After an explosive kickoff in Amsterdam this October, the HYROX season didn’t miss a beat as it stormed into the vibrant city of Hong Kong.
On November 22, the Asia World-Expo was the stage where the world’s top HYROX athletes gathered for the second Major race of the year, turning the venue into a cauldron of sweat, grit, and unbridled determination.
World Championship spots were dangling like golden carrots, and both the men’s and women’s fields were stacked with heavy hitters and hungry newcomers alike.
Among them were three-time Elite 15 Women’s World Champion Lauren Weeks, defending Men’s Elite 15 World Champion Alexander Roncevic, and making her Elite 15 Major debut, OCR World Champion Ida Mathilde Steensgaard.
For many athletes, Hong Kong wasn’t just another stop on the tour—it was a litmus test. Could they sustain the intensity they unleashed earlier in the season? Or would they rise from a slow start like a phoenix from the ashes?
Women’s Elite 15: Joanna Wietrzyk Topples Lauren Weeks in a Heart-Stopping Finish
Just a month ago, 22-year-old Australian Joanna Wietrzyk was making her Elite 15 debut. In Hong Kong, she proved that her third-place finish in Amsterdam was no fluke, pulling away from the legendary Lauren Weeks to claim the crown.
“I did not expect to come out on top,” Wietrzyk admitted, still catching her breath. “During the race, I kept the mentality that I could do it.
I just had to trust that my training block from Amsterdam to here would pay off.” She felt the pressure when Weeks closed the gap during the burpees, but she dug deep, banking on her running prowess to carry her through.
“It’s pretty surreal to see two Aussies on the men’s and women’s side win the first APAC Major!” she added, her smile as bright as the Hong Kong skyline.
Early on, American stalwarts Lauren Weeks and Lauren Griffith set a blistering pace, trading the lead like a hot potato into and out of the SkiErg station.
But it was during the Sled Push that Wietrzyk made her move, seizing first place and steadily extending her lead with every stride and station. She broke the tape in under 60 minutes, finishing over 30 seconds ahead of Weeks.
Weeks, already assured a spot at the Chicago World Championships, wasn’t just there for the scenery. She delivered a rock-solid performance, never dipping below second place throughout the race.
The battle for third was a thriller. At the halfway mark, Ida Mathilde Steensgaard seemed poised for a podium finish in her Major debut.
But Britain’s Kate Davey had other plans. Overcoming a sluggish start, Davey vaulted from fifth to third during the burpee station and clung to her lead through the wall balls, just edging out Steensgaard.
Ida Mathilde Steensgaard Punches Her Ticket to the World Championships
Finishing fourth in Hong Kong, Denmark’s Ida Mathilde Steensgaard secured her place at the 2025 HYROX World Championships in Chicago.
The 33-year-old OCR icon, a two-time World Champion in obstacle course racing, only ventured into hybrid fitness racing in 2022. Her ascent has been nothing short of meteoric.
After juggling OCR and HYROX for two years, Steensgaard shifted her focus solely to HYROX this summer, and the dividends are already paying off.
Her journey underscores the transferable skills between OCR and HYROX, potentially inspiring other athletes to take the plunge into this burgeoning sport.
In her season opener, she set a new personal best in Stuttgart, then qualified for her first Elite 15 Major with a strong performance in Hamburg.
Heading into Hong Kong, she had her sights set on a top-five finish and a coveted spot in Chicago but remained grounded.
“The most important goal is to just do the best possible race that my body can do on the day and keep calm. You can’t expect anything else,” she said pre-race.
She delivered, crossing the finish line in 62:46. “I am honestly really proud of myself. I had nothing to lose in this race, everything to win,” she beamed.
“It was my first Major, and I just pushed myself. I had a good battle with Kate [Davey], and then I snagged the ticket for the World Championships. It was amazing.”
With six months of focused training ahead, Steensgaard is just warming up. “It’s wild because it’s been maybe three or four months focusing on HYROX.
Everything has just taken off,” she reflected. “I know how to take it deep, find the beast mode from OCR, and I like competing. This sport is really amazing, and the girls here are so good. We’re so close; it’s so exciting. I can find that extra gear.”
Men’s Elite 15: James Kelly Leads an Australian Surge
After a quick breather, the men’s race roared to life. With heavyweights like Alexander Roncevic and Michael Sandbach in the mix, the atmosphere was electric.
James Kelly wasted no time making his presence felt, scorching through the first 1km run in 3:36 to hit the SkiErg station ahead of the pack.
Hot on his heels were Tim Wenisch, Sandbach, and Roncevic. Experience began to tell as Sandbach and Roncevic manoeuvred into the lead heading into the second run.
But in a dramatic twist, Sandbach’s race unravelled during the sledge push, and he bowed out on the third running leg. Roncevic looked poised to notch his second consecutive Major win, but Kelly had other ideas.
Sticking to his race plan, the Australian displayed remarkable consistency. As others faded, Kelly surged. By the time he reached the row station at the midway point, his steady approach was paying off in spades.
He continued to widen the gap, and by the time he tackled the final wall balls, he was over a minute clear of his nearest rival.
Crossing the finish line to the embrace of his partner, Kelly stood alone in the finish corral, the magnitude of his achievement sinking in.
“It was surreal. I can’t believe I just did that,” he said, grinning from ear to ear. “I got a lot of motivation from the young whipper-snapper Joanna [Wietrzyk] about an hour before me. Two from two for the Aussies tonight—we’ll take that.”
Reflecting on the journey, he added, “It’s been amazing the last six months, especially being a part of the Aussie HYROX community.
It’s just getting started Down Under, and there are a lot more athletes to come in this elite space as well. It’s really exciting.”
Tim Wenisch crossed the line next, comfortably securing second place. The fight for third was a rollercoaster.
Rylan Schadegg seemed to have it locked up, but the American’s race fell apart in the final two stations.
Scotland’s Graham Halliday seized the moment, surging from fifth during the wall balls to claim the last podium spot and his World Championships berth.
What Is HYROX and How Does the Ultimate Fitness Race Work?
HYROX is redefining fitness competitions by combining 8 kilometres of running with eight functional workout stations.
It’s designed to be both accessible and challenging, catering to athletes of all ages and abilities. Participants can choose from Singles, Doubles, and Relay divisions, and further tailor the difficulty by opting for the Open or the more demanding Pro categories.
Since its inaugural event in Hamburg in 2018, HYROX has exploded onto the global scene. Now in its seventh season, the competition spans five continents, with new events continually being added to the 2024/25 calendar.
While its inclusivity draws masses of fitness enthusiasts, HYROX doesn’t skimp on high-stakes competition.
Every participant has a shot at qualifying for the HYROX World Championship, set to take place in Chicago in 2025.
At the sport’s pinnacle, the Elite 15 athletes go head-to-head in televised races, delivering a spectacle that’s as thrilling for viewers as it is gruelling for competitors.
Two Majors remain in the 2024/25 season: Las Vegas, USA (February 1-2) and Glasgow, Scotland (March 13).
With seven women’s and eight men’s Elite 15 spots still up for grabs for the World Championships in Chicago next June, the stage is set for more high-octane action.