Emma to compete at Hyrox World Championships in Chicago
From bootcamp to the global stage, Coleg Llandrillo lecturer Emma Huntley’s four-season journey in Hyrox has led to her competing solo in the viral fitness sport’s biggest competition
Coleg Llandrillo sport lecturer Emma Huntley will compete solo in the Hyrox World Championships in Chicago this week.
It is the culmination of four seasons of dedication to the fast-growing fitness race, which also saw her compete in the mixed doubles at last year’s Worlds in Nice.
Sport and exercise have always been constants for Emma, but not in the traditional sense. She first stepped into the fitness world through a bootcamp run by a friend. That early exposure to community-based training sparked a passion that would eventually lead her into the competitive world of Hyrox.
Known as ‘The World Series of Fitness Racing’, Hyrox combines eight 1km runs with functional workout stations including sled pushes, sandbag lunges, and finishing with wall balls - in which competitors have to perform a squat then throw their ball against a designated target, repeated 100 times.
It demands both strength and endurance, making it a perfect fit for Emma, a sports scientist driven by a lifelong passion for movement and performance.
“I started with bootcamps and loved the buzz - the accountability, the challenge, the way it made me feel,” said Emma. “Over time, I wanted more structure and something to really test myself, which is what led me to Hyrox.”
Emma began her Hyrox journey in the open women’s division at the Manchester event in the 2021/2022 season, when the races were still under the radar. She progressed to the pro division, then competed in mixed doubles, qualifying for last year’s World Championships in Nice. She returns to the world stage for this year’s competition (June 12-15), but this time as a solo competitor.
Before Hyrox, Emma challenged herself with endurance events like the Pen Llŷn Ultra - a 75-mile race around Pen Llŷn, which she completed in 24 hours while raising money for leukaemia research after her brother’s diagnosis.
“That race was about more than fitness. It was about doing something big when everything in life felt uncertain. Exercise became my way to find focus and strength,” she said.
Since discovering Hyrox after lockdown, Emma has embraced the sport as both an athlete and an academic.
She brings her athletic experience into the classroom, where she coordinates the Level 3 Sport and Exercise Science course for Year 1 students at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos-on-Sea campus, teaching modules including anatomy, nutrition, and field-based testing. Her own dedication to training and performance gives her a practical edge in the classroom, helping students connect theory to real-world application.
Emma’s training - coached by elite athlete Markus Frison - spans six days a week and is carefully planned around her work and family.
“Some days are intense with Hyrox-specific sessions and interval running,” she said. “Others are easier to allow for recovery. It's all about consistency and adapting to life.”
Earlier this year, Emma and her doubles partner placed 11th at the Hyrox European Championships in Vienna in the 40-49 age group. She qualified for the solo 24/25 World Championships after placing second in Manchester earlier this year and is aiming for a strong finish in Chicago, where she will be representing Wales as part of Team GB.
“My focus isn’t just on placing - it's on the journey,” said Emma. “I love seeing what my body can do, learning how to train better, and helping others do the same. For me, the long game is health, performance, and enjoyment. That’s what keeps me coming back.”
Do you want a career in the world of sport, exercise and fitness? Grŵp Llandrillo Menai offers a range of courses from Level 1 to Degree level. Learn more here