James Kelly

From the Sunshine Coast, Australia, James Kelly -better known as JK on the international scene - has emerged as one of the most prominent figures in the world of hybrid fitness. His rise on the HYROX circuit is not the product of a lucky break, but the result of years of athletic training, unwavering discipline and a unique strategic mindset.

Today, JK is not only one of the fastest competitors in the world, but also an elite coach, mentoring such iconic athletes as Tia-Clair Toomey.

Achievements

2025

HYROX Atlanta

With a time of 55:30, he became the athlete who has finished a HYROX in less than 56 minutes the most times.

HYROX Houston world record in pairs

He broke the world record in pairs with a time of 50:04 with his partner Jake Dearden, however, months later that record would be beaten by Spain's Pelayo Menendez and Rich Ryan with a time of 48:31.

HYROX Glasgow

He achieved the victory with a time of 53:23, just one second behind the world record held by Hunter McIntyre.

With this result, James not only took the first place, but also signed one of the most important fastest times recorded in recent HYROX history. In addition, his victory in Glasgow was especially important because the level of competition was extremely high, with several elite athletes fighting for the last places for the World Championships.

The difference with the second place (Tim Wenisch) was more than for a minutewhich in HYROX Elite is a pretty solid advantage.
His strategy in Glasgow was impeccable: he ran in a very controlled manner in the first kilometers, attacked hard in the sleds and maintained a very high speed in the final transitions.

This victory cemented James as the one of the great favorites for the world title 2025 and reaffirmed its status as fastest Australian athlete in HYROX history.

HYROX Hong Kong

James Kelly competed in HYROX Hong Kong in 2025 within the Elite 15 categorythe division reserved for the best athletes in the world.
Y won the competitionachieving one of the most important victories of his career so far.

His approach to this race was extremely strategic. He himself explained afterwards, that he did not simply go out and run at full speed as many male competitors do, but rather he managed the effort wiselyThe company has a strong track record, observing the rhythms of its rivals, attacking at the right moments and taking care of its rhythm during the most exhausting seasons.

The time he achieved in Hong Kong was 58:36 minutesone of the best world records of that year. This consolidated him as one of the fastest athletes in HYROX history.

Something interesting is that, in that race, his tactics were key to the victory. He himself said that, while many racers went out very hard and wore themselves out, he preferred to kept under control in the first half and accelerate at critical moments, especially after sleds (sled pushes and pulls), which are stations where many athletes lose strength.

In addition, Hong Kong was for James a very important moment on a personal level, because it marked the confirmation that his training system - focused on working on each specific HYROX skill in isolation, and not just doing full simulations - was paying off.

Another curiosity: after winning in Hong Kong, James became, in his own words, one of the main "faces of HYROX in Australia", something he takes great pride in.

This year marked his definitive consolidation as an elite athlete. Not only did he win the HYROX Hong Kong by imposing an intelligent and tactical pace, but he also took up the challenge of train Tia-Clair Toomey. Under her tutelage, Tia has perfected critical aspects for HYROX, such as transition between stations and race pace management.

2024

HYROX Las Vegas (2024):
→ Weather: 59 minutes and 31 seconds​
This was a very important result, because at that time he became the second fastest time in HYROX history.

HYROX Sydney (2024):
→ Weather: 59 minutes and 52 seconds​
It was a special race for James because in addition to won the event, consolidating his position as the best HYROX athlete in Australia.

His participation in events like Chicago and Austin confirmed that he was no longer a promise: he was a firm contender for the world title.

HYROX Chicago (2024):
→ Weather: 57 minutes and 22 seconds​
It was one of his first big events of the year. In Chicago, James did a very good job, although he did not win, his time was competitive within the Elite 15 and confirmed his progression for the following events.

HYROX Austin (2024):
→ Weather: 56 minutes and 45 seconds​
In Austin he improved his record with respect to Chicago, achieving a stronger time and showing himself to be one of the most consistent athletes on the international circuit at that stage.

2023

The year 2023 was a period of transition and consolidation for James Kelly in the world of HYROX. After the impact of his 2022 debut in Birmingham, James entered 2023 with the goal of firmly establishing himself among the top athletes on the international circuit.

HYROX London

It was his second major competition after Birmingham. Although he could not repeat the victory, gave a solid performance in the Elite 15 (the category reserved for the 15 best men in the world).

His time in London was approximately 1 hour and 1 minuteslightly slower than in Birmingham.
ReasonHe competed just a few weeks after his debut, without sufficient recovery time and training adjustment. He himself acknowledged that it was a mistake to try to maintain peak form without more strategic planning.

