Happening now: The ATHX Invitational Miami Beach is taking place March 21–22, 2026 at 11th Street, Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida. The event is presented by adidas and marks ATHX's first-ever competition outside of Europe.
If you've been in the functional fitness world over the last year, you've probably heard the name ATHX. The UK-born hybrid fitness competition has been building momentum across Europe since launching in 2023, and this weekend it arrives in the United States for the first time — right on the sand in Miami Beach.
Whether you're competing, watching, or just trying to figure out what ATHX actually is and whether it belongs on your radar, here's everything you need to know.
What Is ATHX?
ATHX is a 2.5-hour continuous fitness competition that tests athletes across six distinct zones in a single, unbroken effort. Founded by functional fitness coach Ollie Marchon, it launched with five UK events in 2023 and has grown into a 14-event European tour spanning 10 countries in 2026.
The format is built around three core pillars: Strength (compound barbell lifts), Endurance (running and rowing intervals), and Metcon-X (a functional fitness circuit). Athletes move through the zones in a fixed sequence with timed windows. Once a zone closes, your score is locked — there's no going back.
The Miami Beach event isn't a standard ATHX competition. It's the ATHX Invitational — a showcase edition that also debuts the brand-new Elite Individual format for the first time anywhere in the world.
The Six Zones Explained
Divisions at Miami Beach
ATHX runs three main competitive tiers, available as both Individuals and Pairs (Male, Female, or Mixed):
- Lite — Entry-level division for newer athletes or those testing the format for the first time. Reduced loads and shorter intervals.
- ATHX — The standard competitive tier. Loads increase, endurance intervals push to 750m runs. Where most experienced gym-goers and hybrid athletes will compete.
- Pro — For serious competitive athletes. Heavier loads, 1km run intervals, stricter movement standards. If you have competitive CrossFit or HYROX experience, this is your division.
The Miami Beach event also introduces the Elite Individual format for the first time anywhere — a head-to-head showcase featuring invited athletes competing at the highest level the sport has seen.
Elite Athletes Competing This Weekend
The Miami Invitational has drawn a serious roster of recognized names from CrossFit and hybrid fitness:
The presence of athletes like Horvath and Brandon — both top-tier CrossFit competitors — signals that ATHX is positioning itself as a legitimate test for the best hybrid athletes in the world, not just a beginner-friendly event.
ATHX vs HYROX vs CrossFit — How Do They Compare?
| Format | Duration | Strength Emphasis | Endurance Emphasis | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATHX | 2.5 hours continuous | High — 1RM and heavy compound lifts | High — runs + rows | 6 zones, fixed sequence |
| HYROX | 60–90 min avg | Moderate — functional movements | Very high — 8 × 1km runs | 8 stations, fixed sequence |
| CrossFit | Varies (10–60 min) | High — varied barbell and gymnastics | Moderate — WOD-dependent | Unknown workouts, changing each event |
The key distinction is that ATHX demands genuine maximal strength — not just work capacity. A 1RM strict press and a 3RM back squat are serious barbell tests that reward athletes who have spent real time under a barbell. HYROX runners who haven't trained heavy lifting will feel this difference immediately.
The short version: HYROX rewards athletes who can run and grind. ATHX rewards athletes who can also move serious weight. CrossFit is the closest match to ATHX in terms of strength demands, which is why so many CrossFit athletes are showing up on the ATHX leaderboard.
Why ATHX in Miami — and Why Now?
ATHX founder Mark Hartnett Morgan called Miami "not only our newest location and first venture into the US, but also the next crucial step in the evolution of our competitive format." The timing is deliberate — HYROX has already established a foothold in the US market, and ATHX is entering with a more strength-forward format that appeals directly to the CrossFit community.
The event is produced in partnership with adidas and South Florida hospitality group Breakwater, and takes place outdoors on the beach at 11th Street and Ocean Drive — a venue that makes this edition unique on the entire ATHX calendar. No arena, no convention centre. Just Miami Beach in March.
ATHX is also building an affiliate gym network that puts official ATHX programming in local gyms to help athletes prepare — a move that directly targets the CrossFit affiliate model and could bring the competition format into boxes across the US.
Will ATHX Come Back to the US?
Based on the scale of the Miami launch, the answer is almost certainly yes. ATHX expects upward of 40,000 competitors globally in 2026 across its 14-event European tour, with stated plans to expand into the Middle East and Asia-Pacific as well. The US debut is clearly designed as a proving ground for a larger North American rollout — not a one-off.
If you're a gym owner or athlete in the functional fitness space, ATHX is worth watching closely. The affiliate gym network in particular could create a meaningful revenue and programming opportunity for CrossFit boxes looking to diversify beyond the Open.
Train for ATHX at a CrossFit Gym Near You
The barbell-heavy format of ATHX makes a CrossFit affiliate the natural training ground. If you want to build the strength base that ATHX demands — legitimate numbers on the squat, press, and deadlift alongside real conditioning — a CrossFit gym is where you start.
Find a CrossFit or HYROX Gym Near You
Search the WodFind directory — 5,784 CrossFit and HYROX gyms across all 50 states. Find your training home before the next ATHX event hits your city.
Search the Directory →Quick Facts — ATHX Invitational Miami Beach
- Date: March 21–22, 2026
- Venue: 11th Street & Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida
- Presented by: adidas
- Format: 2.5-hour continuous competition across six zones
- Divisions: Lite, ATHX, Pro — Individual and Pairs
- New this event: Debut of the ATHX Elite Individual format
- Entry fee: $99 Individual / $198 Pairs
- More info: athxgames.com