Picture the behind-the-scenes area at an elite sporting event and the image is usually the same: athletes hiding away in anonymous hotel rooms, conserving energy before emerging perfectly primed on the start line.
But at this year's Hyrox World Championships in Stockholm, Nike had other ideas.
Hidden away from the crowds was Station 00, a temporary athlete hub designed to be equal parts recovery centre, training base and mental reset. Compression boots hummed in one corner, athletes fuelled up at an on-site nutrition station and, inside the 'Nike Mind' space, a sports psychologist led visualisation sessions ahead of race day.
There was even a fully equipped gym where competitors could loosen up or, if you're newly crowned world champion Dylan Scott, complete a long bike session less than 24 hours after taking the title.
Over the weekend, Scott produced one of the most dramatic performances Hyrox has seen. After losing significant ground on the sled push, the American looked out of contention before steadily reeling the leaders back in and calmly ticking through 100 wall balls to secure his first world championship.
The following morning, there was little time for celebration. Aside from receiving an engraved kettlebell to commemorate his victory over brunch inside Station 00, the conversation had already shifted to recovery, consistency and whatever came next.
Why Nike Built Station 00 for the World's Best HYROX Athletes
'[Station 00] is the kind of place you walk into and immediately feel the energy Nike has created to support the athletes,' Scott said. 'You've got everything you need, from recovery and nutrition to treatment. It makes you excited to race.'
The atmosphere couldn't have felt further removed from the intensity of a traditional race weekend. Some athletes relaxed in the recovery areas, browsed the snack stations or gave media interviews, while others simply found a quiet corner away from the noise of competition. It wasn't difficult to understand why Nike had created the space: remove every unnecessary distraction so athletes could focus on one thing – performance.
That philosophy extended to Scott's footwear, too. The newly crowned champion raced in an unreleased Nike hybrid prototype that he's helped develop alongside the brand. While details remain under wraps, Scott made it clear he wasn't interested in simply wearing whatever landed in front of him.
'If I don't like your shoe, I'm going to tell you,' he laughed. 'I'm thinking about how it'll be received by everyone else too. I want the best shoe possible.'
After months of testing multiple iterations, he was confident enough to trust the latest version in the biggest race of his career. But spending time around Scott quickly makes one thing obvious: no shoe replaces preparation.
His pre-race routine is refreshingly simple. This time around, he started with an easy spin at Station 00, followed by plain meals of rice, bread and cheese, and as much sleep as possible. 'Pretend you're a cat,' he jokes.
Scott describes himself as 'a big believer in visualisation', but not in the traditional sense of imagining victory. Instead, he rehearses every possible scenario that could go wrong.
'You have to think about the day your sled doesn't move. The day you get a penalty. The day your SkiErg handle breaks. The day you start cramping. The enemy of proper execution is panic,' he says.
The Mindset That Helped Dylan Scott Become World Champion
Watching the race back, that mindset explains everything. When the sled push threatened to derail his world championship, there was no visible panic. No dramatic change in strategy. He simply continued applying pressure until the race slowly came back to him.
It's a philosophy built on consistency rather than perfection – something Scott applies far beyond the race floor.
'The best advice I've ever been given is that being consistent will take you further than almost any other quality,' he explains. It's something he sticks to even on what he calls 'character days', when you've slept badly, life feels messy or motivation is nowhere to be found.
Perhaps that's why, while most newly crowned world champions would have been enjoying a well-earned day off, Scott climbed straight onto a Concept2 BikeErg after our interview for another long aerobic session. It's just part of the routine, and every morning starts the same way: two hours on the bike, breakfast, emails and another brick laid.
Could Station 00 have been part of the winning formula? Possibly. But what it undoubtedly provided was an environment that removed friction. Recovery, nutrition, mindset coaching and community all existed under one roof, allowing athletes to devote every ounce of energy to performing.
Hyrox world championships may be won on the race floor, but after spending a weekend inside Station 00, one thing became clear: victories like Dylan Scott's are built long before the starting klaxon sounds.
If there’s one thing Kori Sampson knows, it’s how to optimise your body composition for performance. To tap into his knowledge as an elite athlete and coach, we asked him to create a 4-week plan to help you move faster, recover quicker and keep pushing when the fatigue sets in – all while improving your muscle-to-fat ratio.
Ready to build muscle, burn fat and come out the other side looking, feeling and performing better? Click here to get 14 days of free access to the plan via the Men’s Health app.
Emily Emmins is the Social Media Manager for Men’s Health, Women's Health and Runner's World UK, where she leads social strategy and content across the brand’s short-form platforms. With more than 10 years' experience in digital media and publishing, she oversees everything from cover launches and original video series to podcasts, fitness franchises and live event coverage, helping bring the brand’s expert health, fitness and performance advice to audiences across Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
Away from her desk, Emily has spent more than a decade immersed in the world of CrossFit. Also taking on marathons, Hyrox events and fitness challenges. She’s passionate about making health and fitness content informative, entertaining and engaging, and believes the best stories come from people willing to test themselves in pursuit of something bigger.
