University of Portsmouth paralympian and sports scholar makes history at HYROX World Championships in Chicago with a groundbreaking first-place finish
HYROX continues to redefine the world of fitness racing! This past weekend, the World Championships took place in Chicago, marking the debut of the highly anticipated Adaptive finals. Among the competitors was University of Portsmouth Sports Scholar and renowned Paralympian Lauren Steadman, who delivered an outstanding performance and took first place with an incredible finish time of 01:07:49.
She spent 32:53 minutes running, 30:51 minutes on workout stations and 04:05 minutes in the Roxzone. Her fastest station was the farmer’s carry in 02:10. Lauren was no stranger to running, having won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics in her paratriathlon category.
‘Really chuffed to be part of pioneering the first adaptive world HYROX champs.’ Lauren shared on Instagram.
Over recent months, Lauren has actively shared footage of her HYROX training and competitions across social media. At the HYROX Spain event, she achieved a personal best of 02:05 minutes, claiming first place and expressing she was “chuffed to bits” and that she could “only go upwards.”
"This is another incredible achievement from Lauren, who has proved time and time again that she can take on any new challenge and reach the very top. Everyone at UoP is extremely proud of Lauren and her ongoing successes and looks forward to an exciting few years ahead. I'm positive we will be supporting her and celebrating more sporting success soon."
Paul Tilley
Director of Sport
What is HYROX?
HYROX is a global fitness race combining running and functional workouts. Athletes run 1km, followed by one workout station, repeated eight times. Each race is hosted indoors in expansive exhibition halls, where spectators can cheer on athletes from the very beginning to the very end. The standardised format allows for global rankings and culminates in a World Championship at the end of each race season.
The newly introduced Adaptive category includes six impairment divisions: lower limb, upper limb, short stature, visual/hearing, neurological, and seated. Lauren competed in the upper-limb female division, completing:
- 1km run (repeated 8 times)
- Sled pull: 2 x 12.5m laps at 78kg
- Farmer’s carry: 200m with 16kg weights
- Wall balls: 75 reps to a 2.7m target using a 2kg ball
Who is Lauren Steadman?
Lauren Steadman is a UOP sports scholar who studied at the University of Portsmouth, achieving a First-class Honours Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Distinction in Business and Management at postgraduate level. She competed in two Paralympics, as well as the BUCS Swimming Championships, during her time at the University.
Lauren made her Paralympic debut in Beijing 2008 at just 15 years old, returning for London 2012 four years later. She transitioned into paratriathlon in 2011, placing second in her first event, the British Championships. Between 2012 and 2016, she won an impressive 16 gold and 2 silver medals in international competition.
In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Lauren is a passionate advocate for disability inclusion in sport. She frequently works with schools and children with disabilities, inspiring them through her story and achievements. In 2022, she was awarded an MBE for services to sport.