HYROX changes rules after athlete Joanna Wietrzyk soils herself during race and goes on to win

HYROX has introduced new competition rules after Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk suffered bowel incontinence during a race in Beijing but was allowed to continue competing and ultimately win the event.

Wietrzyk, 22, was competing in the HYROX Beijing Pro Women’s race on Saturday, September 12, when she became ill and experienced faecal incontinence during the competition. Despite the incident, the world-record holder continued through the course, including stations involving shared equipment, and finished first in 1 hour, 1 minute and 23 seconds. 

Images and videos from the event subsequently spread widely on social media, prompting criticism and a wider debate about hygiene, athlete welfare and why officials had not stopped the race.

Following her victory, Wietrzyk posted a now-deleted photograph from what appeared to be a hospital bed while receiving treatment through an intravenous line.

“Go hard or go home … a win is a win,” she wrote, before thanking supporters and saying she would return soon. 

HYROX admits it should have intervened

HYROX co-founder Moritz Fürste has since apologised for the organisation’s handling of the incident, acknowledging that officials should have acted during the race.

“HYROX made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race,” Fürste said, adding that new procedures and changes to the competition rulebook had been introduced. 

Organisers said affected areas and lanes were subsequently isolated and deep-cleaned, contaminated equipment was removed and sections of carpet were replaced before competition resumed the following day. 

HYROX said confusion between procedures intended for elite competition and those governing mass-participation events had contributed to uncertainty over how officials should respond.

New rule allows athletes to be given DNF

The controversy has now resulted in an amendment to HYROX’s Did Not Finish (DNF) rules.

Under the updated provision, a race director can withdraw an athlete on medical grounds if their blood, vomit, urine or faeces creates a welfare or contamination risk to themselves or other competitors.

An athlete removed under the provision will have their result recorded as DNF. 

The change addresses concerns about the shared nature of HYROX competitions, in which athletes alternate running with functional fitness stations involving equipment used by multiple competitors.

HYROX condemns abuse directed at Wietrzyk

While accepting criticism of how the event was handled, HYROX has also urged people not to personally attack Wietrzyk.

Organisers said competitors are the people who put themselves under intense physical pressure and warned that threats of violence or encouragement to harm an athlete would not be tolerated.

Anyone identified as making such threats could be permanently banned from HYROX events. 

Wietrzyk’s coach has also defended the Australian athlete amid the backlash, arguing that decisions made during an unexpected medical situation should not become grounds for personal abuse. 

The incident has nevertheless prompted significant discussion within the rapidly growing HYROX community over where competitive determination should end when an athlete’s medical condition potentially creates a health risk for other participants.

HYROX has acknowledged that responsibility ultimately rested with race officials to intervene and says the revised rules are intended to ensure that similar situations are handled immediately in future competitions.