HYROX is surging to the forefront of global fitness competition, and we sat down with Mat Lock, the newly appointed Technical Director of Elite 15 Racing at HYROX, to talk about the sport’s explosive growth, elite athlete development, technological innovations, and where this hybrid fitness phenomenon is heading next.
“This is the Sport of Fitness”
Mat Lock brings over two decades of corporate leadership experience, a background in ultra-endurance racing, and a deep understanding of mass participation sports to HYROX. His goal? To shape the future of the Elite 15 and raise the bar for professional fitness racing.
“We want HYROX to be a global Tier 1 sport. Think football, Formula 1. That’s the long-term vision.”
With athlete numbers exploding—from 30,000 to over 600,000 participants this year alone—HYROX is rapidly redefining competitive fitness. By 2026, they expect to surpass one million global racers.
Tips for First-Time Racers
For newcomers entering their first HYROX event, Mat’s advice is simple:
- Just do it – Get amongst it, choose your division, and sign up.
- Find a community – Training is more effective and enjoyable with others.
- Run your own race – Stick to your plan and don’t let the atmosphere push you too hard out the gate.
Mat highlighted that HYROX really is for everyone, for every body. If you are thinking about signing up and going for your first race, then they have a division for you, your goals and your current ability level.
“Know that it is the sport for everyone, for everybody and just back yourself. Do it with a mate, do it with a loved one or a friend. If you want to do doubles you can participate as a relay team of four where you each complete 25% of the work. Each of those choices lowers the barrier to entry. Even if you’re not sure, whatever you do, we’ve we’ve got a division for you.”
“That Red Bull tunnel moment—when the countdown begins and the crowd roars—it’s unforgettable.”
After completing his first ever HYROX event last weekend, BOXROX’s Executive Director Jo Taylor had this to say about the experience, If you’d asked me during the wall balls about doing another hyrox I think I would have said never again. But 15 minutes after finishing and full of endorphins and a real sense of accomplishment and I’m a HYROX convert.
“HYROX has struck a balance between extremely hard and highly accessible. Time to get training for race number two. If you’d asked me during the wall balls about doing another HYROX I think I would have said never again. But 15 minutes after finishing and full of endorphins and a real sense of accomplishment and I’m a HYROX convert.”
“HYROX has struck a balance between extremely hard and highly accessible. Time to get training for race number two.”
Coaching Advice for Intermediate Athletes
Consistency, intentionality, and holistic preparation are what separate good from great. Mat underscores the importance of:
- Structured training
- Recovery and mobility
- Being present during workouts
“As with any sport, especially larger mass participation types of tier one type sports like HYROX, consistency is key at the end of the day. If you want to be successful in your athletic endeavours, it’s a lifestyle. So it’s not just the training, but it’s also the nutrition, the hydration, the recovery, the mobility, and being super consistent with all of that.”
“So one would assume an intermediate racer is already following some sort of program and that they are probably part of a gym or a community. Therefore they have structured training. But the attitude of turning up and doing every session with intent is hugely important. The athlete must understand what the intention of each workout is.”
“Think about what you are you trying to get out of that workout. There’s a great quote from Alethea Boone, a well known crossfitter who’s part of our team, which is…”
“Be where your feet are. Know the purpose of every session.”
Technical Faults and Movement Standards
One commonly mishandled movement? Wall ball squats.
“It often comes down to mobility. That’s why we focus on it. We’re watching.”
As HYROX’s elite standards evolve, correct execution becomes even more critical—not just for performance, but for fairness and judging.
Elite Sport: Building a Global Competitive Standard
Mat’s role is focused on ensuring continuity, professionalism, and transparency across elite races.
“Every race is measured precisely. People joke about the measuring wheel… but we actually use one. Every race has over 28 floor plan measurements.”
Future plans include separate elite setups to ensure uniformity, use of technologies like video judging, and potentially AI to manage density and flow across race stations.
The Role of Technology in HYROX’s Future
HYROX is rolling out several digital innovations:
- Digital wall ball targets: Accurate, interactive, and popular with athletes.
- AI for density management: Ensuring no athlete waits for a station.
- Data-driven planning: Over 1.2 million wall ball strikes were recorded at the Glasgow Major alone.
“We want to eliminate waiting. We want every athlete to feel like an athlete.”
Crossovers, Coaching Trends, and the Evolution of Training
Top CrossFit and hybrid athletes—like Tia-Clair Toomey and James Newbury—are embracing HYROX. Meanwhile, elite-level programming is still maturing.
“No one can say they’ve found the ‘secret sauce’ yet. But what’s exciting is how athletes with vastly different backgrounds are excelling.”
This “plurality” in training is creating a melting pot of methodologies—and it’s pushing the sport forward.
From the Masses to the Elite: Bridging the Gap
Mat emphasizes the need to maintain balance between elite and mass participation:
“The elite 15 is the pointy end. But for most athletes, they’re the inspiration—the entertainment. The race is still theirs.”
HYROX will continue investing in stories, visibility, and behind-the-scenes insights to build stronger connections between fans and athletes.
The Road Ahead: Tier 1 Status and Olympic Dreams
With a professional production crew, press conferences, sponsor activations, and over 20,000 HYROX affiliates expected by the end of 2025, the sport is pushing into new frontiers.
“Fitness is the biggest sport in the world. HYROX is the sport of fitness.”
And yes—Olympic ambitions are real. Co-founder Moritz Fürste, a former Olympian, is openly discussing this aspiration.
Final Thoughts
The HYROX team is doubling down on professionalism, athlete development, and audience engagement. As Mat Lock puts it:
“We are building this from scratch—but we are building it to last.”
Stay tuned to BOXROX for exclusive HYROX insights, elite athlete profiles, and coverage of the 2025 World Championships in Chicago.
