The 2025 HYROX Women’s World Championship is shaping up to be one of the most competitive fields we’ve ever seen. With every single woman in the Elite 15 having set their personal best this season, it’s not just deep—it’s peaking at the right time.

In a recent episode of the HYROX Rundown, the Race Brain crew—Matt, Michelle, and Rich—did a full deep dive on each of the 15 qualifiers. From Red Bull-backed rookies to grizzled veterans, here’s your full preview of the contenders set to toe the line in Chicago.

Lucy Procter

The British breakout and Red Bull/Gymshark-sponsored athlete turned heads with a big performance in her first season as an Elite 15 athlete. Her run splits are world-class, and her potential on the sleds is growing. But, with limited experience in top-tier fields, the question is whether she can handle the chaos of a World Championship. The upside? Huge. The margin for error? Slim.

Lauren Griffith

One of the most aggressive racers in the field, Lauren Griffith has been right on the edge of the podium all season. Her strategy: go out hot and hold on. If she can control the pacing and clean up execution on transitions, she could absolutely crack the top five. But it’s going to take her cleanest race ever.

Amy Bevilacqua

A true veteran in the field and one of the most respected competitors on the circuit. Amy’s substantial aerobic base and thoughtful training make her a reliable force. She’s coming off a focused training block and, according to the panel, has one of the highest “floors” in the race. Top 10 seems likely—top 5 if others slip.

Melanie Maurer

An elite duathlete turned HYROX contender, Melanie continues to improve with every outing. She’s got a strong engine and excels at pacing, but she hasn’t been battle-tested in an Elite 15 field yet. This World Championship will be her proving ground.

Emilie Dahmen

Maybe the biggest wildcard in the field. Emilie lit up the course in Barcelona with an absurdly dominant sled pull and a solo-style win that earned her a spot in Chicago. But was it a one-off performance or the start of a breakout? If she repeats that effort, she’s a podium threat—plain and simple.

Jess Pettrow

Consistent, controlled, and often underrated, Jess Pettrow doesn’t make big mistakes. She’s not flashy, but her steady execution keeps her in the mix at every race. The Race Brain crew sees her as a “silent threat” who could capitalize if bigger names falter.

Seka Arning

One of Europe’s best, Seka has built her resume over the past two seasons with strong finishes and powerful sled work. She’s well-rounded and has experience in fast fields. Not a household name (yet), but if she sneaks into the top 6, don’t be shocked.

Vivian Tafuto

Vivian Tafuto has become a fixture at the top of the HYROX scene, and her third-place finish at the 2024 World Championships proved one thing: she shows up when it matters most.

Her 2025 season started slow—nagging injuries and illness kept her off the radar early—but a sub-60 performance in Glasgow made one thing clear: Vivian is back. And she’s dangerous.

With the women's field deeper than ever heading into Chicago, Vivian remains a legit podium contender. She’s arguably the best station athlete in the sport, and when sleds get heavy, she rises. Smooth on the skierg, clinical on the lunges, and brutal on the burpee broad jumps—Vivien doesn’t just survive stations, she separates with them.

Kate Davey

Kate Davey is as reliable as they come when it comes to race execution. Dubbed the Queen of Burpees, she’s known for making decisive moves in the middle of the race—especially when the stations get gritty. If she’s lurking at the halfway point, she’s not done climbing.

At the 2024 World Championships, she proved just how dangerous she can be—sitting in second place heading into the rower and finishing strong. She backed it up with solid early-season performances that showed she was ready to level up in 2025.

Unfortunately, her momentum took a hit in Glasgow after suffering an ankle injury mid-race. That setback leaves a bit of a question mark around her current fitness and health heading into Chicago.

But make no mistake—if Kate is healthy, she’s a problem. She knows how to race tough, make moves when it counts, and hold on when others fade. Don’t be surprised if she’s deep in the fight for a top finish.

Ida Mathilde Steensgaard

The Danish athlete known for tactical racing and technical proficiency. She’s smart on the course and doesn’t waste energy. Her success may depend on how chaotic the race environment becomes—if it turns into a game of efficiency, she’s in great shape.

Sinéad Bent

Once considered a breakout name, Sinead has now established herself as a reliable top-tier competitor. She’s aggressive when needed and has learned to manage her races. Whether there’s another level to unlock is the big question heading into Chicago.

Linda Meier

On paper, one of the most complete athletes in the field. Linda has all the tools: strong stations, fast runs, and experience. But injury and illness has plagued her in key moments. If she puts together a clean race, she’s a real threat to finish top 3. If not, she could slide down the rankings fast.

Joanna Wietrzyk

At just 21, Joanna Wietrzyk isn’t just the future of HYROX—she’s already part of its present. The Australian phenom burst onto the scene with fearless racing and high-end talent that’s impossible to ignore.

She’s one of the few athletes who can say they’ve beaten Lauren Weeks head-to-head, doing just that in Hong Kong. Her engine is legit, her run splits are elite, and her tactical approach reflects the influence of her PRVN training crew—some of the sharpest minds in the sport.

The only thing she doesn’t have yet? World Championship experience.

This will be Joanna’s first time on HYROX’s biggest stage, and that’s always an unknown. But everything she’s shown so far—composure, aggression, execution—says she won’t blink.

Brian’s take? She’ll show up big.
Expect her to race with confidence, lean on her training, and fight for a spot on the World Championship podium.

Meg Jacoby

Meg Jacoby enters the 2024 HYROX World Championship as the reigning champ—but her path back to the start line has been anything but typical.

She punched her ticket early in the season with a PR performance in Amsterdam, looking as dominant as ever. But shortly after, she was sidelined for back surgery to repair a disc issue in her lower spine—a major detour in what should’ve been a momentum-building year.

Since then? All eyes have been on the comeback.

Meg hasn’t raced much individually, but she’s been active—and impressive—in Pro Doubles and Mixed Doubles, even qualifying again for Elite 15 through the partner format. The movement quality looks sharp. The confidence is there. The only question: how fit, how healthy, and how race-ready will she be when the lights are brightest?

The Race Brain bet? She’ll be ready.

Lauren Weeks

What is there to say about Lauren Weeks that hasn’t already been said?

She’s the undisputed GOAT of HYROX and somehow, still getting better. This might be her best season yet—consistently fast, endlessly composed, and pushing the ceiling of what’s possible in the sport.

After a hard-fought second-place finish at last year’s World Championship, Weeks is back with fire—and chasing her fourth world title. No one manages effort, execution, and intensity like Lauren. When she toes the line, she’s not just racing the field—she’s reshaping the standard.

Final Thoughts

This year’s women’s HYROX Elite 15 is deeper, faster, and more competitive than ever. Every athlete has peaked at the right time. Every athlete has a case for being in the top 10. And more than a few have a legit shot at the podium.

The question isn’t whether this will be a good race—it’s whether we’re ready for how good it might be.

Stay tuned. Chicago is going to be wild.