Held at Singapore Expo as part of Fitness and Wellness Asia, the second HYROX Singapore this year rode on the success of June's edition with over 6,000 participants
2 SEPTEMBER 2024, SINGAPORE - In June, Singapore held the biggest single day HYROX race in history and despite the sheer toll the fitness race takes on the body, it left people wanting more.
And that's what they got.
The past weekend saw Singapore's third ever HYROX event. This time, instead of the Singapore National Stadium, it was held at halls three and four of Singapore Expo as part of the Fitness and Wellness Expo (FWE) Asia. Over 6,000 participants took part in the race which consisted of 12 different categories in the pro, open, doubles and relay disciplines.
With some having competed at the June edition at the National Stadium, there were a few differences noted by the participants.
Melissa Foo, who competed in the mixed doubles on Sunday said "It was much more cooling but here (Singapore Expo), it was was more crowded and some areas got congested like at the spectator crossing. Overall though, it was still very fun and I look forward to participating again.
Team Singapore triathlete, Yong Man Yun, who was set to compete but had to pull out due to injury, came down nonetheless to support the participants and was immediately drawn in by the atmosphere.
"I didn't expect this atmosphere at all, there was a jam coming in! I see a lot of supporters. People who may not be into the sport are down here to support their friends and I think that's great," gushed Man Yun.
Members of Team100PLUS were also amongst the competitors, with Ria Chen finishing on the podium in her relay event on day 2.
Told in pictures, here are some highlights of the second HYROX weekend this year.
Hybrid athlete, Kenneth Seet missed out on a spot on the podium on day 1 by a mere second. Competing in the men's open in the 30-34 age group, the Team100PLUS athlete blazed through the circuit before ultimately struggling at the final wall balls station. With 20-30 no counts, he eventually finished the race with an impressive timing of just under an hour ten minutes.
A women's open participant focused on her form and determination to complete the sled pull. The third out of eight stations, the weight of which the participant must pull depends on the category they compete in.
One of the many interesting parts of HYROX is seeing the outfits of doubles and relay participants. With some going the down the usual route of matching coloured tops of shoes, this pair went the extra mile and it's safe to say it put a smile on the faces of some spectators.
Founder of Fire City Singapore, Samuel Lim took part in the Men's Doubles Pro with fellow Fire City member, Sylvester Tan. The pair came in at 1:20:06.
"We’re stoked with our performance—smooth sailing from start to finish. There’s always room to improve, but we stuck to our goal and crushed those 8km runs and stations with efficiency and teamwork. Every strategy paid off!" said Samuel on his socials after the race.
Former Team Singapore fin swimmer and water polo player, Lim Yao Xiang conquered the fitness race on both days. After finishing in the men's doubles on day 1, Yao Xiang competed in the mixed doubles with fiancé Lim Shi Hwee, who cheekily posed behind her soon-to-be husband while the latter started the race with the SkiErgs.
The couple finished the race with a timing of 1:22:10.
The infamous wall balls. The finish line is just off to the side, in the peripheral view of all the participants with just one more obstacle to overcome. Depending on the category, competitors must complete between 75-100 wall balls. Watched closely by a judge stood next to them, all the wall balls must hit its target and everyone must do a proper squat.
Then, and only then, can one run to the finish line in triumph.
Team100PLUS' Erin Ong and Ria Chen competed in the women's doubles on day 1. The pajr completed the wall balls within an impressing 3 minutes 55 seconds, in the top 89.7% of the station.
"It was our first time competing together, the experience was great fun. I was a little sick with a blocked nose so I tried my best but I'm really thankful for Ria who helped tank some of the stations," said Erin.
The aisles along each station were jam-packed with family and friends cheering on the HYROX participants. A huge part of the competition, the spectators are commonly credited for creating the community spirit HYROX possesses.
Without them (and the hilarious signs), the fitness race would be near impossible to compete. It's the constant support and cheers that truly pushes the participants all the way to the finish.
And it makes the participants smile too, despite all the pain and fatigue!
It's truly a NAPFA test on steroids. If you thought the eight stations were tough enough (which they are), a 1km run is required after every station, amounting to a total of 8km.
A mixed doubles participant pulled her weight as she dominated the sled pull, a station that often traps competitors due to its difficulty.
Participants must pull the sled for a total of 50m, with its weight once again depending on the category.
Team100PLUS athletes, Melissa Foo and Daniel Fang finished at 1:25:21 in the mixed doubles on day 2
While Melissa had previously taken part in the women's open in June, Daniel had competed in the men's doubles with Paul Martin. The duo decided to form a team this time round, two weeks before flying off the Australia for the Sydney Marathon.
Two mixed doubles pairs go toe-to-toe in the sled push, the second station of the entire circuit.
Being the only HYROX race in the Southeast Asian region, participants hailed from all over the area and the world. Many came from all parts of neighbouring Malaysia. It served as proof that community is the essence of the race, and that the atmosphere is created by people from all walks of life and backgrounds.
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