Sports & Fitness Industry Association

Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) released its inaugural First Half Game Plan: Key Moves in Sports Participation Report to deliver timely insights for smarter, data-based decisions. Among them: In the first half of 2025, wellness-oriented activities gained popularity, with preferences varying notably by age group. Fitness dominated the chosen activities, with running/jogging emerging as the most preferred among younger age groups, while older age groups preferred working out with weights and treadmills. Among the 30 sports with updated participation data, pickleball remains the fastest-growing, with a 14.7% increase.

Freemotion

Freemotion, a division of iFIT, Inc., has been named an approved fitness equipment provider for Anytime Fitness franchise owners. Freemotion and iFIT offer a combination of next-generation

and traditional cardio and strength-training solutions to enhance the member experience at Anytime Fitness locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Australia. This includes its Smart Series cardio machines and GENESIS cable-based strength products. “Our training solutions empower owners to elevate their facilities and expand what’s possible inside an Anytime Fitness location,” says Mark Watterson, CEO of Freemotion.

Hydrow

Hydrow’s newly launched Arc Rower introduces HydroMetrics, an innovative training system that helps exercisers understand their progress through their HydroMetrics Index (HMI) score, which is a composite of scores across their precision, power, and endurance. “HydroMetrics allows us to analyze and distill a wealth of data to guide members to perform better using the feedback people crave to achieve results,” says John Stellato, president and CEO of Hydrow. With the same footprint as its flagship unit, the new model also features a 24-inch HD display, premium sound, and personalized workout recommendations.

Les Mills

Les Mills recently launched its redesigned SMARTSTEP, which combines innovative engineering, sleek styling, and sustainable materials. It features an all-in-one design with integrated risers that click up or down for three height settings and incline/decline use, as well as a slim, stackable profile that saves 31% more storage space compared to the previous generation, so it takes up less room on the studio floor to increase class capacity. With greater platform flex for less joint impact, the SMARTSTEP also uses 10% recycled plastic and 15% less plastic overall than the original model.

Virtuagym

Virtuagym’s new AI-powered coaching solution, MAX AI Coach, integrates into its coaching platform and library of 6,000+ 3D animated activities. Trainers can generate personalized workout plans within 20 seconds by using the client’s personal profile data and specifying training frequency, exercise types, exercise equipment, and injuries. Coaches can assign plans to clients through Virtuagym’s integrated ecosystem—connecting workouts to progress tracking, nutrition coaching, challenges, and more. “MAX AI Coach allows gyms to provide a personal coaching experience at scale, without compromising on quality,” says Hugo Braam, CEO and co-founder of Virtuagym.

Wellhub

Wellhub has acquired Urban Sports Club, a European provider of employee benefit programs, in a $600 million deal. This creates the world’s largest corporate wellness platform, serving 39,000 corporate clients across 18 countries and connecting five million employee subscribers to 97,000 wellness partners. The combined entity is available to employees of companies doing business in Latin America, North America, and Europe. “Our acquisition of Urban Sports Club is about driving high enrollment and utilization of a wellness benefit that employees will actually use,” says Cesar Carvalho, co-founder and CEO of Wellhub.