Australian HYROX competitor Joanna Wietrzyk has broken her silence following an incident during a Beijing race where she continued competing after experiencing bowel incontinence, an event that sparked widespread controversy. Wietrzyk has apologized for her decision to finish the event, stating the fallout has been "very hard" and "very confronting."
In an Instagram video, Wietrzyk, the world record holder in her category, reflected on the events of the September race. "I just wanna say that I'm truly, truly so sorry to everyone that I affected, whether they were spectators or participants out on that race floor for my decision to choose to continue to race," she said. She added that the time away has allowed her to learn from the situation.
Wietrzyk, who has partnered with Puma, appeared in her apology video wearing the brand's apparel. She is preparing to compete again in Hamburg, Germany, at the opening race of the 2026-27 HYROX Elite Series on October 30.
The incident in Beijing drew scrutiny to event organizers, with fellow competitors raising concerns about hygiene. HYROX has since acknowledged its response was insufficient and implemented rule and procedure changes. Moritz Fürste, co-founder of HYROX, apologized for the organizers' failure to anticipate and manage the situation, stating, "HYROX made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race."
Wietrzyk's coach, Chris Bayens, defended her against personal attacks, noting that decisions were made under pressure in a situation that was difficult to prepare for. He urged a distinction between legitimate discussion of the incident and hateful personal attacks.
Wietrzyk previously posted on Instagram after the Beijing event, "Go hard or go home … a win is a win. In all seriousness, thank you for all the support. I'll be back soon x."
The HYROX format combines eight one-kilometer runs with eight workout stations. Wietrzyk set the women's solo world record of 54:25 in Warsaw in April.