IMPCT Weekly

The Race to Success

The brains behind the fastest growing sport in the world are Christian Toetzke and Moritz Furste, who established the event in 2017 in Germany. Toetzke is labelled as one of the most successful race event organisers in the world whilst Furste is a 3x Olympic Medallist and World Champion. 

In 2018 there were a total of 600 racers to now an estimated 1.3-1.5 million for the 2025/2026 season competing in races within the 11 countries the event operates in.

Part of the sports success is due to how accessible it is. Nearly anyone can apply to take part and most of the workouts are functional and doable for the average gym-goer. The sport also has a tiered system which welcomes elite athletes as well as first time racers. There are divisions such as: Open, Pro, Doubles and Relay. Each division completes the same race format however it allows people to race against people of similar abilities.

The role of social media also cannot be ignored. It feels as though it is an unspoken rule in the Hyrox community that if you do a race, you are obliged to post about it on your socials. And now in the current age of influencers and content creation, people are incentivised to do the race simply for the aesthetic Instagram shot. Pics or it didn’t happen essentially.

IMPCT Weekly

So what actually is Hyrox?

Hyrox is a global indoor fitness race that combines both running and workout stations. Participants start by running 1km, then completing one workout station, followed by running again and repeated eight times. Every race across the world is also identical which allows for world leader boards and World Championships at the end of each Hyrox season.

These workouts are:

  • SkiErg

  • Sled Push

  • Sled Pull

  • Burpee Broad Jumps

  • Rowing

  • Farmers Carry

  • Sandbag lunges

  • Wall balls

Who to beat?

Whilst Hyrox prides itself on accessibility and personal achievement there is still a fiercely competitive field of elite athletes who strive to get the top results and set world records. 

Australian Joanna Wietrzyk set the Women’s Pro record in January 2025 in Phoenix, USA, finishing her race at an astounding 56m 03s. She falls into the 16-24 age group and her close competitor, Lauren Weeks from Glasgow who set a time of 56m 23s is in the 35-39 group. 

Lauren herself has also set some incredible achievements. She is a three time world Hyrox champion and in 2022 she competed whilst 8 months pregnant in the World Championships, finishing 9th out of 14. 

This year a new Men’s Pro record was set by 24-year-old Dutch Hidde Weersma who set a time of 52m 42s in London 2026. He is also the first ever Hyrox athlete to finish in sub 53 minutes.

IMPCT Weekly

See For Yourself!

Watch the YouTube video below of famous fitness youtuber, Browney, attempting a Hyrox event with no practice…

What to look out for on IMPCT

Whilst the athletes mentioned above are all outstanding, elite athletes who have set some amazing records, many other Hyrox journeys go untold or are overlooked. Every event that happens, participants put themselves to the ultimate test and whilst they may not be setting world records or top times, they are pushing boundaries, overcoming personal challenges and redefining what success looks like to them.

It is these untold stories that we will be spotlighting over the coming weeks and months, giving every and any Hyrox athlete out there a platform to share their journey on and prove that victories aren’t always the fastest ones.

IMPCT Weekly

Has This Sport Peaked Your Interest?

Want to Try Yourself?

1. Understanding HYROX

  • 8 × 1km runs

  • 8 functional workout stations

2. Pick Your Category

  • Open → most popular, beginner-friendly

  • Doubles → split the workout with a partner

  • Relay → team of 4

  • Pro / Elite → heavier weights, more competitive

3. Start Training (HYROX style)

  • Running

  • Strength Endurance

  • Functional Movements:

  • - Lunges

  • - Wall balls

  • - Sled push/pull

  • - Farmer’s carries

  • Many gyms offer HYROX-affiliated classes!

4. Find an Event Near You

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