HYROX
HYROX World Championships 2025: Everything you need to know
Running, lifting and pushing limits – HYROX is the race where strength meets endurance. Here's what to expect in this season’s biggest race and which athletes are set to chase the crown.
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The HYROX World Championship is where the world’s top hybrid athletes go head-to-head in the toughest race of the season. Elite competitors and everyday athletes compete in a demanding mix of running and high-intensity functional fitness workouts, including movements like rowing, sled pushes, and wall balls.
It’s the ultimate test of strength, endurance, and mental toughness. Follow the action and find out who will be crowned the fittest hybrid athlete on earth in our HYROX World Championship guide.
01
Where are the HYROX World Championships 2025?
HYROX events are big, fun and for everyone
© Marty Rowney/Red Bull Content Pool
The HYROX World Championships 2025 are taking place from June 12–15, returning to the United States in the city of Chicago. As the sport continues to expand globally, this year's event introduces a new four-day format with different divisions competing on separate days. This structure not only helps manage the scale of the competition, but also gives athletes the unique chance to qualify for and compete in both Singles and Doubles divisions – something that wasn't possible in previous years.
A major highlight of the weekend will be the Elite 15 races, where the top 15 men and women of the season go head-to-head for HYROX’s most prestigious title and prize money.
With Megan Jacoby, last year’s women’s champion, scratching from the race, the women’s field is wide open, and a new champion will be crowned. On the men’s side, Alexander Rončević returns to defend his title against a deep lineup of world-class competitors. Expect fast times, fierce battles, and unforgettable moments.
Who is the No 1 athlete in HYROX?
Alexander Rončević is a HYROX world champion
© Mirja Geh/Red Bull Content Pool
The most prestigious category in HYROX is the Elite 15, where the top 15 men and women compete for the title of World Champion. This season, some fresh faces rose to the top, giving the sport’s most experienced athletes serious competition. One of them is Australia's James Kelly who has emerged as the standout of the season. After a commanding win in Hong Kong, where he outran top contenders like Tim Wenisch and Hunter McIntyre, Kelly set a new world record in Glasgow (53m 22s) and established himself as the man to beat in Chicago. Veteran Hunter McIntyre, a three-time world champion and key figure in HYROX’s rise, has struggled for form this season. A disappointing eighth-place finish in Glasgow marked a low point, but with his experience, a strong comeback can't be ruled out. Reigning HYROX world champion Alexander Rončević opened the 2024–25 season with a dominant win in Amsterdam (54m 7s) and has since taken a measured approach, opting for selected races as he builds toward the World Championship.
HYROX Elite 15 Chicago men's line-up
- Alexander Rončević (Austria)
- James Kelly (Australia)
- Rich Ryan (USA)
- Jake Dearden (England)
- Rylan Schadegg (USA)
- Thomas Tvirdik (Czech Republic)
- Tom Rodgers (Australia)
- Dylan Scott (USA)
- Tim Wenisch (Germany)
- Hydde Weersma (Netherlands)
- Hunter McIntyre (USA)
- Beau Wills (New Zealand)
- Graham Halliday (Scotland)
- Jonathon Wynn (Australia)
- Pelayo Menendez (Spain)
Lauren Weeks dominated from the start
© Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool
With more HYROX wins than any athlete and a world record of 56m 22s, Lauren Weeks remains the benchmark in the women's field. She's the defending world champion, but challengers are closing in. Megan Jacoby, the current World Champion has dropped out of the race, and will not be defending her title from 2024. This leaves the field wide open for newcomers like Joanna Wietrzyk and Lucy Procter to challenge the world record holder Weeks on her home turf.
22-year-old Joanna Wietrzyk made a big impression on her Elite 15 debut
© Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool
One of the season's most talked-about breakout competitors is Joanna Wietrzyk. The 22-year-old from Australia placed third in her debut in Amsterdam, won the Hong Kong Major and posted a PB of 56m 48s in Glasgow – faster than the previous world record. Her rapid rise puts her firmly in contention for the title in Chicago.
HYROX Elite 15 Chicago women's line-up
- Lauren Weeks (USA)
- Joanna Wietrzyk (Australia)
- Vivian Tafuto (USA)
- Seka Arning (Germany)
- Ida Mathilde Steensgaard (Denmark)
- Jess Pettrow (Australia)
- Emilie Dahmen (Netherlands)
- Lucy Procter (England)
- Sinéad Bent (England)
- Kate Davey (England)
- Linda Meier (Germany)
- Melanie Maurer (Switzerland)
- Lauren Griffith (USA)
- Amy Bevilacqua (USA)
- Jana Lebenstedt (Germany)
Get to know these incredible HYROX athletes
How do you qualify for the HYROX World Championships?
