• Manon P., a 32-year-old commissioner, triumphed in the 800 meter event at the World police and fire games, which took place this week in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

  • The competition, organized since 1985, brings together every two years thousands of firefighters and police officers from all over the world, who compete in 63 disciplines.

Normally, Manon P. runs after Parisian criminals and traffickers.

But it was finally on an athletics track that this commissioner, aged 32, that she was brought to light.

The policewoman, who works in the second judicial police district, has indeed won the gold medal in the 800 meter event at the World police and fire games.

A competition that brings together every two years, since 1985, thousands of firefighters and police officers from all over the world.

This year, it is organized in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from July 22 to 31.

Cycling, karate, tennis, swimming… Among the 63 disciplines presented, Manon chose to register for the athletics events.

Last Saturday, she finished her race in 2' 21”, almost 10 seconds less than her pursuers.

"It's my best time of the season,

I'm only 6 seconds off my best time!

she smiles.

When she was younger, Manon practiced athletics at a high level for about ten years.

"I was French team champion and 5th individually at the French championships, with a record of 2'15", recalls the policewoman, who put competition aside when she became commissioner in 2015. Between work and family life, it was difficult to find the time to keep up at the highest sporting level.

“But I haven't stopped running, I need it for my balance.

And it's important for a policeman to stay physically fit.

So, for six years, I rather did marathons, biathlons, 10 km, ”she underlines.

"I'm going to do this again!

»

Manon learned of the existence of these World police and fire games when she was at the commissioners' school.

“I always said to myself that one day I would take part in it, because I thought the concept was brilliant!

“Supported by her bosses and the direction of the judicial police of the police headquarters, she therefore registered and started training again two years ago, with the aim of finding good “feelings”.

“I wasn't detached for the occasion, so I trained as best I could, about four times a week.

Sometimes at noon, sometimes in the evening, sometimes early in the morning, she continues.

In Paris, there are athletics tracks that close at 10 p.m.

The policewoman trained alone most of the time.

From time to time, she asked colleagues to act as a "hare", running in front of her imposing a rhythm.

Arriving in the Netherlands, the policewoman did not really know "what time you had to have to claim victory".

Finally, she will bring France a gold medal, by far surpassing her nine competitors.

“If I had known, I think I would have signed up for other disciplines.

Especially in the 400 meters, a race in which I am strong, she said.

But I really wanted to bring home a medal, so I focused on the 800”.

Manon is "happy to have represented the national police thanks to (her) level in athletics and to have participated in an event of this magnitude".

The next World police and fire games will be organized next year, in Canada (those of this year had been postponed, Covid-19 obliges).

The young commissioner did not think to participate.

But his success in Rotterdam was a game-changer.

"I'm going to do this again!

»

“I know that I can overcome hard things”

In the meantime, she has found the group she leads within the 2nd DPJ, a cutting-edge service in the police's fight against Parisian delinquents and criminals.

According to her, this victory can only benefit her in her work.

"Going to the end of my physical limits is something that serves me, because I know that I am capable of overcoming hard things, both psychologically and physically.

The criminals, if they want to be one step ahead of her, only have to train seriously.

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  • Police

  • Federal police

  • Athletics

  • Netherlands

  • rotterdam

  • Running

  • Sport

  • Paris

  • Ile-de-France