🧠Prize Money, Dublin & Chicago Preview
Recent efforts to professionalize the sport of HYROX have been getting lots of attention. From the rollout of the Athlete License to drug testing outside of Majors, it’s clear HYROX is investing in the elite side of the sport.
One thing that’s received less fanfare? The massive increase in prize purses this season. At the first Major in Hamburg, payouts over doubled compared to last year. Here's a breakdown:
đź’° Major Prize Purse Growth
| Place | 2024–2025 Majors | 2025–2026 Majors | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $7,500 | $15,000 | +$7,500 |
| 2nd | $5,000 | $9,600 | +$4,600 |
| 3rd | $3,500 | $6,000 | +$2,500 |
| 4th | $3,000 | $4,800 | +$1,800 |
| 5th | $2,500 | $4,200 | +$1,700 |
| 6th | $2,000 | $3,600 | +$1,600 |
| 7th | $1,500 | $3,000 | +$1,500 |
| 8th | $1,000 | $2,700 | +$1,700 |
| 9th | $750 | $2,400 | +$1,650 |
| 10th | $750 | $2,100 | +$1,350 |
| 11th | $500 | $1,800 | +$1,300 |
| 12th | $500 | $1,500 | +$1,000 |
| 13th | $500 | $1,200 | +$700 |
| 14th | $500 | $900 | +$400 |
| 15th | $500 | $900 | +$400 |
| Total | $30,000 | $64,700 | +$34,700 |
The total purse now nearly matches what was paid out at 2024 World Champs in Chicago (~$100,000 per gender), and further increases are likely.
👯‍♂️ Elite 15 Doubles Prize Structure
Previously, Doubles prize money only existed at World Champs, where only the top 5 were paid:
2024 World Champs Doubles Payouts
(Split per team)
| Place | Payout |
|---|---|
| 1st | $12,000 |
| 2nd | $10,000 |
| 3rd | $5,000 |
| 4th | $3,000 |
| 5th | $1,000 |
| Total | $31,000 |
Now compare that to the new Doubles payout introduced in Hamburg:
2025–2026 Elite 15 Majors Doubles Prize Purse
| Place | Payout |
|---|---|
| 1st | $10,000 |
| 2nd | $6,400 |
| 3rd | $4,000 |
| 4th | $3,200 |
| 5th | $2,800 |
| 6th | $2,400 |
| 7th | $2,000 |
| 8th | $1,800 |
| 9th | $1,600 |
| 10th | $1,400 |
| 11th | $1,200 |
| 12th | $1,000 |
| 13th | $800 |
| 14th | $600 |
| 15th | $400 |
| Total | $39,600 |
While few athletes can live solely off prize winnings, increased exposure and brand deals are making the path to becoming a professional HYROX athlete more viable than ever.
🔥 This Weekend's Races: Last Major Qualifiers
The cutoff date for Melbourne Major is November 21st, so this is the last full weekend to earn a qualifying time.
🇮🇪 HYROX Dublin (5-day event)
Men’s Pro Field Highlights
- Sean Noble (7th) – 🇮🇪
- Alen Ploj (16th) – 🇸🇮
- Graham Halliday (24th) – 🏴
- Marc Dean (25th) – 🇬🇧
- Michael Stephens (26th) – 🇬🇧
- Fabian Eisenlauer (27th) – 🇩🇪
- Sebastian Ifversen (29th) – 🇩🇰
- Maarten Einthoven (33rd) – 🇳🇱
- Harry Thompson (35th) – 🇬🇧
Women’s Pro Field Highlights:
- Melanie Maurer (12th) – 🇨đź‡
- Manuela GarcĂa CaparrĂłs (13th) – 🇪🇸
- Zara Piergianni (15th) – 🇬🇧
- Tanja Stroschneider (17th) – 🇦🇹
- Kat Parnell (19th) – 🇬🇧
- Jade Skillen (25th) – 🇬🇧
- Anabel Obank (40th) – 🇬🇧
🇺🇸 HYROX Chicago (3-day event)
- Cole Learn looks to improve from his current 21st ranking
- Lauren Weeks returns to individual Pro racing for the first time since Dubai 2023
Other top women racing:
- Gabrielle Nikora-Baker (14th) – 🇳🇿
- Camilla Massa (26th) – 🇮🇹
- Morgan Schulz (37th) – 🇺🇸
🏆 Top Performance from Last Weekend
HYROX Seoul delivered a battle between:
- James Kelly (Elite 15 vet)
- Josh Van Zeeland (rising star)
After multiple lead changes, Van Zeeland took the win in 54:57, thanks to a run split that was 1:03 faster than Kelly’s.
🎧 Who Did It Better?
- Rich dropped a video: How to Build a Running Program for HYROX
- Brakken countered with a solo podcast in response
In a sport evolving this fast, it’s refreshing to see differing training philosophies out in the open.
🎙️ On Race Brain This Week
It's the fan-favorite Top 5 Episode.
Tune in to hear where the current top athletes rank in this ever-changing season.
Thanks for tuning in. Don’t forget to subscribe and share with a fellow hybrid athlete—see you out there!
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