Hyrox athlete Joanna Wietrzyk apologises for continuing race after soiling herself

• Joanna Wietrzyk has addressed the controversy surrounding her decision to continue competing during the Hyrox event in Beijing
• The athlete has now taken a major step following the backlash, while Hyrox has also responded to questions about how the incident was handled
• Wietrzyk’s apology has brought a fresh development to a story that sparked widespread discussion among competitors and spectators

Australian Hyrox athlete Joanna Wietrzyk has apologised for continuing to compete after soiling herself during a race in Beijing, saying she regrets not stepping off the track. She has also agreed to retroactively withdraw from the event, which she won on 12 September 2026.

In a statement posted on her Instagram account on Thursday, 17 September, Wietrzyk apologised to those affected by the incident and accepted responsibility for her decision to continue.

“I want to offer my sincere apology to the people of China, my fellow competitors, the spectators and the Hyrox organisers for what happened during the race in Beijing,” she said.

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Wietrzyk added:

“Looking back, I regret the decision to not have stepped off the track. I recognise that I should have made a different choice.”

Hyrox acknowledges problems with race procedures

The incident occurred during Hyrox Beijing, held at the National Speed Skating Oval between 10 and 13 September. Wietrzyk said she had been “completely fit and healthy” before the race and had no reason to expect an illness or medical problem.

Hyrox said it had established medical and biocontaminant procedures but acknowledged that an “unforeseen situation arose” in which the protocols became unclear in how they were applied.

Hyrox co-founder Moritz Fürste later apologised for how the situation was handled and committed to improving event processes.

The organisation also warned that it would not tolerate threats or abuse directed at Wietrzyk.

Wietrzyk gives up Beijing result

Following the controversy, Wietrzyk confirmed that she would forfeit her victory and the points earned from the race. ABC reports that she has now formally withdrawn from the event retrospectively.

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Hyrox combines running with functional fitness stations, with competitors completing 1km runs alongside exercises such as sled pushes, burpee broad jumps, rowing and weighted lunges.

The Beijing incident has since prompted wider discussion about how medical and hygiene procedures should be handled during the rapidly growing fitness competition.

Hyrox events continue attracting attention in South Africa

Briefly News previously reported on the growing interest surrounding Hyrox in South Africa, including estimates of the money generated by a recent event.

The analysis highlighted the scale of the competition, while participants and online users also pointed to expenses such as venue hire and equipment that need to be considered when calculating potential earnings.

Source: Briefly News