Faisal wears a lot of hats. He's a coach. A PUMA ambassador. A global MC for HYROX. A content creator. And – even if he's not a fan of the label – an influencer. But strip away the Instagram highlights and the professional accolades, and what you're left with is something refreshingly real. "I'm a dad of two beautiful children. I'm very family orientated, and I love being able to live my life through fitness," he says with the easy confidence of someone who's used to speaking to big crowds.

Known far and wide as Mr PMA (for Positive Mental Attitude), Faisal's reputation for relentless positivity isn't just another marketing trick – it's who he is. Because that's the thing with Faisal – he's never playing a part. What you see is what you get. But don't get it twisted. His optimism isn't naïve. It's a battle-tested mindset. "PMA is actually used the most when you're in your darkest times. It's used the most when you're in a hard place or you're in a painful place," he says. "I've had many, many lows in life and many dark experiences, and it's through choosing PMA that has actually armoured me, both mentally and physically." So no, for Faisal, positivity isn't just another buzzword. It's a choice. A decision he makes every single day, especially when motivation doesn't feel like showing up. "People ask me, 'How can you always be so happy, Fais? Why are you so positive?' It's because it's a choice. I choose to be that."

Easier said than done, right? Well, it might be. Because Faisal's advice for flipping your mindset is as simple as it is effective. "My simple tool for that is just to switch the words of 'have to' with 'get to.' So, for example, you don't have to go to work, you get to go to work. It's much better having a job than not having a job." He says before adding. "Mental fitness is something you can't see – that's where the difficulty lies, whereas physical fitness is obviously something that's very visual and easier to see. But once you bridge the two, you become extraordinary."

So, where did that natural ability for fitness come from? His childhood was packed with different sports and outdoor adventures, thanks to his parents. "The term 'hybrid athlete' started when I was young," he laughs. "I was hybrid 20-30 years ago, before it was called that, before it was a trend." It’s that early exposure that laid the groundwork for the kind of movement versatility that everyone’s talking about today.

And then, just a little over four years ago, HYROX came calling. Now, Faisal is known as 'the voice of HYROX' – and he's loved every second of it. "With the phenomenon and growth of the sport, to be associated with it and to be in such a core position of HYROX is a huge privilege," he says.

He doesn't take it for granted, though. "I'm never comfortable because I know for a fact that I'm replaceable, but whoever they replace me with will be a downgrade." That competitive fire? It burns bright. Always has. "Everyone knows who Cristiano Ronaldo is, but he plays in a team sport. I play in a team community with the coaches and other people, but I want to be the Cristiano Ronaldo. I want to be that superstar player that everyone looks at, everyone expects the performance from, everyone expects the show, everyone expects something special, and people aspire to be that person."

But what truly excites Faisal about the competition isn’t just its growing popularity or his role within it – it’s the fact that at its core, HYROX is fundamentally accessible. "The theory of HYROX is that anyone can do it, and anyone can do it at any given time. What I mean by that is you could get someone off the street who's never trained for HYROX, and they will be able to complete it. It might take them six hours, but the idea is that someone can run, someone can ski, someone can pick up kettlebells." With that in mind, it’s no surprise that his advice to anyone wondering if HYROX is for them is simple: go for it. “There's no barrier to entry. Less thinking, more action – just go for it."

That no-excuses mentality fuels his personal goals, too. Right now, he's got his eyes locked on two pretty big milestones. "In HYROX, I want to get a one-hour time. That's one of my little personal achievements that I want to do, and I will get it. And then I'm going to be doing a half Ironman in October."

But ask Faisal what success really looks like, and he'll remind you it's not about medals or finish times. "I put up a post a few months back saying, isn't it such a privilege that we can worry about a running time?" he says. "Let's step back – you're able to start the race, you're able to finish the race... It's an absolute privilege to be able to just move in that way."

Still, no matter how high the accolades stack up or how many fitness goals he achieves, it’ll never top becoming a dad. "It's the most amazing job title I'll ever have – to be a father," he says, beaming. "Everything I do now is for them, and the hustle of being away from them is purely because I can provide them with what I deem to be a comfortable lifestyle." And when it's time to clock off from MC duties and training sessions, Faisal steps seamlessly into that father role. "As a man, as a provider, when I walk out of the house, I'm going to be a savage, and then when I walk back into the house, I'm going to be a servant. I'll do anything for those kids."

So, there you have it. Whether he's electrifying packed arenas, chasing personal milestones or looking after his family – Faisal leads by example. And in a world where we often only see the highlight reel and brush the struggles aside, he shows us that positivity isn’t about avoiding the tough times – it’s about finding the strength to get through them. "There is light in the darkness," he says. "However dark it may be, you just need to look a little bit longer and a little bit harder... I promise you; I'll be able to find light in any dark situation." And this isn’t just some catchphrase. It’s a promise. One that Faisal makes and delivers on every single day.