Two athletes from County Down have been crowned world champions at the Hyrox World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden.

Norman Mawhinney, 68, from Comber, and Amanda Perry, 53, from Newtownards, took the top spot in the mixed doubles category for competitors with an average age of 60 to 64. The event was held at the Strawberry Arena on Sunday.

The pair entered the competition as European champions and world record holders. They finished the eight-station course, which alternates 1km runs with functional workout elements, in 1 hour, 8 minutes and 57 seconds. That time was slower than the world record of 1:06:42 they set in February, but it was enough to secure the winners’ flag.

Mawhinney also competed in two other events over the three-day championships. He finished as runner-up in both the men’s singles and the men’s doubles, the latter alongside partner Nic Stirk. It means he left Stockholm with one champion’s flag and two second-place flags.

This was Mawhinney’s first world title in Hyrox, though he previously won the 65+ World Marathon Championships in Chicago. He only began competing in Hyrox one year ago, after Stirk invited him to a doubles event in Cardiff. The pair won that debut race.

Mawhinney trains at Ards Blair Mayne Leisure Centre and credited the coaching staff for his progress. Looking ahead, he said he plans to defend the mixed doubles title at next year’s world championships in Hong Kong and also target the singles crown. When the championships return in 2028, he will be 70 and intends to set a world record in the over-70 age group.

Perry said she has been active in sports throughout her life and was drawn to Hyrox as a fresh challenge. She found the world championship experience very rewarding.

The event comprised a 1km ski machine, a 153kg sled push, a 103kg sled pull, 80 metres of burpee broad jumps, a 1km row, a 200m farmer’s carry with 24kg kettlebells, 100m of walking lunges with a 20kg sandbag, and 6kg wall balls, with a 1km run before each station.