At the time of writing, Joanna Wietrzyk has just completed one of the greatest seasons in HYROX history…
She became the first athlete to win all four Elite 15 Majors in a single season, set a new women’s world record, and arrived at the HYROX World Championships in Stockholm as the favourite, ultimately finishing second.
Just days after racing in Stockholm, she joined the Rox Lyfe Podcast to reflect on the highs and lows of the season, explain why the World Championship still matters more than records, and share the training and mindset principles that have taken her to the top of the sport.
2026 World Championships
Despite becoming the first athlete to complete the Elite 15 Major Grand Slam, Wietrzyk admitted she initially struggled to accept finishing second in Stockholm.
She explained that while she was proud of the achievement, her own standards are exceptionally high.
She knew early in the race that she wasn’t at her best (“I knew from that second run that it was going to be a long race.”).
She revealed she was dealing with cramping and wasn’t moving as well as she had throughout the rest of the season. Looking back at the splits, her burpee broad jumps stood out as one of the biggest differences compared to previous races.
Rather than blaming external factors or judging controversies, she focused entirely on her own performance, and said she took confidence from the fact she was still able to finish second despite feeling well below her best.
A New Approach?
After travelling constantly between Australia, Europe and North America throughout the season, Wietrzyk believes she’ll take a smarter approach moving forward.
She explained that travelling from Australia means every major race involves flights of more than 20 hours, disrupted routines, unfamiliar food and significant physical stress.
Earlier in her career she wanted to race every opportunity she could because nothing in professional sport is guaranteed.
Now she feels she has earned the right to be more selective. Her goal is no longer to win every major. It’s to arrive at the World Championships in the best possible condition.
Why more competition excites her
Many athletes might be concerned by the rapid improvements in the women’s Elite 15 field. Wietrzyk sees it differently. Rather than feeling threatened, Wietrzyk believes stronger competition (such as Saskia Millard and Annie Emilson) will simply make everyone faster. She said losing in Stockholm has already given her extra motivation for next season.
“I actually don’t want to be winning by two and a half minutes every time.”
She believes close racing is better for athletes, better for spectators, and ultimately pushes the entire sport forwards.
Tennis Foundations
Although Wietrzyk has only raced HYROX for a short time, she believes much of her success comes from years spent playing elite tennis.
The sport demanded long training days, constant movement, repeated changes of direction and the ability to perform under pressure.
That background also developed the competitiveness people now see on the race course.
She laughed that even a simple game of Connect Four becomes serious.
“If I lose, we’re playing again.”
The future of women’s HYROX
With the current women’s world record sitting at 54:25, many people wonder where the limits are. Wietrzyk believes a sub-52 performance is achievable within the next few years.
To reach it, she believes athletes won’t simply need to run faster. They’ll also need to execute the perfect race through transitions, station efficiency and flawless movement throughout all eight workouts. Every second matters.
Her proudest moment
Although the World Championship remains unfinished business, Wietrzyk says the defining moment of her career so far came in Poland.
After crossing the line to secure her fourth consecutive Major victory and set the world record, she immediately spotted her mum waiting at the finish. Her mother had returned to her home city for the first time in around 15 years to watch the race. Sharing that moment together made the achievement even more special.
“It’s something I’ll remember forever.”
To check out the full episode, watch below or listen on the Rox Lyfe podcast…
