Professional athlete Joanna Wietrzyk has publicly apologized for her decision to remain in a Hyrox indoor fitness race held in Beijing last weekend after she soiled herself mid-competition. The 23-year-old world record holder faced significant backlash after footage emerged of her continuing the course, which involves a combination of treadmill running and strength exercises, while visibly contaminated on her legs and shoes.
Addressing the controversy on Instagram, Wietrzyk expressed her regret, stating that she should have stepped off the track immediately rather than continuing to use shared race equipment and floor mats. She claimed she began the event in full health with no expectation of illness. The athlete has now retroactively withdrawn from the competition and confirmed she is returning the points she earned during the event to organizers.
The incident sparked widespread criticism regarding potential health and safety hazards posed to other participants. Wietrzyk stated she is currently taking time away from the public eye to recover and reflect, noting that the experience taught her the importance of knowing when to step away from a race. She extended her formal apologies to the Chinese public, her fellow competitors, spectators, and the Hyrox organization.
In the wake of the public outcry, Hyrox co-founder Moritz Furste issued an apology on Monday, acknowledging that the organization failed to react immediately during the event. Furste admitted the responsibility to foresee and manage such incidents rested with him and his team. He stated that the company had made a mistake by allowing the race to continue under those conditions.
As a result of the incident, the event organizers have officially updated their safety protocols. New regulations dictate that race directors are now empowered to withdraw participants on medical grounds if their body fluids—including blood, vomit, urine, or faeces—pose a contamination or welfare risk to other racers or the general environment of the competition. The report also notes that an Australian athlete who sparked an outcry when she kept competing despite soiling herself midway through an event in Beijing apologised on Friday and forfeited her points from winning.
