Portlaoise athletes to compete at Ireland’s only inclusive Hyrox-style event
IWA Fitness Inclusion Games bring athletes with disabilities together nationwide
Athletes from Portlaoise will compete in the Irish Wheelchair Association’s (IWA) 2026 Fitness Inclusion Games on Thursday, 7 May, at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena in Dublin.
As the popular Hyrox fitness craze continues to grow across Ireland, these athletes with disabilities are taking part in Ireland’s only fully inclusive Hyrox-inspired competition.
For the second year in a row, the Fitness Inclusion Games will bring together athletes with disabilities from across Ireland to compete in the country’s dedicated fitness competition for people with physical disabilities. The Games were created as the inclusive equivalent of popular high-intensity fitness competitions such as CrossFit and Hyrox, with all workouts adapted to suit each participant’s ability.
The 2026 Fitness Inclusion Games will see over 150 athletes, representing teams from IWA community centres across Ireland, compete in a series of adaptive fitness challenges, with spectators invited to attend and support the athletes.
Irish Wheelchair Association community centres have always been places for members to socialise, participate in activities and learn new skills, but in IWA Portlaoise, members and staff have gone a step further.
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In 2023, they teamed up with Laois Sports Partnership to create their own purpose-designed gym for wheelchair users and people with mobility disabilities. This has helped their members prepare for the Fitness Inclusion Games in Dublin this year.
Tommy White has been attending the Irish Wheelchair Association Centre in Portlaoise for over five years and loves using the gym.
“I was always sports mad, I used to play hurling and GAA. When I came in here first, we were using another gym, but there were only two machines I could use. Here, they are all suitable. I love sports and it’s great for your mental health because you’re out and meeting people like you, which is great, and you get to be competitive, which I like,” says Tommy.
Participants train year-round through IWA’s Fitness Inclusion Project, with many reporting significant improvements in both physical strength and mental well-being. The programme has expanded nationwide since its launch, providing more people with opportunities to experience inclusive fitness for the first time. For more details, visit www.iwa.ie