A 60-year-old retired midwife from Luton is preparing to represent Great Britain at the Hyrox World Championships in Sweden after securing a place among some of the world’s top fitness athletes.
Martina McIntyre will travel to Stockholm for the global competition, which begins on Thursday. Her selection follows an impressive performance earlier this year when she won her age category at a Hyrox event in London.
McIntyre, who retired from Luton and Dunstable Hospital in 2020 after a career in midwifery, said she never expected her fitness journey to lead to an international championship.
“I was a bit shocked when I got the call, but delighted to be taking part,” she told the BBC.
“I’ve been training hard. I’m nervous, but I’m looking forward to going out there and doing my best.”
Her achievement highlights the rapid growth of Hyrox, a fitness racing competition that has gained popularity across Europe, North America and Asia. The sport combines endurance running with functional fitness challenges and attracts both professional athletes and everyday fitness enthusiasts.
From Hospital Ward to World Championship Stage
Following retirement, McIntyre pursued a new career in fitness. She qualified as a personal trainer and gym instructor and now works at a gym in Luton.
She credits colleagues and fellow trainers for encouraging her to push beyond her comfort zone.
“They’ve encouraged and supported me and brought me down avenues I never thought I’d go to,” she said.
McIntyre had long enjoyed running. While helping others train for Hyrox events, she became interested in competing herself.
The sport features eight rounds of 1-kilometre running segments. Each run is followed by a demanding workout station that can include sled pushes, sled pulls, rowing, burpee broad jumps, kettlebell carries and wall balls.
Founded in Germany in 2017, Hyrox has grown into one of the world’s fastest-expanding fitness competitions. Organisers describe it as a race format designed to test strength, endurance and mental resilience in equal measure.
Winning Performance Earns Team GB Selection
McIntyre earned her place at the world championships after competing at Olympia London earlier this year.
She completed the race in one hour and 23 minutes and finished first in her age category. The result secured her invitation to the championship event in Stockholm.
The competition will bring together elite athletes and age-group champions from around the world.
Despite the challenge ahead, McIntyre remains focused on enjoying the experience.
“I’m with some top athletes,” she said.
“Just to go and represent is the achievement.”
Her story has resonated with many in the fitness community because it challenges common assumptions about age and athletic performance.
As she prepares to compete on one of the sport’s biggest stages, McIntyre hopes her journey will inspire others to pursue new goals regardless of age or background.
For the former midwife, retirement marked the start of an unexpected chapter that has now taken her all the way to a world championship.
