The sixth HYROX World Championship takes Nice, France, by storm, with Red Bull athlete Ida Mathilde Steensgaard also competing in the Elite Mixed Relay race.
Nice, France, June 10th – Red Bull athlete Jake Dearden (GBR) won the 2024 Pro Doubles Men HYROX World Championships on Sunday, June 9, completing an against-the-odds turnaround after being sidelined with a back injury for six months earlier in the 23/24 season.
While he had narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Elite 15 this year, the 25-year-old Brit now has it firmly in his sights and given his performance alongside Marc Dean to take his first world title, expect to see him breaking into the professional racing division during the 24/25 season.
Speaking after his Pro Doubles HYROX World Championship win, Jake Dearden said: “The race itself was tight and to come out on top was unbelievable. It’s a privilege but it shows that all the hard work has paid off over the last couple of months and years. I’m over the moon and joining the Red Bull Family of Athletes this week has made it even better – it’s been a week of dreams.
Dearden is hoping to qualify for the Elite 15 at the next HYROX Cape Town (21 September 2024) and go to a Major, where he could secure his place at the 2025 HYROX World Championships with a top-three finish. “Being realistic, I had six months to prepare and qualify for the Elite 15,” he added. “Unfortunately, I didn’t make it this year. But my time is close to achieving that and it’s my goal to make it next year.”
Roncevic and Jacoby become Elite 15 HYROX World Champions
Alexander Roncevic (Austria) and Megan Jacoby (USA) were crowned the 2024 Elite 15 HYROX World Champions on Friday, June 7, eclipsing a stellar field at Nice’s Palais des Expositions to take their first titles by 11 seconds and almost four minutes respectively.
In the men’s Elite 15, winner Alexander Roncevic showed consistency throughout, and in the workout stations only placed outside of the top three once – his fifth in the 200m Farmers Carry. His closest competitor, Michael Sandbach (GBR), surrendered his lead at the final wall balls station and with it the first HYROX World Championship title to the Austrian. Australian James Kelly completed the Elite 15 podium with a dramatic comeback – his race seemingly over once he placed 14th in the third workout station – the 50m Sled Pull. Previous three-time HYROX World Champion Hunter McIntyre had to settle for 5th as his race fell apart at the sixth station – the 200m Farmers Carry. “After winning the European Championships, and after the two world records set in Cologne, I was really looking forward to this race. It was my fifth World Championship – I was second twice, then third… but this time it was clear that after Hunter’s performance in Anaheim, he was indeed beatable this time,” said Roncevic. “The feeling at the finish line was unbelievable. It’s been my biggest wish to be the best in the world at something, and now at least on this day the wish came true,” he added.
The women’s Elite 15 race wasn’t as close as the men’s. American Megan Jacoby asserted her dominance from the third station (50m Sled Pull) and placed first in every remaining station to take her first HYROX World Champion title. Jacoby’s closest competitor was three-time HYROX World Champion Lauren Weeks (USA) who used all her experience to overcome a 13th place at the 50m Sled Pull to clinch second. Vivian Tafuto completed the American podium, keeping things consistent throughout and edging German Viola Oberländer on the line for the final medal place.
“I raced a tactically smart race. I come from running and endurance and I felt that having that experience has helped me in this sport significantly. I know how to run; I know what I should be doing, I know how it should feel,” said Jacoby. “Having my daughter here was super emotional for me. I’d spent a few weeks over in Europe trying to get acclimated and focus on training, so I hadn’t seen her for a few weeks. It was also my birthday on Wednesday, so the HYROX World Champion title comes as the cherry on top,” she added.
Age-group athletes also in on the action in Nice
The Nice event was the sixth HYROX World Championship in the sport’s eight-year history and the conclusion of the 2023/24 season. The three-day fitness racing event also saw the top 2% of the 175,000 HYROX age group athletes – who had competed and qualified throughout the 23/24 season- go head-to-head in the Pro Singles (Men and Women), Pro Doubles (Men, Women and Mixed) and Mixed Relay to become an age group HYROX World Champion.
In HYROX, athletes in all categories must complete eight 1km runs interspersed with eight functional workout stations: 1km SkiErg, 50m Sled Push, 50m Sled Pull, 80m Burpee Board Jump, 1km Row, 200m Farmers Carry, 100m Sandbag Lunges, and the100 uninterrupted Wall Balls. In the Elite 15 and Pro Singles, each athlete must complete the full race format alone within the fastest time frame to win. The Doubles, however, is a less-intensive and accessible way to compete, where athletes have to run together but can split the functional workout stations and take it in turns. As for the Relays, each athlete in a four-person team must complete two 1km runs and two functional workout stations each.
HYROX co-founder Moritz Furste said: “HYROX consists of a fair split of endurance and functional workout elements. It’s a very comparable and measurable sport and consistent everywhere in the world. The growth over the last 12 months is beyond our wildest expectations and is beautiful to see. Although we’ve not changed much as a race concept, it’s a global sport that is attractive to people – we don’t see a market where it’s not working.”
OCR World Champion Ida Mathilde Steensgaard joins in the fun in France
Red Bull athlete and two-time Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) World Champion Ida Mathilde Steensgaard was representing Denmark in the first-ever Elite Mixed Relay World Championship.
While the 33-year-old is targeting her third consecutive win at the 2024 OCR World Championships in October, she was able to utilize the strengths and speed required for OCR to help the Danish team secure 10th position in Nice.
Speaking before her race, Ida Mathilde Steensgaard said: “One of the reasons [behind HYROX’s growth] is that you know you can complete a HYROX, no matter what – it’s just going to depend on how fast you can go. There are other sports like CrossFit or OCR where you need a specific skill set to be able to complete the competition or the workout. In HYROX, most people will be able to do the course. It also includes more running, and I love running! Combining running and strength training just gives you an all-around good physique and athleticism – training never gets boring.”
“I think you will see me in HYROX more. In OCR, I’ve won a lot now, I have a lot of defending titles. So, the feeling of really wanting to win is harder to achieve,” she added.
Countdown to 24/25 season
HYROX events take place worldwide and offer participants the chance to experience the most exciting form of fitness racing, and even secure a spot at next year’s HYROX World Championship. The 24/25 season kicks off at HYROX Melbourne, Australia on 29-30 June 2024 and you can find your nearest race across 24 cities around the world.
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