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[SPORTS] · China, Australia · 59 sources

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Joanna Wietrzyk apologizes and forfeits Hyrox win after Beijing incident

Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk has issued a public apology and retroactively withdrawn from a Hyrox fitness competition in Beijing after continuing to race despite suffering a gastrointestinal accident. Wietrzyk, a world record holder, finished first in her division but faced intense criticism after videos surfaced showing her competing with excrement on her legs and shoes, potentially exposing other athletes to health hazards through shared equipment and tracks.

In her apology, Wietrzyk stated, “I regret the decision to not have stepped off the track. I recognise that I should have made a different choice,” and confirmed she would forfeit the points earned from the win. Hyrox co-founder Moritz Furste also apologized for the organization’s failure to react immediately during the event.

In response to the incident, Hyrox has updated its global rulebook to allow race directors to remove athletes if biological waste poses a contamination risk. Additionally, reports indicate that Puma has removed Wietrzyk’s collaborative collection from its online store. Hyrox China has also reportedly offered refunds to affected participants.

Entities

Beijing · Chris Bayens · HYROX · Joanna Wietrzyk · Moritz Fürste · Puma

Sources