Robert Hajnal is Romania’s most successful professional ultrarunner of all time. An ex-elite mountain trooper, Robert is no stranger to training in extreme conditions. Combining his passion for the military and the mountains that surround him, Robert’s trail-running abilities continue to raise the bar for his home nation.

 With several impressive accolades already under his belt, Robert continues to build on his success and inspire athletes around the world. In 2018, Robert secured two top-ten finishes at the prestigious Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc – a 170-kilometre ultrarunning event in the Mont Blanc Mountains that ascends over 10,000 metres. In addition, Robert was also one of the top 10 finalists in Italy’s famous Lavaredo Ultra Trail competition.

 In the last few years, a win in Greece at the 2021 Olympus Mythical Trail race, a win in Croatia at the Istria 100 ultra-trail race, and a top-five finish at the world-renowned Transgrancanaria event in 2022 have added to the list of Robert’s triumphs. More recently in March of 2023, Robert set two more national records for Romania, running 50 miles on a track in the fastest time, and running the longest distance on a track within six hours. As well as competing, Robert devotes himself to coaching other aspiring athletes through his own training school, the Trail Running Academy. Since 2016, Robert has mentored the next generation of endurance runners – with many considering him an inspiration in the sport. 

The year ahead looks to be just as ambitious for Robert, with goals in place for a variety of running events throughout the year. Driven by a hope to finish in the top 10 at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc alongside other major contests, Robert remains focused on holding his title as Romania's most successful runner.