Since 2022, HYROX has introduced new qualification systems for the World Championships each season. As the sport grows more competitive, these systems become increasingly important. The days of top 15 times or random invites are gone.

HYROX has made minor adjustments over the years, always striving for fairness by listening to athletes, but there’s still room for improvement.

When considering championship qualifications, we can approach it from three angles:

1. Finding the fittest HYROX racer in the world.
2. Creating a system that tells the best stories throughout the year.
3. Assembling the most competitive field for a single race.

For this article, we’ll focus on assembling the best field of athletes.

Taking an Average Time From Your Two Top Races

HYROX has been stuck on time for several years, but this year, they took a step to curb outlier courses by taking the average of the top two times from each racer. This will help reduce the number of athletes who have not proven they can race well and have just benefited from a favorable course.

Adding a 365-Day Competitive Window For Results

One significant improvement for the 2024/2025 season is the introduction of a rolling 365-day competitive window for your two average times. This ensures that the most recent races are the primary factor in assembling the most competitive field. While some may argue that 12 months is still too long, it is a step in the right direction, and the average of two times will hopefully allow fit and healthy athletes to compete at each major.

A Clear Rolldown Set from World Championships Withdrawals

The 2024 season saw four athletes pull out of the world championships before race day. The system to fill these spots could have been clearer at the beginning of the season and seemed like an oversight by HYROX. Now, any open spot from a withdrawn athlete will roll down from the Last Chance Qualifier in Barcelona, ensuring the best athletes for the WC are taken from the most recent race. This was a much-needed update.

The Persistence of Time as a Qualifier

Anyone who has done more than two HYROX events will tell you every course is different, sometimes dramatically. HYROX’s internal organization seems to resist this idea, claiming only slight factors can change a course. But massive swings in results due to run course layout, rox zone efficiency, or sled resistance have been observed. Until HYROX controls the quality of the courses, time remains an imperfect measurement of performance. Courses like Köln, Stockholm, Chicago, Amsterdam, and Fort Lauderdale showed wild outliers, with athletes improving up to 5 minutes from their second fastest time. This variance is unreasonable, and HYROX needs to embrace racing into the majors and worlds.

Each Major Qualifies Three Athletes Per Gender

Currently, each qualifying major takes three athletes to the Worlds, meaning the final major in Scotland could qualify athletes who finished in 10th, 11th, and 12th place. This system can result in athletes who finish in the back half of a race undeservedly qualifying for the World Championship. This rolldown system overly emphasizes time, potentially leading to athletes who don’t race well in the year’s biggest race.

The Season Is Too Long

HYROX, as an event company, maximizes its business by hosting frequent events. However, a 10-month season from October to June is unreasonable for a sport that hinges on preparation and peaking. Such a long season can dilute the field and the stories. The event season can be 12 months, but the sports side should be condensed to 6 months to maintain attention and momentum.

A Major In Asia

This major disadvantages those unable to afford the travel and expenses, potentially leading to lesser-quality athletes qualifying in Hong Kong.

The Declaration Period Is Too Short

In the past, HYROX has not finalized the start list until two weeks before a major. This short notice is insufficient for athletes to plan responsibly, especially for those not competing full-time.

Prioritize Race Results Over Race Times

A proposed system could involve three regional races that qualify athletes for a world championship qualifying race. For example, the top 5 athletes in NYC, Anaheim, and Dallas would be eligible for the North American Championships in Chicago, creating a clearer and fairer qualification path.

Implement Quality Control for Courses

Courses that count towards qualification should meet specific standards, such as having at least 2.5 laps and a consistent roxzone setup. Courses that do not meet these criteria should not count towards qualification.

A Condensed, 6-Month Season

A shorter season would keep attention and momentum, making the sport more engaging for athletes and fans.

Wait for Market Development

HYROX should consider waiting until the Asian market has developed more talent before hosting a major event in a location that is far from where most of its elite athletes are based.

Extend The Declaration and Qualifying Period to 4 Weeks

Providing four-week notice would give athletes adequate time to prepare physically and plan their travel effectively.

The updated qualification process represents progress, albeit incremental, from previous years. These small but positive changes give athletes a clearer understanding of what to expect each season. However, further improvements are necessary for HYROX to evolve from a spectacle to a legitimate sport.