Jenson Button Takes on Fitness Challenge for Women’s Empowerment
Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 world champion, is stepping into a new arena: the world of fitness racing. He recently announced on Instagram that he will be participating in a Hyrox competition to raise funds for Women’s Empowerment.
The Hyrox event, scheduled to take place in Anaheim, California, will see Button competing in the doubles category. He has also pledged to match the donations made by his supporters, amplifying the impact of the fundraising effort.
Button explained the nature of the Hyrox challenge, describing it as a demanding combination of running and functional exercises. “For people who don’t know, Hyrox is eight one-kilometer runs, and after each run, it’s followed by an exercise,” Button said. “It could be a rower, it could be a skier, it could be a sled push, a sled pull, farmer’s carry, wall balls, and it’s quite intense.”
He added that he felt the need for a new challenge as his professional racing career winds down. The fitness race seemed like the perfect opportunity to test his limits and contribute to a meaningful cause.
Button will not be facing this challenge alone. He is teaming up with a friend named Nano, a former professional soccer player. Button jokingly acknowledged Nano’s superior training experience, expressing confidence in their partnership. “I’m doing it as a doubles, in doubles with a friend of mine called Nano. He’s an ex-professional soccer player, so he knows a bit about training. Probably a little bit more than me,” he said.
The Anaheim round of the Hyrox competition presents a unique hurdle. Button mentioned that he chose the Anaheim location due to its proximity to his home. However, only the Pro Division was available, meaning he and Nano will be competing against seasoned athletes. “The only issue is I decided I wanted to do Anaheim as it’s quite close to home, and they only had Pro Division left. So it’s basically like a complete amateur getting into an F1 car and racing against the best,” Button noted.
Despite the daunting prospect, Button remains optimistic and committed to rigorous training. With two months to prepare, he anticipates a challenging but rewarding journey. “So it’s not going to be easy and it could be rather embarrassing. We have two months to train. I’m looking forward to the pain that we’re going to endure for those two months, and we will come out fighting,” he stated.
Button’s motivation extends beyond personal achievement. He emphasized the importance of supporting Women’s Empowerment, driven by his role as a father to daughters. “Both Nano and myself are girl dads, and we want to make sure that our daughters have every opportunity in life, are given every opportunity, and they’re living in a better world for women, children in their communities,” Button explained.
He encouraged those interested to contribute to the cause and promised to share updates on his training progress. “If you’re wanting to donate, I will match every single donation. Yes, and I will be putting all of our training on my story. So look forward to some sweaty JB pictures,” he said.
Button’s participation in the Hyrox competition exemplifies his commitment to both physical challenges and social impact. His efforts to raise funds for Women’s Empowerment highlight the importance of creating a more equitable world for future generations.
