BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – July 22, 2025 – Charlotte Firefighter Holly Forbes Johnson has delivered a phenomenal performance at the 2025 World Police & Fire Games (WPFG) in Birmingham, Alabama, securing an astonishing six gold medals and setting two new world records in swimming. Her remarkable comeback to competitive swimming after a two-decade hiatus has cemented her place as a standout athlete among first responders globally.

Forbes Johnson, 48, a firefighter since 2016, showcased her lifelong talent in the water. She dominated her age group in four individual freestyle events – the 50m, 100m, 200m, and 400m – earning gold in each.

The record-breaking moments came in the relay events. Forbes Johnson anchored two relay teams that shattered existing world records: the 200m freestyle relay and the 200m medley relay for the 200+ combined age group. Notably, their 200m freestyle relay time of 2:07.73 obliterated the previous world record by over 20 seconds.

“I grew up in the water,” Forbes Johnson shared. “Swimming was my world long before I joined the fire service. It has always been a part of who I am.” She decided to return to competitive swimming when she heard the Games were coming to her hometown of Birmingham.

Despite admitting to initial nerves and not telling many people about her participation, her rigorous training, often squeezed in before her firehouse shifts, paid off spectacularly. Her sons, who are her biggest fans, cheered her on from home.

Chief Reginald Johnson of the Charlotte Fire Department lauded Forbes Johnson’s accomplishment, stating, “Holly represents the very best of what it means to be a firefighter — strength, determination, and a commitment to excellence.”

With six gold medals and two world records in hand, Forbes Johnson is already looking ahead to the next World Police & Fire Games in Perth, Australia, in 2027, with aspirations of breaking individual world records there as well. Her inspiring journey underscores her belief that “you can do anything if you put in the work.”