• Invitation to Continental Championships (North American and European):
  He was invited to participate in the major continental events, but was unable to attend due to:
  • His return to Australia (logistical and financial difficulties as a self-funded athlete).
  • The need to strategically choose which races to compete in to maintain your progress.
• Specific training period:
  For much of 2023, James did not compete as muchbut focused on improving its specific preparation for HYROX.
  He changed his training approach:
  • From working on overall performance (as in their initial preparation) to working on each HYROX component separately (threshold running, specific functional strength, technique in stations such as lunges, wall balls and sleds).
  • He improved his ability to "running engaged" (running hard right after strength stations), a critical aspect in hybrid sport.

Evolution as an athlete and coach

• Development as a trainer:
  Along with his personal progress, James expanded his work as an online coachhelping other athletes prepare for HYROX races.
  He based his methods on his own error/error experience, becoming a benchmark in hybrid race programming.
• Change of mentality:
  He understood that success in HYROX is not just about strength or aerobic capacity, but about career strategyThe use of the new technology, management of rhythms and optimization of each transition.
  This philosophy was later successfully applied in 2024 and 2025.

2022

The year of his breakthrough at HYROX.

The result: a resounding victory and the start of a stellar career.

Date: October 2022
Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom
CategoryHYROX Pro
Result1st place
Weather: 59:43
ImpactFirst sub-60 debutant in the history; start of his professional career at HYROX.

James Kelly debuted at HYROX in October 2022. in the city of Birmingham, United Kingdomcompeting directly in the Pro category.
Most impressive was that, no previous experience in HYROX eventsachieved a resounding victoryrecording a time below the hour: approximately 59 minutes and 43 seconds.

This achievement was historic because:

• Won his first race competing against experienced athletes in HYROX.
• He was the first male athlete to achieve a sub-60 minute time on his debut..
• Traveled alone from Australia to the United Kingdom after discovering HYROX on the Internet, convinced that its combination of running, functional strength and endurance could be well suited to the format.
• I had not done specific HYROX simulations. before that race. His preparation came mainly from years of running, Australian soccer, marathons and F45-type functional training.

In his own words, after Birmingham, his career as a professional hybrid fitness athlete had "just begun."After that first test, he understood that he could not only compete in HYROX, but that he could become one of the best in the world.

Following Birmingham, James was invited to major events, such as the North American Championships and the Europeansalthough due to logistical issues (he was back in Australia) he was unable to attend all of them.

His victory in Birmingham not only launched his name in the HYROX world, it also gave him the confidence to transform his lifeHe definitely opted for a career as a professional athlete and then also as a specialized coach.

Your life before HYROX

Long before he became a household name at HYROX, James had developed a solid athletic foundation.

Since he was a child, he has been dedicated to cross country and track racing, disciplines that gave him outstanding endurance. He also played australian soccer and to the cricketThese sports not only strengthened his physique, but also his competitive mentality.

For years, he trained at functional gyms like F45 and explored the world of CrossFit, experiences that gave him the perfect combination of strength and endurance to succeed in hybrid fitness.

Curiosities about James Kelly

Although he has earned respect as one of the toughest and most methodical athletes on the circuit, James is also known for his more human and approachable side. In the sporting world, almost everyone simply calls him JKa nickname that reflects both its accessibility and popularity.

Since childhood, James has demonstrated extraordinary discipline. By the age of 10, he was meticulously preparing his cricket equipment the night before each match.a habit that has evolved into his strict pre-race preparation routine.

Every morning, she wakes up with Georgie at 5:30 a.m., drinks a liter of water, makes herself a cup of coffee and takes a morning walk by the sea. This ritual not only activates her body, but also allows her to focus her mind before hard workouts.

An anecdote that illustrates his unique mental approach is the creation of Phil Fitnessan "imaginary partner" who represents his daily commitment to excellence. Training alongside "Phil" reminds him that, ultimately, his true competition is with himself.

James is also part of a select club of athletes who have achieved multiple HYROX in the past year. less than an houran achievement reserved for the best in the world. His victories in Hong Kong, Sydney and his impressive performance in Las Vegas demonstrate his ability to remain among the elite year after year.

Beyond his physical accomplishments, JK is a firm believer that in HYROX strategy is as important as physique. Knowing when to accelerate, when to reserve energy and how to manage each season has been fundamental to their victories.

Finally, his international career has taken him to compete and train on different continents. From Australia to Europe, through Asia and the United States, James has honed his sporting craft by living like a true fitness nomad