The spark of sibling rivalry is burning bright for Welsh sisters Aimee and Hannah Watson as they gear up to take on the world's best at the Hyrox World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. The Cardiff-born twins are raring to go, their training schedules as demanding as the gruelling 8km run and eight functional workout stations that lie ahead.
Aimee, a PE teacher with a passion for football – she once represented Wales Under-19s as a goalkeeper – initially stumbled upon Hyrox two years ago as a way to keep her fitness levels up during the off-season. Little did she know that this discovery would set in motion a partnership with her younger sister Hannah, who's now juggling teaching training with a PGCE at Cardiff University. The Manchester Hyrox in 2024 proved the perfect catalyst for their sibling synergy – they clinched first place in their age category and secured qualification for the World Championships.
Hyrox is not just any ordinary fitness race; it's an endurance-testing behemoth that pushes athletes to their limits, requiring a potent mix of stamina, strength, and mental toughness. The likes of 1km ski ergs, sled pushes, burpees, and sandbag lunges are just some of the obstacles Aimee and Hannah will face in Stockholm. But they're no strangers to this gruelling challenge – their previous World Championship appearance in Chicago saw them finish an impressive 37th in their age group with a time of one hour, three minutes, and 56 seconds.
Training from afar may be tough for these sisters, but their bond is unbreakable. They've honed the art of morning motivational sessions, often firing each other up for another gruelling training session. For Stockholm, they're aiming to better that Chicago finish with a sub-one-hour time and – the ultimate goal – a podium finish.
The pair draw inspiration from fellow Welsh athlete Lauren Stockley, who's set to compete in the Elite 15 Women's Doubles alongside Charlie Searle. Their success in Warsaw has fuelled Aimee and Hannah's determination to push their limits even further. They're ready to put everything on the line in Stockholm – can they bring home a medal for Wales?
Source: BBC Sport Wales