Cookstown man set to compete on the biggest stage at HYROX World Championships in Sweden
A Co Tyrone man is gunning for world glory when he competes in the HYROX World Championships in Sweden later this month.
Nigel Davidson will line up in the Men's Pro 50-54 age group category against some of the world's best endurance athletes in Stockholm on June 19.
HYROX is a global fitness race that combines functional strength exercises with endurance running.
It’s designed to be a test of overall athleticism, appealing to people who enjoy both high-intensity training and endurance sports.
A HYROX race follows the same format worldwide: participants run 1 km, then complete a functional workout station.
This sequence is repeated eight times (so 8 km of running and eight workout stations).
Nigel’s rapid rise in HYROX is remarkable after only competing in two events to date, winning his age group in Dublin last year, before winning the Men's Pro category in Glasgow back in March.
Crossing the finishing line in the Scottish city with an impressive time of 1 hour, 11 minutes and 25 seconds secured his coveted place at the World Championships, where he thinks he has “a chance” of finishing in a podium place.
He is documenting his training for the World Championships on his Instagram account @artafexathlete.
"I was happy with that time in Glasgow but I wasn’t as fast as I hoped,” Nigel said.
"I recently completed a SIM event in Ebrington in 1 hour and six minutes which has helped my confidence heading into Stockholm.
"I know I’m going to be competing against some of the best athletes in the world in my age category...but I believe I have a chance.
"It’ll all come down to the day but I’ve been knocking my time off on the wall balls and I feel my running has got faster.”
Nigel’s background in fitness saw him lift weights at a young age and then he became a member of his local running club, Sperrin Harriers, in his mid 30s.
However, his introduction to HYROX began little more than a year ago following a volunteering trip to the Glasgow event in 2025 with his daughter, Emily.
He has combined his love for HYROX with a busy life as a business owner with Artafex, who specialise in floor and wall tiling.
“I’m extremely busy with work but I have a mantra of ‘just do it’ when it comes to making time for training,” he explained.
"I volunteered to be a judge in Glasgow last year alongside my daughter Emily and with that you get a free entry into a race of your choice.
"That allowed me to enter Dublin and I didn’t imagine that I would win my age group there – but I did.
“I just think HYROX is made for me with my body shape and the running background that I have.”
Despite putting in the hard graft in the gym and out on the roads, Nigel hailed his faith as one of the reasons for his success.
“I qualified for the European Championships but due to the race taking place on a Sunday and the fact I’m a born again Christian, I didn’t go,” he continued.
“Emily then challenged me to qualify for the Worlds and I thankfully achieved that by winning in Glasgow.
"I give God all the glory as I’ve definitely been given some help from above as I’m able to train injury free.”