Hyrox’s popularity in Hong Kong has exploded.

The first Hong Kong edition of the race – which involves eight sets of 1km (0.6-mile) runs interspersed with eight punishing fitness challenges – was held in November 2022 during the pandemic and drew fewer than 1,000 participants. This year, 20,000 people have signed up for the hybrid sport’s return to AsiaWorld-Expo from May 8-10.

The same explosion has happened across the world ever since the first Hyrox event, in Germany in 2017, which attracted 600 competitors. This season’s events are projected to attract a total of 1.3 million participants globally. Race places are known to sell out in as little as 15 minutes.

The secret to Hyrox’s success, believes its Asia-Pacific head of operations, Richard Cowley – who will compete in Hong Kong this month – is its accessibility coupled with a festival atmosphere that no road race can match.

“Every movement is basic human movement – running, jumping, pushing, pulling, throwing. Anybody who can walk can do a Hyrox,” he says, plus there is no time limit for finishing.

He describes the event as “a gym race festival”.

“You’ve got the music pumping, an MC, a DJ, and your friends and family can watch you at every single station.”