For more than a month, David Licauco gave followers a front row seat to his training grind. His social media feeds turned into a moving highlight reel of sweat and steel: treadmill sprints, rowing intervals, burpee box jumps, kettlebell carries.
It was a laboratory of lungs and legs in motion. The experiment delivered results.
David posted a standout finish at Hyrox Taiwan, held Feb. 28 to March 1, emerging as the No. 1 Filipino in the Men’s Open Division in Asia and the No. 2 Filipino in the World Overall Open Men’s Division. He completed the race in 1 hour, 7 minutes, and 48 seconds.
Among nearly 2,000 participants worldwide, David placed 53rd overall and 19th in the 30 to 34 age group. The field was stacked, the pace relentless, the margin for error razor thin.
his presence in fitness racing after his debut on the global Hyrox stage
and stamina while balancing training
with his television commitments
Hyrox, a global indoor fitness race, requires endurance running and functional strength work. Competitors run one kilometer, then complete one workout station. The sequence repeats eight times. The course includes sled pushes, rowing, farmer’s carries, and other full-body challenges that test cardiovascular capacity and muscular strength. By the final station, even seasoned athletes are pushed to their physical limits.
“Of course, my goal is to medal. I make time to work out even before tapings and before dinner. Some say they don’t have time, but if you really want something, you find a way,” David told Manila Standard Life during a press conference for his television series opposite Jillian Ward.
Balancing show business and sport requires precision scheduling. His early mornings become training windows. Evenings double as recovery blocks. Consistency, not convenience, fuels progress.
After his impressive debut in Hyrox Taiwan, the 30-year-old actor and entrepreneur is set to compete again at Hyrox Hong Kong in May, continuing his campaign in one of the fastest-growing fitness competitions worldwide.
ALV Talent Circuit’s Arnold Vegafria praised the performance, noting David’s evolution from standout basketball player to multidiscipline competitor.
“I’ve always known David as an exceptional basketball player, but I admire him all the more now for leveling up his stature as a world-class athlete and fitness icon. With his recent victory, he can be a deserving role model and aspirational peg for today’s youth,” the talent manager said.
