Red Bull athlete and Olympian Onthatile Zulu is stepping off the hockey field and into uncharted territory—the HYROX arena. Known for her explosive speed and discipline on the pitch, Zulu is now testing her limits in one of the fastest-growing global fitness competitions, partnering with HYROX athlete Matthew Stone for her first-ever hybrid race.
HYROX, a competitive fitness race that blends endurance and functional strength, is taking the world by storm. With eight functional workout stations and eight 1km runs in between, the race format is as gruelling as it is addictive, drawing elite athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and first-timers alike. It is a high-intensity test of physical grit and mental stamina, and Zulu is more than ready to dive in.
“To be honest with you, HYROX basically took over my Instagram and TikTok feed,” she laughs. “I was seeing at least two videos a day for like, two weeks.
It was wild. Naturally, I got curious and started digging a bit deeper.” That curiosity led her to Matthew Stone, a prominent figure in the HYROX scene and a friend of Red Bull. After a few online interactions, Stone suggested they enter the doubles division together, a format that splits the workload between two athletes. “Long story short, I’m now doing HYROX Cape Town with Matthew, an actual HYROX athlete. Like, who do I think I am?”
From Turf to Track: Red Bull Athlete and Olympian Onthatile Zulu Takes on HYROX Cape Town
Zulu’s athletic foundation is firmly rooted in her hockey training, which she admits has not changed much in preparation for this new challenge. “Right now, I’m sticking with my hockey training—two strength and conditioning sessions a week and two hockey sessions. I’ve popped into a few HYROX-style gyms just to get a feel for the movements, but I haven’t built a full race prep plan yet.”
While she might be approaching her first HYROX with a bit of humility and humour, her competitive edge and mental resilience are very real. “It’s all about taking it one station at a time and focusing on pushing myself. Having Matthew next to me will be a big motivator. I know he’ll bring that energy and push me when things get dark and tough.”
Among the many obstacles ahead, the sled push stands out as a station she’s genuinely excited about. “It looks brutal, but fun in a weird way,” she says. The real test, however, lies at the very end: “The wall balls—definitely dreading those. That’s where I’ll need to dig deep mentally and physically to make it to the finish line,” Zulu admits.
More than just a personal challenge, Zulu sees her HYROX debut as part of a broader shift in the fitness world: “HYROX is really redefining what fitness competitions can look like. It’s accessible but still super challenging. I don’t know what role I’ll play just yet, but if I can show people that it’s okay to try something new—even if it scares you a little—then that’s a win for me. Especially for women who look like me.”
With her trademark energy and fearless curiosity, Onthatile Zulu is not just entering a new arena—she’s breaking ground in it.
