By Salma El-Sakka
World Triathlon's new partnership with Hyrox, the indoor fitness racing series that combines running with functional exercise stations, has ignited concern among elite triathletes who fear the move could threaten their sport's Olympic status. The agreement, announced last week, makes Hyrox a recognised discipline within World Triathlon, potentially paving the way for its inclusion in future Olympic and Paralympic Games, possibly as early as Brisbane 2032.
Athletes Blindsided by Announcement
British triathlete Max Stapley learned of the partnership through Instagram rather than from his governing body. "We don't even get an early notification, we found out on Instagram," he said. Fellow British athlete Sophie Evans, a Commonwealth Games mixed relay gold medallist, described being "surprised" by the lack of consultation. Stapley accused World Triathlon of showing "no respect" for athletes by not seeking their input before or after the announcement.
Concerns Over Resources and Olympic Future
Stapley called the partnership an "attack on our whole existence," warning that World Triathlon could divert attention and resources toward Hyrox's Olympic ambitions at the expense of traditional triathlon. He noted that sponsorships have already declined due to limited television visibility for triathlon. "There's no swimming, there's no biking, it's indoors. [Hyrox] has got nothing to do [with triathlon]," Stapley said. Evans added that the deal introduces a "level of uncertainty" for a sport that has been Olympic since 2000.
World Triathlon Defends Partnership
A World Triathlon spokesperson stated the executive board, which includes elected athlete representatives, approved the partnership. The organisation said the collaboration aims to "benefit the entire World Triathlon movement" by engaging new audiences and growing multisport from grassroots to elite level. World Triathlon added it remains focused on the Olympic and Paralympic families and that triathlon "is, and will remain, at the heart of everything we do."
Hyrox's Rapid Growth
Founded in 2017, Hyrox has expanded quickly, with 1.5 million participants in the 2025/26 season, up from 650,000 the previous year. Participation is projected to surpass 2 million in the current season. The discipline was added to the World Triathlon Constitution in October 2025 with support from a majority of national federations.
Uncertainty Over Coexistence
Olympic bronze medallist Sam Dickinson acknowledged the partnership makes sense from a participation perspective but stressed the need for clarity. British Triathlon, a national federation, said it recognises World Triathlon's efforts to grow the sport but is awaiting the full operational, governance, and commercial framework for the partnership.
