GymNation, a leading fitness operator in the Middle East with over 110,000 members, has partnered with global fitness race brand Hyrox to launch dedicated Hyrox Performance and Hyrox Training Centers, giving competitors a space to train like the pros.
This year, GymNation plans to open 20 more fitness facilities across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, fulfilling demand in the region for accessible fitness centers.
The GymNation Hyrox Performance Center will be outfitted with equipment from official Hyrox supplier Centr, ensuring members have access to the same gear used in world championship races. The flooring—imported from Europe—mirrors official Hyrox race conditions and the centers will also feature Concept2 Cardio Rowers and SkiErgs.
The fast-growing fitness race was launched in Germany in 2017 by Moritz Fürste and Christian Toetzke, with its first event in 2018 drawing 650 participants. Today, the competitive fitness race has a global presence, with attendance numbers doubling each year and online searches up 233% year-over-year.
“We’re realizing that fitness is truly universal,” Douglas Gremmen, Hyrox’s chief operations officer, told Athletech News last month. “The language of fitness is probably one of the only sports that resonates in every country of the world: the way Americans consume fitness is similar to how the Chinese perceive fitness.”
As is often the case in fitness, the journey is just as important as the destination—so preparation is key. Hyrox races are timed and follow a set format: competitors complete a one-kilometer run before tackling an exercise station—such as sled pushes, SkiErgs, or kettlebell farmer’s carries—repeating the cycle eight times. The format is consistent worldwide, allowing participants to rank on global leaderboards and, if they qualify, advance to the season-ending World Championships.
“We believe the sport of Hyrox can be trained inside every fitness facility around the world in the same way you go to yoga or HIIT class,” Gremmen says.
Hyrox is soon hosting its second annual outdoor race in New York City this May for a three-day event with F45.Roughly 15,000 athletes are expected to attend.
