An Australian athlete apologized after heavy criticism for continuing to compete in the Hyrox event despite defecating during the competition in Beijing, and requested to retroactively forfeit her victory.
On 18 Sep 2026 GMT+7, BBC reported that Joanna Wietschek, an Australian female athlete, sincerely apologized after facing severe criticism for continuing to compete in the Hyrox competition in Beijing, China, last Saturday, despite an incident where she defecated during the event. She also announced her retroactive withdrawal and forfeiture of her victory.
Joanna Wietschek stated on social media that before the competition she was healthy with no reason to expect illness. However, looking back, she admitted she should not have continued competing and should have left the field immediately after the incident. She apologized to the Chinese public, her competitors, spectators, and organizers, acknowledging that her decision affected others and caused discomfort and disruption.
Reports indicate the incident was recorded and shared online, sparking criticism regarding hygiene. The event also raised questions about why officials did not stop the competition, despite Hyrox rules penalizing behaviors such as spitting, blowing one's nose, littering, and inappropriate use of water.
Earlier, Moritz Fürste, co-founder of Hyrox, the global indoor fitness competition organizer, apologized for the handling of the situation. He confirmed there are clear protocols for biological contamination and medical emergencies, but the unexpected incident created ambiguity in applying and interpreting those procedures. He pledged to improve competition processes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Hyrox alternates between running 1-kilometer distances and exercise stations such as weighted sled pushes, burpees, rowing, and squat walks while carrying sandbags. Founded in 2017 in Hamburg, Germany, it has grown in popularity and is now held in multiple countries worldwide, including China since late 2024.