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Hyrox is a sport that is literally taking Saint Barthélemy by storm. As proof, forty island residents took to Miami Beach this Easter weekend to compete in this challenge that combines running, speed, and strength. Whether competing under the banner of the Zion Club, Form Fitness, or no club at all in Saint Barth, the athletes cheered each other on for three days, striving to give their very best. In pairs like Hervé & Olivia or solo like Gaétan or Pauline, everyone had a great time. Jean-Edmond Amblard, one of the coaches of this “made in St. Barth” team, speaks about it with great emotion: “It was wonderful to see how each person’s individual efforts were driven by a collective spirit that came from our delegation. We all encouraged each other throughout the three days; we spent hours together, both during the competition and outside of it, and beautiful friendships were formed, regardless of the athletes’ individual skill levels. As a coach, seeing that some of the newcomers—almost beginners in the sport—were pushing themselves to new heights, both in the strength events and the running events, really moved me.... And seeing them finish their competition with big smiles on their faces even brought a few tears to my eyes.” So much so that some participants are already preparing for their next Hyrox events, scheduled for this summer in France and even in New York.
Stéphane Lenoir: The American continent suits him well
Triathlete Stéphane Lenoir has also gotten into the Hyrox spirit. And it’s a winning return to the discipline, two years after his last competition. Indeed, the representative from Saint-Barth won the Open 50–54 age group, completing the course in 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 7 seconds. For Stéphane Lenoir, who primarily uses Hyrox workshops to round out his preparation for triathlon competitions, this result is great news.
On the top step of the Open 50–54 podium, a representative from Saint Barth, Stéphane Lenoir.
“I use this sport to best prepare for Ironman or Half Ironman events, doing two 30-minute Hyrox sessions per week,” he confirms. “It’s very comprehensive. To win the Miami race this year, I didn’t hold back. An hour-long race is too short to pace yourself; you have to give it your all. Coming from a triathlon background, I had nothing to lose, and then there was my wife and friends from Saint-Barth cheering me on. There were forty of us, and that makes for quite a racket [laughs]. And above all, we were all highly motivated; the competitive spirit of being in a group plays a big part in that. Getting back to my performance, I think I made the difference during the running segments—my strong point compared to the other competitors.” His first-place finish at the Miami Hyrox earned him a spot in the upcoming Hyrox World Championships. An invitation he will politely decline. Stéphane prefers to save himself for the Ironman World Championship, scheduled for July in Switzerland, or the Gravel 350 in Kansas City in June, also in the United States—a country where he had already shone late last year at the BWR in North Carolina.
In the 60–69 age group, Fabrice Rebut and Vincent Lagenebre finished second.
Also worth noting is the outstanding performance by the duo Fabrice Rebut and Vincent Lagenebre, who finished second in their age group (60–69). “A truly outstanding performance that we’re particularly proud of,” says Fabrice.
Is Saint Barth hooked on the Hyrox?
The Miami Beach Hyrox thus satisfied the athletes from Saint Barth who came to participate, from novices to specialists in the discipline, from dedicated gym-goers to those who prefer to train at their own pace, according to their availability. And given how quickly the (limited) registrations for this event sold out in Gustavia, there’s no doubt about it: the Hyrox has conquered Saint Barth, and this phenomenon isn’t about to stop.
