We no longer present the Hyrox, which in some time managed to dethrone the hype of CrossFit! Remember, this competition offers 8 km of running interspersed with 8 functional exercise stations, designed to be accessible to all. The difficulty? Do it as quickly as possible, while the cardio never comes down (unless you consider running as recovery time). Given the dazzling international success of this race, the Hyrox brand has decided to offer a “kids friendly” version, which is arriving in France with a first edition in Paris, from December 19 to 20, 2026, specially designed for 8-15 year olds. But is it a good idea?
A good opening towards multisport
At first glance, doctor Julieta Quesada’s position regarding the announcement of the launch of Hyrox Young Stars was “nuanced”, she admits to 20 Minutes. The good side is that “it gets the children moving and prevents them from staying on the screens,” she emphasizes. In addition, starting sports at a young age can help children gain self-confidence!
According to her, a multi-sport competition like Hyrox Young Stars can be “interesting, only if the setting is impeccable”. Here, the format and the charges, adapted according to the age categories, did not seem excessive. A point which strongly reassured the author of the book “Little fears and big sores… Is it serious, doctor? “. The professional even suggests that we can go up to three or four participations per year. However, the price of the bibs for the little ones remains to be seen!
Beware of drifts on the drive
Probably no 8 year old knows about Hyrox unless parents practice it. And this is where the trap can come from: forcing your children to participate in the Hyrox Young Stars because you yourself are passionate about this sport, which is very focused on performance (even if it is intended to be accessible to all). “It must remain a game for children,” insists the doctor, before reminding that “a child’s body is not that of an adult in miniature.” A way of emphasizing that we must not put pressure on the children during training. They won’t have to endure the same pace or intensity as an adult before race day.
The doctor also warns parents not to “try to supplement children” with food supplements, such as protein powder for example. A healthy and balanced diet is enough. Parents who aim for times in these races can also transform this type of event into a “gateway to one-upmanship”. “It’s not because we are passionate that the children will be,” emphasizes Julieta Quesada. “We must not slide towards performance: if the children participate, fine, but above all they must do it to have fun, not to “win”, compare themselves and try to be the strongest,” she concludes. The important thing is to participate!
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