributed financially to make this happen (Grand Rapids Police Officer's Association (GRPOA), Gerald R. Ford Metro Lodge #97, Fraternal Order of Police).
While in Chengdu for the nearly week-long series of events, Ofc. Vakertzis met one other competitor from MI, Michael Risher, a firefighter from Detroit.
Ofc. Vakertzis is looking ahead at the 2021 Police and Fire Games, which will be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands….and maybe even the 2023 Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada! By then he hopes to put together a Grand Rapids or even a West Michigan Team of competitors. We are so proud of his effort and determination….certainly an accomplishment that we as an entire community can embrace!
#GRPDpride
#LiftingUPaCommunity
#wpfg2019
www.http://www.chengdu2019wpfg.com/
