Compex has signed a new partnership with Kilian Jornet to support the launch of its new Ultimate EMS range. But this collaboration is more than a campaign. It is the continuation of a long-standing relationship between one of the world’s most accomplished mountain athletes and a brand that has been helping athletes prepare, recover and perform for decades.
For Kilian, Compex is not new. His first experience with electrical muscle stimulation dates back to 2006, during rehabilitation after a knee injury. Since then, EMS has become part of his wider approach to training, helping him support recovery, muscle activation, strength work and adaptation through the different phases of his athletic life.
That is why this partnership feels natural. Kilian Jornet represents more than elite performance. He represents curiosity, consistency and a holistic understanding of the body — values that align closely with the new Compex Ultimate range: lighter, simpler, more adaptable and designed to fit into real training and recovery routines.
Compex x Kilian Jornet: an authentic EMS partnership built on performance
Kilian Jornet is regarded as one of the greatest mountain athletes in the world, with more than two decades dedicated to trail running, ski mountaineering and ambitious mountain projects. His career has been defined not only by exceptional results, but by an approach to performance based on precision, long-term progression and respect for the body.
This is exactly where the partnership with Compex makes sense. Kilian does not simply use technology as an accessory. He integrates it into a complete routine that includes training, recovery, strength work, nutrition, sleep and active listening to how the body responds over time.
“When it comes to performance or well-being, it’s not a magical solution. We need to see the full picture. We need to take care of our lifestyle, stress management, nutrition, physical activity, strength training — and Compex has a big part in the management of strength conditioning and recovery.”
How Kilian Jornet has used Compex EMS for nearly two decades
Kilian’s relationship with Compex began long before this partnership. In 2006, after a patella injury, electrical muscle stimulation became part of his rehabilitation process. What started as a recovery tool recommended during rehab gradually became a regular component of how he prepares, recovers and works on muscle activation.
“The first time I used a Compex was a long, long time ago. I had an injury in 2006 and already there, I was using a Compex electro muscle stimulator for recovery. Since that injury, I have been using Compex in different situations: recovery from traumatic injuries, after training, before competition, and lately also in my strength training.”
This long-term, real-life use is what gives the partnership its credibility. For Compex, working with Kilian is not about associating the brand with performance from the outside. It is about telling a genuine story: an athlete who has used EMS for years because it fits into the way he trains, recovers and understands his body.
Compex EMS for recovery, muscle activation and endurance performance
For Kilian, recovery is not simply the absence of training. It is the moment when the body absorbs the stimuli created by training and adapts to them. Without proper recovery, training becomes stress without progression.
“Recovery for me is the capacity of the body to absorb the stimuli that we are putting in every day. That’s the training, but it’s also the stress of life. Recovery is the capacity to absorb these stimuli and to adapt to them.”
In endurance sports, this distinction matters. Athletes must manage cardiovascular fatigue, metabolic load, muscular fatigue and neuromuscular demand. Compex supports Kilian by helping him focus specifically on the muscular and neuromuscular side of recovery.
“With Compex electrical muscle stimulation, what is very interesting in recovery is that I can improve this neuromuscular connection and improve muscle function in a shorter time.”
Electrical muscle stimulation for rehabilitation and neuromuscular activation
After an injury, one of the biggest challenges is not only rebuilding strength, but helping the muscle respond again. Kilian describes this as the process of re-establishing the connection between the brain and the muscle, so the body can recruit fibers effectively and move with confidence.
“One of the problems in injuries is that not only do you stop doing activity, but during that time, all the neuromuscular connections are kind of lost. It’s very hard to make the muscle activate again, and to bring this signal from the brain to the muscle to recruit muscle fibers.”
This is one of the reasons EMS can be particularly relevant during certain rehabilitation phases. It can help activate a large number of muscle fibers while reducing the need to add heavy external load too early.
“When you are recovering from an injury, using a lot of weight might aggravate the injury. The good thing with Compex is that you can have activation of a big amount of fibers, a lot of recruitment, without the need to carry the weight.”
Compex Ultimate EMS range: lighter, simpler and designed for real training routines
The launch of the new Compex Ultimate range marks a new step in the evolution of electrical muscle stimulation. Designed to be lighter, simpler and more adaptable, the range is built for athletes and active people who want to integrate EMS into their training, recovery and preparation routines without complexity.
“It’s lighter. You can bring it everywhere. It’s adaptable, you can adapt it to your needs much more, and it’s simpler. It’s much more simple, more easy to use.”
