01
Born in a Gym: The Journey of a Champion
Unlike many athletes who discover their sport later in life, Horváth grew up immersed in the world of fitness. Her parents opened a climbing gym in Budapest, Hungary, which became her playground. “They began building it when my older brother was born, 30 years ago, so I was practically born into this environment,” she recalls. “I spent all my free time there. After school, I would go there to hang out, and by age six, I had developed a passion for climbing and started competing.”
“I started doing strength training specifically for climbing when I was 15”
© Balazs Palfi/Red Bull Content Pool
After dominating national competitions and performing well in European Cups, she sought new challenges. “I began strength training specifically for climbing at around 16 or 17. I realized that climbing alone wasn’t sufficient; I needed to enhance my strength.” Her journey into CrossFit began with her brother, Kristof. “Eventually, my focus shifted from climbing to more strength training sessions with him, marking my transition into CrossFit.”
As she moved from climbing to CrossFit, Horváth transformed her approach to strength. “In CrossFit, I found a natural fit because I thrive on competition. Competing is in my nature; it always has been. I never considered doing it as merely a hobby—I was always focused on competing.”
For Horváth, strength is about self-acceptance rather than appearances: “I started to appreciate the strong female physique, moving away from the notion of being fragile. I’ve always been on the bigger side, and what I value about CrossFit is that there are no rigid standards or body types. You can be larger, stronger, and more muscular—it’s about performance, not appearance.”
While climbing taught her that being lighter was beneficial, CrossFit redefined that belief. “Although you can’t just be as big as you want in CrossFit, your body adapts. Body weight isn’t a significant limitation like it can be in other sports.”
“You can be bigger, you can be strong, you can be muscular”
© Balazs Palfi/Red Bull Content Pool
03
Women’s Fitness Revolution: Why Should Only Men Do These Things?
With female participation in HYROX nearing 50% globally, women’s strength training is gaining prominence, and Horváth couldn’t be happier. She advocates for women to embrace their strength, stating, “I believe everyone should be able to do a pull-up. My mother hadn’t been able to do one in years, but after starting CrossFit, she can now do pull-ups. That’s truly inspiring.”
Laura Horváth being a gym icon
© Ádám Bertalan/Red Bull Content Pool
I believe everyone should be able to do a pull-up
Lifting weights is not solely about building muscles; it’s about fostering independence. “Why must only men perform these activities? I believe that for women to develop strength, move confidently, and lift heavy objects, or complete a push-up, is incredibly empowering,” Horváth asserts. “Yes, it’s great to have assistance from men for tasks like changing a light bulb, but I want to be able to do it myself if I choose.”
An increasing number of women are discovering that strength gained in the gym translates into greater empowerment in daily life.
04
Message to Women: Break the Mold
Horváth challenges traditional beauty standards, striving to redefine them. “My goal is for everyone to embrace their bodies without being limited to questions like ‘Are you thin? Are you bigger? Are you muscular?’ If you feel good in your body, that’s what truly counts.”
“When looking at magazines filled with models who are often skinny and conventionally beautiful, I question why one cannot be seen as beautiful if they have a different body type—perhaps slightly larger or more muscular? I have often gazed at those images and thought, ‘I will never attain that thinness, as it’s not my body type. Why would I want to shrink myself down, eat less and less, and fade away to fit that ideal woman?'”
Laura Horváth is advocating for women to find their strength
© Ádám Bertalan/Red Bull Content Pool
Her philosophy for success? It’s not merely about speaking of strength; it’s about action. “To truly succeed at anything, one needs a solid routine. Some days, it may feel monotonous as you repeat the same tasks. Mastery requires about 10,000 hours of practice, so dedication is essential.”
Beyond breaking records and lifting hefty weights, Horváth’s core aspiration remains deeply rooted: “I believe that engaging in functional fitness allows individuals to live longer, maintain better health, and overall, to be happier.”
