The largest city in Northern Spain, Bilbao, hosted the third Spanish HYROX event of the 2022/23 season on 11th February 2023 at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre. As ever with the Spanish events, the standard of athletes on the day was very high, and there were some incredible performances – including 4 world records broken.
Men’s Open
The main story of the day was in the Men’s Open division where HYROX debutant, Guillame Levoy, a Frenchman, won in a world record breaking time of 54:54. That’s 46 seconds faster than the previous record (held by Dieter Schwarzkopf) and is a clear demonstration of how times will continue to get faster and faster in the sport as more incredible athletes become aware of it and enter – similar to Sebastian Conrad who I spoke with after he raced in Stuttgart – you can watch it here).
It’s a pretty incredible time, and it’ll be interesting to see what Levoy can continue to do in the sport if he gives it some focus. Will he step up to Pro and contend for the Elite spots at the HYROX World Championships? We’ll have to wait and see.
Second in the race was Jose Angel Hidalgo Izquierdo, whose impressive time of 58:03 was enough to break the World Record in the Men’s Open 45-49 age group. Third was Markus Putz who also broke the one hour mark in a time of 59:51.
Women’s Pro
The Women’s Pro race was won by Carolina Silva in a time of 01:10:10. Second was Petra Arvala, 51 seconds behind Silva in a time of 01:11:01, and third was Claudia Corbisiero in 1:13:57. Silva has entered the Wall Ball station in second place, approximately 30 wall balls behind Petra Arvala but managed to overtake at the final station and win with a good margin. Below Carolina shares her thoughts and a little about herself…
Men’s Pro
Fastest in the Men’s Pro race was Ruben Patino Vieites in 1:01:16. Second was Aitor Lizarazu Hormilla in 01:02:36, and 3rd was David Martin Peral, whose time of 01:03:20 was an improvement on his already World Record breaking time in the Men’s Pro 45-49 age group.
Another age group was broken in the Men’s Pro division, with Ismael Mateo taking the World Record for the 50-54 age group in a time of 01:09:25.
Women’s Open
Yet another World Record was broken in the Women’s Open, where Anne Stellard‘s time of 01:03:08 was the fastest of the day, and the fastest ever seen in this division in the 35-39 age group. Zara Pierrgianni was second in 01:05:35, and third was Esther Canete Sanchez in 01:08:10.
Doubles
The fastest Women’s doubles pairing in Bilbao were Naiara Pérez Guruchet and Yune González Egilegor in a time of 01:04:07
The Men’s doubles was won by Jacinto Javier Camejo Casanova and Javii Umpiérrez García in an impressive 53:46.
Mixed doubles were won by Tânia Cruz and João Leitão in 01:01:12.
If you competed in Bilbao, let us know in the comments below how your race went, and what you thought of the day!
Here are some photos of the 2023 event:
Other Spanish HYROX events are held in Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga and Valencia. To read up on the most recent HYROX Bilbao event click here.
