The Rise of Social Sweat: Why It’s No Longer Just About the Sport

Tennis has always existed. So has running. But in 2024, it’s padel and run clubs that are taking over.

Why? Because the difference isn’t in the sport itself, it’s in the community around it.

Fitness Is Booming. But Not How You Think

Padel is now the fastest growing sport in Europe, with participation up over 200% since 2020. Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. for the third year in a row, with 36.5 million Americans playing in 2023.

Running participation has surged post-pandemic, but it’s run clubs, not solo jogs, that are behind the trend. In fact, Global running club participation jumped 59% in 2024. We’re seeing a new era of movement, one where the social side is what keeps people coming back.

It Was Never About the Sport

Let’s break it down. Tennis and padel are similar. Both involve a court, a racket, a ball. Yet, tennis splits players across a baseline, usually with two players. Padel pulls four people into the same space, close enough to laugh, encouraging conversations and casual play. It was built for the community.

Running has always been around. But run clubs gave it life, adding high-fives, post-run coffees, and a reason to show up even when you didn’t feel like it. The movement wasn’t physical, it was social.

This is the real unlock. People don’t want to just move, they want to move together.

Community > Consistency Hacks

Let’s face it, willpower fades. Motivation slips. But relationships? They stick.

When you:

• Show up for your community, not just yourself
• Feel seen, celebrated, and challenged
• Make movement part of your social life

…it stops being a chore. It becomes a lifestyle.

That’s why the future of fitness isn’t content. It’s connection.

At oNex, we’re not trying to reinvent the workout. We’re reimagining how people connect around it.

Whether you’re:

• Hosting a challenge for your community
• Starting a weekly training group with your mates
• Capturing live movement with your buddies

oNex is the social layer that helps you build consistency through community.

Because fitness isn’t a solo sport anymore.

Ready to move with your people? Join the waitlist and be part of the movement.