Bikini bodybuilder Phoebe Hagan tested her endurance in the sweltering desert heat. After six months of dedicated training, she debuted at the HYROX event in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, on April 12, 2025.
Hagan placed as high as seventh on the Olympia stage. She recently swapped the glitz and glam posing attire for activewear. The transition, admittedly, came with hurdles.
Bikini Bodybuilding → HYROX
Hagan was accustomed to waking early for training as a bodybuilder, which hasn’t changed. However, instead of sessions focused on hypertrophy, her time in the gym has been spent on endurance and functional workouts.
“This is a new thing and something I’ve never done before,” Hagan shared after nailing her tempo run for her first HYROX event. Calling on her Bikini expertise has been a useful hack:
HYROX is the same as bodybuilding. You do the first one, get feedback, see what you can do better, and do it again better.
—Phoebe Hagan
En route to Hagan’s successful HYROX debut, three priorities took priority: quality sleep, hydration, and appropriate nutrition. She’s down to 73.4 kilograms, revealing,
As part of her deload week before competing, Hagan remained strict with whole foods.
My appetite is just not there. We don’t need to bring the food down or up. We keep it where it is.
—Phoebe Hagan
Hagan’s Hydration Solution
Sustained hydration allowed Hagan to perform her best on game day, crucial in the arid, hot climate with minimal wind. Here’s what her simple drink is made of:
Hagan’s hydration mix includes creatine, which has been shown in studies to boost high-intensity workout performance significantly, EAAs to promote muscle growth and tissue repair, and a splash of glutamine, another research-backed amino acid that aids recovery, potentially allowing her to run longer distances with less fatigue. (1)(2)(3)
Ahead of the race, Hagan increased her daily carb intake to 300 grams, from her usual 250.
I keep protein and fats the same, but add extra carbs so I’m not eating loads tomorrow…don’t want to overcarb and have it feel heavy in my stomach.
—Pheobe Hagan
One day before her debut HYROX, Hagan took down French fries and an air-fried steak recipe she found on TikTok, feeling no pressure.
It’s a very different peak week than what I’m used to.
—Phoebe Hagan
More Bodybuilding Content
- How to Eat Blueberry Cobbler and Fried Chicken Like an Elite Bodybuilder
- Joe Sullivan Makes NPC Bodybuilding Debut at 2025 Jay Cutler Desert Classic
- Tom Platz Still Squats Like a Beast at Nearly 70 Years Old
References
- Romer LM, Barrington JP, Jeukendrup AE. Effects of oral creatine supplementation on high intensity, intermittent exercise performance in competitive squash players. Int J Sports Med. 2001;22(8):546-552. doi:10.1055/s-2001-18520 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11719888/
- Church DD, Hirsch KR, Park S, et al. Essential Amino Acids and Protein Synthesis: Insights into Maximizing the Muscle and Whole-Body Response to Feeding. Nutrients. 2020;12(12):3717. Published 2020 Dec 2. doi:10.3390/nu12123717 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33276485/
- Coqueiro AY, Rogero MM, Tirapegui J. Glutamine as an Anti-Fatigue Amino Acid in Sports Nutrition. Nutrients. 2019 Apr 17;11(4):863. doi: 10.3390/nu11040863. PMID: 30999561; PMCID: PMC6520936. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6520936/
Featured image: @phoebehagan_ on Instagram
