Bondi’s Dominic Shepherd Joins Deadly Dozen at the AusFitness Expo Sydney

Sydney’s biggest weekend for fitness fans is returning this September, bringing three packed days of competitions, live workouts, athlete appearances and more than 150 fitness brands to the International Convention Centre Sydney.

The 2026 AusFitness Expo will take over the ICC from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September, with everything from fitness racing and CrossFit to Strongman, powerlifting, bodybuilding, street workout and street lifting happening across the weekend.

Whether you’re there to compete, cheer from the sidelines, pick up some new training gear or collect enough supplement samples to avoid buying protein powder for the foreseeable future, there will be plenty to explore.

Deadly Dozen Comes to the Expo

One of the biggest additions to this year’s program is Deadly Dozen, the hybrid fitness race that has rapidly expanded since launching in the UK in 2024.

Deadly Dozen combines running with functional strength exercises using accessible movements and minimal equipment. It is designed to be scalable, giving experienced hybrid racers and those testing themselves for the first time a chance to take part.

At the Sydney Expo, competitors can attempt the Deadly Fitness Test, or DFT: an alternating running and functional-strength workout completed as quickly as possible to establish a benchmark time.

Described as roughly half the challenge of the full Deadly Dozen track race, the test puts both cardiovascular fitness and strength to work. There will also be cash prizes for the fastest times, adding a little extra motivation when the legs begin questioning your life choices.

A Bondi Athlete Leading the Charge

Among the athletes involved is Bondi-based hybrid racer and Deadly Dozen Australia ambassador Dominic Shepherd.

Dominic balances training and online coaching with a full-time 9-to-5 role and has qualified for three consecutive Hyrox World Championships. He entered the hybrid racing scene three years ago, winning the first Melbourne men’s open Hyrox race before going on to record multiple podium finishes and represent Australia internationally.

“I love it, and I want to keep inspiring the 9-to-5ers of Australia to challenge themselves — and to show they can compete with elite athletes without being full-time athletes.”

The Local Bird will be sharing more of Dominic’s story and his rise through the world of hybrid fitness racing soon.

More Than a Competition

The Expo is not only for serious competitors. Visitors can watch some of Australia’s strongest athletes in action, catch exclusive workouts and Q&As with leading athletes and bodybuilding personalities, and explore products from more than 150 brands across nutrition, supplements, activewear, training equipment and recovery.

Many exhibitors will be offering Expo-only deals and samples throughout the weekend, so bringing a bag is probably a smart move.

The AusFitness Expo will run alongside the AusFitness Industry Trade Show & Summit, creating a huge weekend for athletes, coaches, fitness professionals and anyone who simply enjoys training—or watching other people do the truly brutal bits.