Elite triathletes are voicing concerns and surprise after World Triathlon announced a partnership with Hyrox, a fitness competition that combines running with exercise stations. The agreement, which makes Hyrox a recognized discipline within World Triathlon, has ignited fears among athletes that the move could diminish or replace triathlon's presence in future Olympic Games.
Several athletes, including British triathlete Max Stapley, discovered the news via social media, expressing frustration over the lack of direct communication from their sport's governing body. "We don't even get an early notification, we found out on Instagram," Stapley told BBC Sport. He described the partnership as an "attack on our whole existence," questioning how Hyrox could benefit triathlon and suggesting that it might draw attention and resources away from the established Olympic sport. "If anything they've killed triathlon," he stated, noting Hyrox's lack of swimming or biking elements and its indoor format, which differs significantly from traditional triathlon.
World Triathlon stated that the partnership was approved by its Executive Board, which includes athlete representatives, and that the announcement followed standard procedures. A spokesperson for World Triathlon told BBC Sport that the alliance is intended to "benefit the entire World Triathlon movement" by creating new opportunities to engage athletes and audiences, thereby strengthening triathlon and multisport from grassroots to elite levels. The organization also indicated it is in the "planning phase" for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and asserted that "triathlon is, and will remain, at the heart of everything we do."
However, for athletes like Sophie Evans, a gold medalist in the Commonwealth Games mixed relay, the primary issue is the uncertainty created by the announcement. "It's more the fact we were blindsided, it's just like it's here," she said. European champion Roksana Slupek echoed this sentiment, stating she was "not against the idea" but desired more information on the benefits for triathlon.
Sam Dickinson, an Olympic bronze medalist, acknowledged that the move might align with efforts to increase general participation in sports. "It's trying to get people active not from an elite side but from a participation side," he told BBC Sport. Nevertheless, he also emphasized the need for clearer details, stating, "it's early days, we don't have any of the bread and butter of exactly what's going on."
The partnership integrates 'Fitness Racing,' which was added to the World Triathlon Constitution in October 2025 with support from national federations. Hyrox, founded in 2017, has seen significant growth, with participation projected to exceed 2 million athletes in the current season. British Triathlon, a national federation, expressed its support for World Triathlon's broader development goals but is also awaiting a detailed framework for the partnership's operations, governance, and commercial aspects.