VICTORIA - Madelyn Eybergen didn't set out to be a HYROX world champion. A love of strength training, combined with an elite endurance background, propelled her to the top of the sport by just her second solo race. Now, while balancing varsity cross country, HYROX competition and completing a master's degree, she has her sights set on a place in the Elite 15, HYROX's premier competition circuit.

The University of Victoria cross-country and track star cemented herself as a force in Canadian university athletics last season when she joined the Vikes. She helped lead the women's team to Canada West and U SPORTS titles, captured individual gold at the U SPORTS cross-country championships and broke a 38-year-old school record in the women's 3,000 metres.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EYBERGEN'S STORY

Just two and a half years into her competitive running career, Eybergen has also emerged as a rising star on the HYROX scene.

Launched in 2017, HYROX combines running and functional workout stations: participants run one kilometre, then complete one functional workout station, repeated eight times. It rewards a rare blend of endurance, strength and efficiency, a combination that suits the Vikes standout.

Eybergen announced her arrival in the sport last December, placing second in her HYROX debut in Vancouver despite incurring two minutes in penalties. Her time still earned a berth at the world championship in Sweden, where she took another step forward, winning the women's pro 16-24 age-group title (fifth among all ages). The performance was the fastest time ever run by a Canadian woman, making her the first to break the sub-60-minute mark.

"Prior to worlds I felt like I could get a sub-60 time because I had been working on my technique in some of my weaker stations (sled pull and wall balls) based on my first race," says Eybergen.

This fall, Eybergen's goals stretch beyond defending her U SPORTS cross-country title. She has also set her sights on earning a place in HYROX's Elite 15, the sport's premier professional competition circuit and the pathway to the 2027 world championship.

The pursuit comes with a unique challenge. Under HYROX's new qualification system, athletes must accumulate points from their five best races over a rolling 365-day period to earn entry into a major event, the next step toward world championship qualification. Because Eybergen did not hold an athlete licence while competing last season, she begins the season without any points on the board.
 

That means a busy race schedule lies ahead. She expects to compete in five regional HYROX events over the next year while simultaneously leading the Vikes through the cross-country season.

"I'm planning on doing the majority of those races during cross country season because the training works well together. A lot of the endurance work I do for cross country transfers over to HYROX," she says.

While the 25-year-old possesses elite-level fitness, staying healthy in a sport that places such heavy demands on the body is a full-time job in itself.

"I've had many injuries throughout my athletic career and have dealt with the repercussions of RED-S [Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport]. So far, I've been able to stay healthy doing both running training/races and HYROX simultaneously. Primarily because I am serious about my fueling and recovery between workouts."

Eybergen believes the hybrid approach has also benefited her running, helping her stay motivated while building strength. The gains have already translated, recently setting a personal best in the five-kilometre distance.

While HYROX continues to open new doors, Eybergen remains equally focused on her running career, with individual goals in cross country and indoor track to go along with her pursuit of a spot in HYROX's Elite 15 and a berth at the 2027 world championship.

"We'll see how it unfolds, as my main goal is staying healthy and enjoying what I'm doing."

Eybergen kicks things off in the women's pro division at the Salt Lake City HYROX, on Friday, Sept. 18. at 11:40 a.m. MT. 

---

Update: Eybergen finished Salt Lake City HYROX in second place with a blazing fast time of 57:56 behind three-time world champion Lauren Weeks.