Hyrox athlete apologises for continuing race after soiling herself

Summarised from 5 outlets · 7 reports · Updated 31 Oct, 06:27 · Archive

Australian Hyrox competitor Joanna Wietrzyk has apologised for continuing to race in Beijing in September after suffering diarrhoea, saying she put others at risk.

Australian endurance athlete Joanna Wietrzyk has apologised for continuing to compete during a Hyrox race in Beijing in September after suffering diarrhoea caused by food poisoning. The 24-year-old world record holder soiled herself roughly halfway through the event and continued racing through demanding exercises including burpee jumps, lunges and carrying sandbags, with faecal matter visible on her body. Images spread widely on social media.

Wietrzyk acknowledged she made the wrong decision. Speaking to the BBC, she said: "I didn't really think about those around me… the decision that I made in hindsight was the wrong decision and I'm truly sorry for everyone that I did affect." She explained that her competitiveness as an elite athlete had clouded her judgement in the moment.

The decision to continue racing posed practical problems for other competitors. An event organiser confirmed that contaminated equipment had been removed from the race and affected lanes were closed off. The venue underwent a deep clean, including carpet replacement, ahead of the next event. Fellow competitor Joe Ho said on Instagram that athletes could suffer "physical and psychological consequences".

Wietrzyk said she had considered quitting the sport entirely. When asked whether officials should have stopped her, she said no-one encouraged her to do so during the race. Hyrox's co-founder, Moritz Fürste, later issued an apology saying it had been a mistake not to react immediately.

The athlete described the backlash as "traumatic" and said she did not deserve "such severe backlash" and "scrutiny online", adding that she is "only human". She has now returned to competition, winning a Hyrox event in Hamburg where she posted a video apology to those affected.

How it is being reported

• Joanna Wietrzyk wins first HYROX race after incontinence controversyThe Melbourne athlete, who faced widespread criticism after competing despite suffering diarrhoea during a race in Beijing, makes a triumphant return to the circuit.ABC News Australia · 31 Oct, 07:11
• Hyrox athlete who soiled herself puts ‘confronting’ matter behind her to win return raceJoanna Wietrzyk claims victory in first event of season in Hamburg Australian says pre-race that she is ‘truly so sorry’ for events in Beijing The Australian athlete who sparked outrage when winning a Hyrox event in Beijing despite soiling herself during the race has returned in style with victory in the first event of the new season in Hamburg. Joanna Wietrzyk won the endurance sports event in China last month but forfeited the points and soon faced a stinging public backlash as footage of her continuing through demanding exercises and using communal equipment with faecal matter running…Guardian Sport · 31 Oct, 06:00
• Hyrox athlete who soiled herself during major race makes grim eight-word admissionJoanna Wietrzyk said she had been left traumatised by the backlash and has said she put others at risk while competing in the Hyrox Beijing eventThe Mirror · 30 Oct, 20:51
• HYROX world-record holder who unapologetically soiled herself mid-race U-turns to admit she was wrong to put rivals at riskThe HYROX athlete who soiled herself mid-race before going on to win has opened up on unwittingly becoming the centre of a global story and admitted she was wrong to put rivals at risk.Daily Mail Sport · 30 Oct, 11:25
• Hyrox athlete who soiled herself in race reacts to fierce backlash and makes announcementHyrox athlete, Joanna Wietrzyk, has broke her silence after soiling herself during a race, explaining her side of the story while giving an apology to fellow competitorsMirror Sport · 30 Oct, 11:11
• 'I made the wrong decision,' Hyrox athlete who soiled herself in race tells BBCSpeaking exclusively to the BBC, Joanna Wietrzyk says her determination to win the Hyrox race in September had clouded her judgement.BBC News · 30 Oct, 07:33
• Hyrox athlete who soiled herself in race tells BBC she put others at risk but says backlash was traumaticIn her first interview since the incident, Joanna Wietrzyk told the BBC she takes responsibility for it but did not deserve such a severe backlash.BBC News · 29 Oct, 23:03

In this story: Joanna Wietrzyk · Hyrox · Beijing · Hamburg · Melbourne · Moritz Fürste

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