Hyrox to change rules after athlete defecates during Beijing race

An Australian athlete who won a Hyrox fitness competition in Beijing covered in feces has prompted the organization to announce rule changes. The Sept. 12 incident has drawn criticism from competitors and onlookers who questioned why she was not removed from the course or disqualified.

Joanna Wietrzyk, 24, was competing in the indoor endurance event when she began defecating on herself midway through the challenge. She continued the race, doing lunges, carrying weights, performing burpees and running alongside fellow competitors, and finished first in just over an hour.

“Go hard or go home, they say,” Wietrzyk wrote in a since-deleted Instagram story, shared with a selfie of her receiving an IV drip. She was reportedly suffering from severe physical exhaustion and bowel incontinence. “A win is a win,” she added.

Hyrox’s existing rules penalize or disqualify competitors for “spitting, nostril clearing, littering, and water abuse” or for any actions that could endanger others. With thousands of participants sharing the same track and equipment, many questioned why Wietrzyk was allowed to continue.

“This should result in a hard stop for the competitor,” one social media user wrote, “because the public health risk is more important than the medal.”

Another wrote, “This isn’t bravery; this is disgusting. You’re ruining the space for everyone.”

One commenter chastised the organization, writing, “How is this not considered a biohazard? Shame on the people organizing this.”

Hyrox released a statement on its Instagram account on Monday addressing the concerns.

“HYROX has clear biocontaminant and medical procedures in place. In this instance, an unforeseen situation arose in which protocols designed for elite competition and mass participation became blurred, creating ambiguity in how they were applied and understood,” the statement read. “We recognize that this can understandably lead to frustration, questions and strong views within our community. Those concerns are legitimate and, as organizers, we must be prepared to hear them, examine what happened and take responsibility for continuing to improve.”

Co-founder Moritz Fuerste later wrote on his personal Instagram account that organizers “made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race.” He said the competition had already “started improving event processes, plus making rulebook changes immediately.”

Hyrox has also said those who criticized Wietrzyk are crossing “an important line” and that the organization would permanently ban anyone from its events for threatening behavior toward any athlete.

What happened to Wietrzyk during the race is a common issue during competitions. Studies show roughly 30% to 90% of endurance athletes suffer gastrointestinal problems during exercise, according to the source. While the exact cause is unknown, the Mayo Clinic says it could be due to organ jostling, decreased blood flow to the intestines, changes in intestinal hormone secretion, or anxiety and stress.