Hyrox World Champion Who Soiled Herself Breaks Silence on Decision to Keep Competing
Hyrox World Champion Who Soiled Herself Breaks Silence on Decision to Keep Competing
Skyler CarusoThu, September 17, 2026 at 2:52 PM UTC
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Joanna Wietrzyk competes in Hyrox Beijing on Sept. 12, 2026Credit: VCG/VCG via Getty -
Joanna Wietrzyk apologized for continuing her Hyrox race despite experiencing bowel incontinence during the competition in Beijing
She retroactively withdrew from the race, forfeiting her points, and acknowledged the impact her decision had on others
Wietrzyk faced backlash online for health concerns but thanked supporters and vowed to learn from the experience
Joanna Wietrzyk is breaking her silence on her decision to continue competing after soiling herself during a Hyrox race in Beijing.
The 22-year-old world champion released a statement five days after the event, beginning with a “sincere apology” to the people of China, her fellow competitors, the spectators and the Hyrox organizers after she suffered bowl incontinence during her race.
Wietrzyk said in her statement on Thursday, Sept. 17 that she felt “completely fit and healthy” at the start of her race without any reason to expect any illness. In hindsight, she said, her decision to stay in the race — with videos and photos online appearing to show fecal matter on her legs as she moved through workout stations as quickly as she could — is one she regrets.
Joanna Wietrzyk of Australia competes in HYROX Beijing 2026 at National Speed Skating Oval on Sept. 12, 2026 in Beijing, China.Credit: VCG/VCG via Getty
“Looking back, I regret the decision to not have stepped off the track,” she wrote in her statement on Instagram. “I recognize that I should have made a different choice. I take responsibility for my decision to continue and am deeply sorry for the discomfort and disruption it caused.”
“I know my actions had an impact beyond myself, and I am genuinely sorry to everyone who was affected,” she continued. “I am learning from this experience and will carry those lessons with me, including remembering that there is more to life than racing and knowing when it is right to step away.”
Wietrzyk said that she has decided to “retroactively withdraw from the race” and “forfeit the points” she earned.
The athlete concluded by thanking those who’ve shown her support during this challenging time amid the backlash she’s received following her controversial race-day decision.
Joanna Wietrzyk of Australia.Credit: Fred Lee/Getty
“Thank you to those standing by me, both as an athlete and as a person, during this time, and to everyone who has reached out with kindness and support. It means more to me than I can properly express right now. I will be taking some time to recover, reflect and look after myself and my family away from the noise,” she wrote.
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The incident took place while Wietrzyk was participating in the Hyrox race for ages 16-24 at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, reported ABC News, The Athletic and The Independent.
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Hyrox, which was founded in Germany in 2017, is described on its website as “the fastest-growing fitness sport in the world.” Participants run 1 km, followed by one functional workout station, repeated eight times. Functional workouts include sled pushes, rowing, burpee broad jumps and wall balls.
Wietrzyk shared a now-deleted selfie on Instagram from what appeared to be a hospital bed after winning the race in 1 hour, 1 minute, 23 seconds, per The Athletic and news.com.au.
Joanna Wietrzyk of Australia competes in HYROX Beijing 2026 at National Speed Skating Oval on Sept. 12, 2026.Credit: VCG/VCG via Getty
“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,” she wrote, according to the outlets.
Wietrzyk has since recieved heavy criticism online as commenters argue she posed health risks to other competitors by not being withdrawn or removing herself from the competition.
In a statement following the backlash, shared on Instagram Sept. 14, Hyrox co-founder Moritz Fürste did not name Wietrzyk but said he and the organization need to “do better.”
“As our sport continues to evolve we are encountering new and increasingly complex situations that challenge us and where additional clarity is needed. This happened this weekend in China,” he wrote, in part. “We ask our athletes to push themselves to the highest levels.”
on People
Source: “AOL Breaking”