HYROX participants on their running section
© Graeme Murray / Red Bull Content Pool
To secure a spot at the HYROX World Championships, athletes must earn a top finish in their age group at one of the season’s official HYROX races. The number of qualifying slots at each event depends on how many competitors are in each division. For those aiming even higher, qualification for the Elite 15 works differently.
These spots are reserved for the fastest 15 men and women globally, based on times set during the season – but with one important requirement: athletes must have posted their qualifying time at one of the HYROX Majors (Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, or Glasgow) or at the Last Chance Qualifier in Barcelona.
How to watch the HYROX World Championships?
Both the mens and womens Elite 15 races will be streamed live from Chicago on HYROX' YouTube channel on Thursday night local time.
02
What is HYROX?
25 min
HYROX: The ultimate fitness competition explained
Discover what makes HYROX – the indoor fitness competition – a test of strength, endurance and determination.
HYROX is a competitive fitness race that combines functional exercises with running. It is designed to test participants' strength, endurance and overall fitness in a standardised format, making it possible to compare performances across different events and locations.
The low entry barriers allow many gym enthusiasts to take part in HYROX, but make no mistake – the fitness race does require good overall fitness and preparedness on race day. Participants must perform a functional workout after every 1km run. In total, athletes run 1km eight times and compete in eight different workouts in between the running segments. Each workout is immediately followed by a run segment – so there is no time to slow down or rest.
The HYROX race format remains the same at each event
© HYROX
03
The functional fitness stations in HYROX
The Ski Erg is one of the eight workout stations in HYROX competition
© Baptiste Fauchille/Red Bull Content Pool
- 1km SkiErg
- 50m sled push
- 50m sled pull
- 80m burpee broad jumps
- 1km rowing
- 200m farmers carry
- 100m sandbag lunges
- 100 wall balls
The format of the race never changes and is repeated in large indoor arenas across the globe.
04
What are the different HYROX race categories?
Jake Dearden at the HYROX World Championships
© Baptiste Fauchille/Red Bull Content Pool
There are several ways to compete in HYROX throughout the season, but not all of them are available at the World Championships. Here’s a breakdown of the main race types and which ones are included at Worlds:
- Doubles Pro (Men, Women, Mixed): Team up with a partner! You both run every running segment and split the workout stations between you. At the World Championships, only the Pro Doubles category is available (not the regular Doubles). Teams can be all-male, all-female, or mixed gender.
- Relay (Teams of 4): In the Relay, you race as a team of four. Each teammate completes two runs and two workouts. This format is a great way to experience HYROX as a group. The Relay is not part of the World Championships, but it's popular at regular events. At the HYROX Worlds, only an Elite Relay will be held.
- Pro Individual (Men & Women): Race solo and take on all 8 runs and 8 workouts on your own, using the heaviest weights in the competition. At the World Championships, this is the main format for individuals, and all athletes compete within their age groups.
- The Open category (which uses lighter weights) is not available at the World Championships, everyone competes using standard Pro weights for their division.
- Elite 15: This is the top level of HYROX, the 15 fastest men and women from around the world. To race in the Elite 15, you must qualify by competing in specific events throughout the season and ranking among the very best.
New category at the World Championships in 2025: HYROX Elite 15 Doubles
Jake Dearden and Marc Dean on top of the double world in Nice
© Baptiste Fauchille/Red Bull Content Pool
For the first time, HYROX introduces the Elite 15 Pro Doubles division, where two men or two women team up to compete at the highest level. This new format brings an exciting dynamic, as athletes face the same grueling tests of strength, endurance, and speed together.
- HYROX Elite 15 Pro Doubles Men’s Race
- HYROX Elite 15 Pro Doubles Women’s Race
Expect intense competition as top athletes unite to fight for the coveted title of Elite 15 Pro Doubles Champion.
HYROX series - Beyond the ROX showcasing behind-the-grind athlete stories
27 min
Relentless rise: fresh faces and the next level
Every record is on the line as HYROX’s rapid growth sees fresh faces and the seasoned Elite 15 compete.
Catch up on all the season's action leading to the big race in a brand-new HYROX series Beyond the ROX on Red Bull TV. The 2025 season has been wild and with the HYROX World Championship in Chicago looming large, the only guarantee is chaos, sweat, and greatness.
Veterans like McIntyre and Weeks are looking to reclaim glory. Rising stars like Wietrzyk and Kelly are rewriting the rules. And somewhere in the middle, the next big surprise is waiting to happen.
Stay tuned for more updates and HYROX stories as the World Championship weekend approaches.
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