World Triathlon and Hyrox, the global functional fitness racing series, are officially introducing Hybrid Racing as a new discipline within the World Triathlon family.

World Triathlon described the agreement as the culmination “of a full year of dedicated work between World Triathlon and Hyrox,” adding that “the partnership will not only accelerate the growth of World Triathlon on the global stage, it will open genuine new opportunities for every one of our National Federations to grow participation, engage new audiences, and strengthen our sport at every level.”

World Triathlon President Antonio F. Arimany said he is proud of the forward-looking collaboration, noting that “it is enormously gratifying to see it move from negotiation into reality.”

“Hybrid Racing is a natural evolution for our movement,” he said.

The partnership continues World Triathlon’s push to grow triathlon and multisport While establishing a potential pathway to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Partnering with World Triathlon is a monumental step toward that vision. By formally establishing Hybrid Racing within the World Triathlon family, we are creating an official framework, from National and Continental Championships to Multi-Sport Games, forging a path and paving the way towards the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Hybrid Racing is no longer just a global fitness movement, it is officially on the road to the Olympics,” Christian Toetzke, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Hyrox, said in a statement.

Since its launch in Germany in 2017, Hyrox has grown to more than one million participants globally. According to Hyrox, its events are hosted in in 30 countries and over 85 cities worldwide.

The partnership is a significant step toward meeting the criteria for being considered a new Olympic-caliber sport. It strengthens Hybrid Racing’s Olympic ambitions by placing the discipline within an IOC-recognised international federation, which is a prerequisite for Olympic programme eligibility under Rule 45 of the Olympic Charter. Inclusion would still require IOC approval, with global appeal among the eligibility factors considered in the IOC’s programme evaluation process.

As part of that effort, World Triathlon and Hyrox will work towards the inclusion of Hybrid Racing in Multi-Sport Games. Through the partnership, Hyrox will become the exclusive operator of the official World, Continental and National Championships for elite athletes, including the pathway to potential Olympic participation.

The partnership will also support the development of three competition formats:

• Ultimate: based on the existing Hyrox format
• Fast: a shorter, higher-intensity format
• Ultra: an extended endurance format.

For Hyrox co-founder Moritz Fürste, the agreement marks another milestone in the sport’s growth.

“What started in a German exhibition hall has filled arenas across six continents, and this partnership with World Triathlon brings our ultimate ambition closer to a reality. This moment belongs entirely to our community, every athlete who has crossed a finish line has helped build this sport into what it is now. We are paving the way for an entire generation of hybrid racers to chase their own Olympic dream.”