HYROX Paris 2026: Pushing Beyond Limits, Inside & Outside the Arena with Fortuna Labz

In October 2025, Aurélie and Cédric Bensoussan, our co-founders, decided to challenge themselves with a completely new discipline: HYROX. What started as simple curiosity quickly became a real personal and professional journey built around discipline, resilience and self-improvement.

At Fortuna Labz, creativity is part of our daily life, but so is the mindset behind performance. We strongly believe in the idea of “a healthy mind in a healthy body”, because energy, consistency, focus and mental strength are essential both in sport and entrepreneurship.

HYROX became the perfect embodiment of that philosophy.

After only a few training sessions, we realized HYROX was unlike anything we had experienced before. The format combines endurance running with high-intensity functional exercises, constantly pushing athletes to adapt under fatigue. It is physically demanding, mentally exhausting, and deeply rewarding.

Very quickly, we made a bold decision: participate in one of the most prestigious editions in the world, HYROX Paris 2026 inside the iconic Grand Palais.

Getting the tickets was already a challenge. Preparing for the race became an adventure of its own.

Beyond the physical preparation, the process reinforced something important: growth only happens when you accept discomfort. The same mindset applies in business, creativity and innovation. The most meaningful projects often begin where certainty ends.

For four days, the Maybelline New York HYROX Paris event transformed the spectacular nave of the Grand Palais into a world-class fitness arena, bringing together more than 18,000 athletes from around the world.

The race format is simple in theory, but incredibly demanding in practice:

• 8 x 1 km runs
• 8 functional workout stations

Including:

• SkiErg (1000m)
• Sled Push (50m)
• Sled Pull (50m)
• Burpee Broad Jumps (80m)
• Rowing (1000m)
• Farmer’s Carry (200m)
• Sandbag Lunges (100m)
• 100 Wall Balls.

The constant alternation between running and muscular effort creates a unique race dynamic where mental endurance becomes just as important as physical condition. Whether solo or in doubles, every participant shares the same objective: keep moving forward.

The experience became even more memorable thanks to the venue itself. Recently renovated and reopened for the 2024 Summer Olympics, the Grand Palais hosted Olympic fencing and taekwondo events during the summer of 2024. Competing beneath its monumental glass roof created an atmosphere that felt both intense and inspiring.

Around the race zones, visitors could discover activation spaces from brands such as:

• Maybelline New York
• Biotherm
• Myprotein
• Red Bull
• PUMA

The organization, energy and production quality of the event perfectly reflected the international scale of HYROX.

Aurélie and Cédric both competed in the Solo Open categories. But beyond the stopwatch and physical performance, this experience represented something deeper.

HYROX became a symbol of:

• Self-transcendence
• Discipline and consistency
• Team spirit
• The courage to leave your comfort zone
• The importance of balancing physical and mental health

In many ways, the journey reflected the entrepreneurial path itself: adapting under pressure, staying focused through fatigue, and continuing forward even when the challenge feels overwhelming.

After months of preparation, the big day finally arrived on April 23rd, 2026. The objectives were ambitious:

• Finish the race
• Break the 2-hour barrier
• Get as close as possible to 1h45

Mission accomplished.

The Fortuna Labz founders returned from HYROX Paris with a finisher patch, unforgettable memories, and an even stronger desire to continue pushing boundaries, both in sport and in creative entrepreneurship.

And one thing is already certain: the challenge continues in 2027.