The Race Brain Drop vol. 20

The Athlete License Controversy: Retroactive Rules?

HYROX recently announced a series of changes to qualifying for Major races via an email directed to the “Elites.” Earlier this season, HYROX introduced the Athlete License as a way to further professionalize the sport.

In an athlete email sent out on September 1st, 2025, under the section titled "Who is an Athlete License for?", the following was stated:

If you will be competing in any of the Elite 15 races, you will need a license.
If you think you may qualify to compete in an Elite 15 race then we strongly encourage you to apply for a license proactively – benefits apply.
From Season 26/27, an athlete license will be required for all qualifying athletes (i.e., you will not be able to qualify for an Elite 15 race if you do not have a license in place already).

But Then... a Change

A follow-up email on October 22, 2025, changed the timeline — and retroactively. Here’s what was announced:

From now until January 1st, 2026, the leaderboard remains unchanged.
On January 1st, 2026, any times achieved after September 1st, 2025 by athletes without a valid license will be removed from the standings.

In Summary, Come January 1st:

The leaderboard will only include:

Times from 1/1/2025 to 9/1/2025 – regardless of license status.
Times from 9/1/2025 to 12/31/2025 – only for athletes with a valid license.

So What’s the Problem?

Athletes were explicitly told that an Athlete License was not yet required to qualify. Many raced under that assumption — some hearing it directly from HYROX, others via community channels.

Now, HYROX is retroactively changing the rules, potentially erasing the results of athletes who dedicated time, money, and international travel to secure a qualifying time.

Athletes Potentially Affected

Men

Cole Learn – 55:30
Fabian Eisenlauer – 55:43
Krystian Poremba – 55:59
Liam McCroary – 56:33
Kyle Schoonbee – 56:33
Marc Dean – 56:38
Gustav Cordua – 56:59
Florian Gast – 57:03
Josh Van Zeeland – 57:17
Louis Osselaer – 57:18
Roberto Viciedo Gimeno – 57:22
Franz Löschke – 57:32
Tanguy Cruz – 57:37
Maarten Enthoven – 57:47
Frédéric Dubé – 57:47
Tiziano Pedrocchi – 57:53
Ronan Lindsay – 57:56

Women

Gabrielle Nikora-Baker – 60:54 / 62:24
Manuela García Caparrós – 61:11 / 63:17
Vicky MacIntosh – 61:28 / 62:51
Carolyn Watkins – 61:33
Elli Stenfors – 61:39
Sophia Parvizi Wayne – 61:40
Stefanie Oswald – 61:56
Karin Mattson – 62:14
Gloria Corbetta – 62:18
Calypso Sheridan – 62:02
Viola Oberlander – 62:53
Belle MacFarlane – 63:21
Danél Louw – 63:23
Gabriella Moriarty – 63:59

If these athletes raced without a valid license, their times will be erased come January 1.

The Bottom Line

HYROX speaks often about “professionalizing the sport.” But retroactive rule enforcement does the opposite — it damages trust and puts athletes in limbo. Set clear standards going forward? Absolutely. But punishing those who played by the rules they were given? That’s unacceptable.

What’s on This Weekend?

We’re already in it! Two huge 5-day events are underway in Birmingham and Paris.

Notable Early Performances:

Jake Williamson & Charlie Botterill ran a 49:17 Pro Doubles — 3rd fastest ever.
Holly Archer & Sophia Parvizi Wayne put down a 56:38 Pro Doubles to enter the Elite 15.
Sean Noble returned with a 55:04 after his previous PR dropped off.

Top Performers from Valencia

Charlie Botterill raced twice in Valencia with a best of 56:24. That’s three sub-60s in six days (!)
Manuela García Caparrós took the win in 64:52 — over a minute ahead of 2nd place.

Race Brain HYROX Rundown 🎙️

Matt, Brakken, and Jack dive into the early years of HYROX — including first-hand stories from the first ever American HYROX event and pulling 25-meter sled ropes