Dylan Scott has been a fixture at the elite level of HYROX for years, racing in every World Championship since 2021. At the 2025 Worlds in Chicago, he delivered one of his best-ever performances with a 3rd-place finish in the Elite 15 – cementing his place among the sport’s most consistent and dangerous competitors – and then trumped that the following year in Stockholm, taking the win in a stacked Elite 15 field to become the 2026 HYROX World Champion. It marked the end of a journey that had taken six years of competing at the very highest level.
In this companion piece to his Rox Lyfe podcast interviews, we explore Scott’s mindset, training philosophy, and what fuels his longevity in HYROX. From the fiery “Do I have to remind you who I am?” Vegas win to a trail race disaster that shaped his identity as an athlete, this is a deep dive into what makes him tick. Amongst many other things we got to discuss the mindset behind winning a world title, his unforgettable race, why fatherhood has made him a better athlete, and the small improvements he believes will keep him at the top…
Becoming World Champion
Many athletes spend years believing that achieving their biggest goal will transform how they feel. Dylan has never believed that. Even after becoming World Champion, he described the feeling as simply “checking a box” in his career rather than reaching some life-changing destination. The excitement came from the journey, not the medal.
“Be careful falling in love with the idea of completing a goal because you’re not going to be much happier when you do it.”
Within days he had returned to training, not because he felt pressure to defend his title, but because that’s simply what he enjoys doing.
For Dylan, winning wasn’t the finish line. It was confirmation that the process he’d followed for years worked.
Paced to Perfection
One of the biggest surprises from Stockholm was just how far behind Dylan found himself early in the race.
After the sled pull he was over a minute behind the leaders, far more than he had planned.
He explained that his sled push went dramatically worse than expected and admitted that if someone had predicted he’d be 67 seconds down at that stage, he would have assumed his race was over.
Instead, he stayed calm.
Rather than panic, he focused on one simple question:
“Am I actually having a bad day?”
The answer came on the run immediately afterwards.
Despite the poor sled push, he was still matching the pace of the athletes around him. That gave him confidence to attack the remainder of the race.
His burpee broad jumps became the turning point.
He rapidly clawed back time before gradually reeling in the leaders over the remaining stations, eventually producing one of the most dramatic finishes HYROX has seen.
Why He Trains / Races
Dylan’s reason for showing up to train each day isn’t fixed. Sometimes it’s about chasing the world title, other times it’s just about feeling better in himself, or setting the right example for his son.
“There are days where the only reason I’m training is just to feel okay. Other times it’s because I believe I can be a world champion. And then there are days where I’m thinking, I want my kid to see I never make excuses.”
He said his ability to adapt his “why” has helped him grow as both an athlete and a dad — and stopped him from getting in his own way – which he believes will translate to even better performances.
A Major Vegas Win
His qualification for Worlds in 2025 came in Vegas, where he produced an incredible performance against a strong field, winning the race and finishing it with one of the sport’s standout moments at the finish line, screaming into the camera “Do I have to remind you who the f*** I am?”
It wasn’t aimed at anyone in particular – more a reminder to himself. A line he can look back on when / if doubts creep in in the future. Though he admitted “I’ve always felt a little overlooked. I’m not the fastest or the strongest on paper. But when you put it all together, somehow I’m still there.”
The Secret to his Burpee Broad Jumps
Dylan has become one of the fastest burpee broad jump athletes in HYROX. His advice is refreshingly simple…
“Train burpees. Do a bunch of them.”
Rather than searching for clever alternatives, he believes specificity wins.
His training includes:
– Large volumes of burpee broad jumps
– Hand-release push-ups to improve upper body endurance
– Box jumps for explosive power
– Consistent exposure throughout the year
There’s no hidden shortcut.
If you want to become better at burpee broad jumps, his answer is to practise them repeatedly.
Sled Push Training
Despite winning the biggest race in the sport, Dylan is very clear about where he needs to improve.
His sled push remains the biggest weakness in his race.
Interestingly, he doesn’t believe simply doing endless sled pushes is the answer.
Instead, he wants to recreate race conditions by:
– Elevating heart rate before each sled effort
– Pairing sled pushes with SkiErg or RowErg intervals
– Using high-repetition leg press work to build strength while reducing stress on his feet
– Carefully managing training volume to avoid overuse injuries
The goal isn’t simply becoming stronger. It’s being able to produce that strength under fatigue.
Training: Finding Joy in the Work
Dylan’s training volume is still high, but what’s changed is how he frames it. He’s less about chasing the hype of results and more about staying consistent and enjoying the process. “Eventually you’ll get what you’re chasing, and it won’t feel as good as you think. Loving the work is what makes it sustainable.”
It’s an approach that’s kept him competitive season after season, and one that any athlete can learn from.
A Trail Race Disaster
When asked about his favourite sporting experience in a previous episode of the Rox Lyfe podcast, Dylan didn’t pick a HYROX podium. Instead, he recalls a trail half marathon in South Carolina where he got lost, dehydrated, knocked himself unconscious – and still somehow carried on. “Even if I’m completely blacked out unconscious, my only thought is to finish the job. That’s who I am.”
It’s a wild story (as we’ve become used to from the ever entertaining athlete!), but also a window into the stubbornness and resilience that define the best in the sport.
To check out the most recent Rox Lyfe podcast interview with Dylan Scott, watch below, or listen on the Rox Lyfe podcast.
