They came, they saw and they HYROX’D.

More than 4000 registered athletes and just as many supporters descended on Chicago this past week to compete in the HYROX World Championships.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: HYROX World Championships in Chicago

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It would have been an odd thing to experience, if you so happened to be on holiday in the ‘Windy City’.

Imagine, fit bodies in every Whole Foods and Starbucks on every street corner when you were just expecting … deep-dish pizza and architecture.

Odd … but not uncomfortable.

HYROX… What is that?

Overheard over many a coffee order in Chicago: “What is HYROX?” and “You do ALL of that?”

What followed was a casual chat about all things accent and why such an odd name for a workout.

HYROX stands for Hybrid Rockstar and it’s a training style rapidly changing gym culture here in Australia and around the world.

It started in 2017 with humble numbers in Germany with 650 people competing.

This season saw 600,000 people across the world take part.

The event in Chicago is the very best of more than half-a-million humans from each age group, taking part to be crowned the world’s best.

It’s like the global footy finals. It’s special to be here.

The workout involves eight 1km runs, with a different functional fitness station at the end of each one.

Functional — a word thrown about a lot in fitness, for the general population.

Movements that are athletic and translatable to body movements any human would use.

The moves focus on exercises that mimic the activities of daily life.

For HYROX, that’s a SkiErg, sled push, sled pull, burpee broad jump, rowing machine, farmers carry, lunges and, finally, a wall ball.

Each exercise has a rep or distance target the participant must meet before being cleared to run 1km to their next phase.

And the criteria for each movement is strict: burpees with chest to ground, wall balls with butts low, lunges with the knee kissing the carpet.

I saw many no reps and looks of anguish. I also saw a lot of heart.

Community and champion competitors

I witnessed Rosa from Mexico stand on the podium for her time of 2:10:20 in her age category of 75-79.

I got a high five from 71-year-old Debbie Leahy, in fluoro, as she passed on one of her runs.

The former netball representative from Victoria, Australia, had the vibes of a 20-year-old … iconic.

Carole Munro from Scotland told me her two hip replacements were not holding her back, but standing on the podium gave her “the scares”.

Her son Stuart, donned in full kilt, got her to laugh and smiled the “scares” right out of her as she ascended the podium to her hard-fought position of third place.

Peter Rogers flew from Brisbane to be on “holiday” with his super-gran wife Sue who came second in the world for her category of 60-64.

He was busy relaying updates to the support community in Everton Park as she pushed, pulled, and ran her way around the course.

This grassroots, human connection shows why HYROX is changing the gym culture around the world, and people are flocking to it.

Sporting prowess

They are known as the elite athletes, the very best 15 men and women who are the top tier of athleticism for HYROX.

Win an age-group title, and if your average race time across two events is within the top 15 across all age groups you are in this realm.

And the Aussies are impressive. Hardworking and humble.

Joanna Wietrzyk placed second in the elite 15 women’s category.

Gracious, humble and moving like she is made to HYROX, this 23-year-old only “tried” it just over a year ago.

She’s quickly moved from rookie to dominate the female category.

She is Australia’s sweetheart.

James “JK” Kelly — he’s the Aussie battler.

His drive and discipline is impressive, placing fourth in the men’s category.

He was as much there for his race as the people he helps race theirs. Approachable. Disciplined.

He is someone who has fought his way to the top over almost as many seasons as HYROX has been around.

And of course, HYROX now has Tia-Claire Toomey Orr.

The woman is amazing.

Named in the King’s Birthday Honours this year for her services to weightlifting and crossfit, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist recently retired from crossfit (where she has more title wins than any other athlete in the history of the sport), shifting her focus to HYROX.

She competed in the mixed doubles with Aussie James Newbury — also insanely athletic — and so darn nice.

They all are.

Worth the hype?

There is no doubt HYROX is an amazing feat to watch and the insane athleticism makes it a spectator sport through and through.

One thing is for sure, the culture is growing and the community is here to stay.

It will grow if HYROX doesn’t forget the key element setting this sport apart.

The people. Those grassroots competitors with their leagues of supporters that help them train and follow them to these crazy events all to champion their person.

It’s unreal to see anyone of any age achieve something they weren’t sure they could.

It’s heartwarming to see the supporters cheer on their athlete.

The yells of encouragement, the signs, the support, the hugs, the tears.

It’s the people giving it a go who are responsible for helping HYROX revolutionise gym culture and catapult it in popularity.

It’s people like Rosa from Mexico, standing first on the World Championship podium for age category 75-79, holding back tears as her national anthem plays.