27-11-2025

Introduction

Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV), through the HYScience project, has conducted the world’s first scientific study focusing on the physiological profile of hybrid athletes competing in the HYROX PRO Men’s category. This research was led by Jorge Gutiérrez-Hellín, professor in the Bachelor's Degree Physical Activity and Sports Sciences at UFV**, was conducted during the month of November, coinciding with the HYROX Madrid event (27-30 de noviembre), which brings together 21,000 international participants for a unique annual gathering in the capital.

%name Francisco de Vitoria University leads the world's first scientific study on the physiological profile of HYROX athletes in the PRO Men category Study at a Private University in Madrid

HYROX, a sport gaining global popularity

HYROX, a registered trademark that has developed a unique and emerging hybrid race format, combines eight 1,000-meter running segments with eight high-intensity functional workouts, making it an unprecedented discipline due to its physiological demands. Scientifically understanding these demands is key to optimizing training and defining the profile of elite athletes. In line with its global growth, the International Triathlon Union has announced that it will integrate these competitions under the name Fitness Racing in the near future.

“HYROX is a unique discipline that demands both endurance and functional strength. With this study, we aim to understand its physiological demands to help coaches and athletes optimize their athletic performance and prevent injuries. UFV is at the forefront of sports science,” explains Jorge Gutiérrez-Hellín, director of UFV’s HYScience project.

Elite athletes in the lab

The study evaluated 22 elite athletes, including two members of the prestigious Elite-15—Emilio Aguayo and Aitor Lizarazu—who are considered among the world’s best competitors. The physiological data collected will be compared with the results these athletes achieve during the competition in Madrid, which will allow for an analysis of the relationship between actual demands and competitive performance.

The research team consists of Arturo Franco, Clara Larnaudie, Susana Alonso, and Mario Matías, along with external collaborators Daniel Arazola, Jaime Gil, Francisco José Martín, and Mario Sainz. With this project, UFV has established itself as an international leader in sports research.

Science, Performance, and Health in the School of Health Sciences

The Bachelor's Degree Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (CAFYD) at Francisco de Vitoria University, part of the School of Health Sciences**, trains hundreds of students each year in an environment that combines sports practice, innovative teaching, and research focused on performance and health.

Through this faculty, UFV leads various research projects in the field of sports and health, including an international study revealing a widespread lack of university-level education on doping; the work of the “Elite and High-Performance Athletes” group, which analyzes how certain genetic polymorphisms may be related to athletic performance traits; and the “Exercise is Medicine” project, part of the programme University” programme , which demonstrates how physical activity can serve as a preventive tool in workplace settings, improving the health, well-being, and quality of life of the university community.

* This research is completely independent andis not linked, endorsed, or associatedin any way with the HYROX trademark or its commercial entities. The project is conductedon a non-profit basisand servesexclusively scientific and academic purposes, focused on the study and understanding of human performance in emerging sports under the auspices of theresearch departmentat Francisco de Vitoria University in Madrid.

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Francisco de Vitoria University is leading the world's first scientific study on the physiological profile of HYROX athletes in the PRO Men category

Introduction

HYROX, a sport gaining global popularity

Elite athletes in the lab

Science, Performance, and Health in the School of Health Sciences

You may be interested

Introduction

HYROX, a sport gaining global popularity

Elite athletes in the lab

Science, Performance, and Health in the School of Health Sciences

You may be interested