Former Waterford and Ferrybank hurler MJ Sutton is preparing to represent Ireland on the world stage after qualifying for the 2026 Puma HYROX World Championships in Stockholm.
Sutton will compete on Friday at the prestigious event, which runs from June 17th to 19th and brings together the world’s elite HYROX athletes. More than one million competitors take part in HYROX events globally each season, but only the top 0.5 per cent earn qualification for the World Championships.
HYROX, one of the fastest-growing fitness sports in the world, combines endurance running with functional fitness challenges. Competitors complete eight one-kilometre runs, each followed by a demanding workout station including sled pushes, rowing, burpee broad jumps, farmer carries, and wall balls.
Speaking on WLR’s Sport Lárga, Sutton described HYROX as “a fitness race made up of eight one-kilometre runs and eight functional gym workouts in between each run.”
The Waterford native first became involved in the sport during the off-season from hurling and quickly developed a passion for competition. What began as a fitness challenge soon evolved into a serious pursuit, culminating in qualification for the sport’s biggest event.
“I set out a goal last summer to qualify for the World Championships,” Sutton explained. “I’ve travelled around Europe competing in races and thankfully in Cologne in April I secured my qualification spot.”
His road to Stockholm has included competitions in Dublin, Glasgow, Vienna, Madrid, Istanbul, and Cologne as he chased the points and performances required to earn a place among the world’s best.
Despite coming from a strong sporting background in hurling, Sutton acknowledges that HYROX presents unique challenges.
“My strength and endurance from hurling definitely helped me, but I’ve had to work hard on my running. The athletes competing at this level come from backgrounds like triathlon, Ironman, and marathon running, so the standard is incredibly high.”
The former Waterford hurler also revealed that his growing commitment to HYROX ultimately led him to step away from competitive hurling.
“The more I trained and competed, the more I fell in love with the sport. I realised trying to do both wasn’t going to work. The amount of time, effort, and travel involved meant I had to make a choice.”
As he prepares for the biggest race of his career, Sutton has thanked those who have supported his journey, including Ready Prep Go, O’Brien Cement, Stephen Ryan Plumbing and Heating, and local supplement company Nutrigo.
With Stockholm set to become the centre of the fitness racing world this week, Sutton will carry the hopes of Waterford and the South East as he lines up against some of the best HYROX athletes on the planet.
Qualifying for a World Championship is a remarkable achievement in any sport. For Sutton, it is the reward for months of dedication, travel, and sacrifice, and an opportunity to test himself against the very best on the global stage.
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