For Kilian, this portability and ease of use are essential. The best recovery and preparation tools are the ones that can follow the athlete’s rhythm — at home, when travelling, after training, during a strength session or between seasons.
“It’s very exciting to see the new generation of electrical muscle stimulation. It’s easier to bring with you in different places, in travel, but also at home, when I’m doing strength training or when I’m recovering. It’s much more customisable with the app, so I can do very specific programmes for the different needs I might have at different moments.”
EMS training, recovery and strength conditioning in a holistic performance routine
Kilian’s use of Compex reflects a broader belief: performance is never built from one single method. It comes from the interaction between training, recovery, strength, mobility, nutrition, sleep and mental balance. EMS supports one part of that system, especially when the goal is to prepare the muscles, support recovery or work on neuromuscular activation.
This is particularly useful when moving between disciplines or seasons. A body trained for ski mountaineering does not respond in exactly the same way as a body ready for long-distance trail running. For Kilian, Compex can help prepare specific muscle groups for those transitions.
“When I’m in the skiing season, my legs are not adapted to running. One way to work on that is to use Compex on my quads or hamstrings during that transition period, so when I start running long distances or steep downhills, my muscles are more adapted to the impact.”
Why Kilian Jornet is the ideal athlete for the Compex Ultimate launch
Beyond medals and records, what makes Kilian such a relevant partner for Compex is his mindset. His motivation comes from curiosity: the desire to explore what the body can do, how it adapts, and how movement can remain sustainable over time.
“I love running on the trails, skiing in the mountains, climbing summits and mostly just enjoying pushing my body and seeing what my capacities are out there.”
That mindset is closely aligned with Compex: helping athletes and active people understand their bodies better, prepare smarter, recover more effectively and keep progressing with confidence.
“What keeps me motivated to train, to push, to race, is curiosity: to see where we can go externally, through exploration, but also internally, through how training changes my physiology and my capacity.”
Summary: Compex, Kilian Jornet and the future of EMS recovery
The partnership between Compex and Kilian Jornet is a natural fit because it is rooted in real experience. Kilian has been using Compex since 2006, first during rehabilitation and later as part of his recovery, strength and muscle activation routines. With the launch of the new Compex Ultimate range, this shared history takes on a new dimension: a lighter, simpler and more adaptable EMS experience designed to support athletes in the way they actually train. For Kilian, Compex is not a shortcut, but a complementary tool within a complete performance system — one based on recovery, consistency, curiosity and long-term progression.
🙋FAQ about Compex Ultimate, Kilian Jornet and EMS recovery
❓Why has Compex partnered with Kilian Jornet?
Compex has partnered with Kilian Jornet because the collaboration is rooted in a long-standing, authentic relationship. Kilian has used Compex since 2006, first during injury rehabilitation and later as part of his recovery, preparation and strength routines. The partnership supports the launch of the new Compex Ultimate EMS range and reflects shared values around performance, recovery and long-term progression.
❓What is Compex Ultimate?
Compex Ultimate is the new generation of Compex electrical muscle stimulation devices. The range is designed to be lighter, simpler and more adaptable, making it easier for athletes and active people to integrate EMS into training, recovery, muscle preparation and strength routines.
❓How does Kilian Jornet use Compex?
Kilian Jornet uses Compex in several ways: to support recovery after training, to help with muscle activation before competition, to complement strength work and to assist rehabilitation after injury. He also uses EMS to prepare specific muscle groups when transitioning between disciplines such as ski mountaineering and trail running.
❓Can EMS help with recovery after training?
Electrical muscle stimulation can be used as part of a broader recovery routine to help athletes focus on muscular and neuromuscular recovery. For Kilian, recovery means allowing the body to absorb training stress and adapt to it. Compex supports this process by helping him target the muscular side of recovery alongside other essentials such as rest, nutrition and training balance.
❓Is Compex only for elite athletes?
No. While Compex is used by elite athletes such as Kilian Jornet, EMS can also be integrated by active people who want to support muscle recovery, preparation and training routines. The new Compex Ultimate range is designed to make EMS easier to use and adapt to different goals and moments.
❓How can EMS support rehabilitation?
During certain rehabilitation phases, EMS can help stimulate muscle fibers and support neuromuscular activation without requiring heavy external loads too early. Kilian highlights this benefit when explaining how Compex helped him during recovery from injury, especially when rebuilding muscle response and strength progressively.
❓What makes the Compex Ultimate range different?
The Compex Ultimate range is designed to be lighter, easier to carry and simpler to use. It also offers greater adaptability, making it possible to follow more specific programmes depending on recovery, preparation, strength or training needs.
