Organisers of Hyrox, a popular global fitness competition, have apologized and changed their safety rules after an Australian athlete continued racing in Beijing despite experiencing severe physical distress. World record holder Joanna Wietrzyk finished and won the event on Saturday, but video footage showed that she soiled herself during the race while using shared workout equipment.
The incident quickly went viral on social media and sparked strong debate about health and safety standards. Other competitors raised concerns about hygiene and asked why judges did not stop the race. Joe Ho, a participant at the Beijing event, said that athletes pay to take part in a safe environment and suggested that affected participants should receive refunds or compensation.
In response, Hyrox co-founder Moritz Fürste posted an apology on Instagram, admitting that the organization made a mistake by not stopping the athlete immediately. Hyrox announced new rules and safety procedures to prevent similar situations. Event organizers in Beijing also closed and disinfected affected areas overnight, replacing venue carpets and removing contaminated equipment before competition resumed.
Following heavy online criticism directed at Wietrzyk, Hyrox warned that anyone sending abuse or threats of violence to the athlete would be permanently banned from all future events.