HYROX Co-Founder Admits 'Mistake' After Joanna Wietrzyk Soiled Herself During Competition, Then Won Beijing Race

HYROX co-founder Moritz Fürste has admitted the organisation 'made a mistake' by failing to intervene immediately when Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk experienced bowel incontinence during the Women's Pro race in Beijing, before going on to win the event.

The episode has raised questions about hygiene, athlete welfare and how officials should respond to an unexpected medical issue on a shared indoor course. HYROX has since introduced a revised process under which an affected athlete may be removed, decontaminated and potentially permitted to resume competition if appropriate.

Wietrzyk raced in the HYROX Pro Women's division at Beijing's National Speed Skating Oval on Saturday, 12 September. Footage and photographs of the event divided opinion online, with some praising her determination and others questioning safety, fairness and shared equipment.

Fürste Apologises for HYROX Response

Fürste addressed the controversy in a statement shared on Instagram, saying he needed to speak directly about 'the recent events in China'. He said: 'I apologise to all that were directly or indirectly affected, as well as to everyone who felt like we did not handle the situation like we should have.'

He accepted responsibility for the delayed intervention. 'Hyrox made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race. In the end it is my job to foresee these potential incidents—and I did not.'

Fürste said procedures had already changed after the Beijing event. 'As of this moment, there are new rules and procedures in place to prevent situations like this from happening again,' he said.

He added: 'We learn and try to get better everyday.' HYROX subsequently outlined how its updated biohazard response would work.

New Biohazard Procedure Outlined

HYROX said medical and biocontaminant protocols became 'blurred' during the Beijing event, creating uncertainty over how they should be applied in an elite race. It described the case as one of the 'new and increasingly complex situations' arising as the sport expands internationally.

Under the revised procedure, an athlete who comes into contact with biohazardous matter would be removed from the course, decontaminated and potentially allowed to continue if deemed appropriate.

HYROX said concerns raised by competitors and its wider community were 'legitimate' and that it would take responsibility for improving its protocols.

The move addresses the practical question raised by the race: how officials manage a situation affecting an athlete, shared equipment or a course area without relying on unclear procedures. How the policy operates in real time, including how a return to competition will be assessed, will be the key issue at future elite events.

HYROX combines running with functional training stations including sled pushes, burpee broad jumps, wall balls and rowing. Founded in Hamburg, Germany, in 2017, it now stages elite and mass-participation competitions internationally.

Cleaning Carried Out at Beijing Venue

HYROX carried out extensive cleaning and disinfection at the National Speed Skating Oval, including affected areas and equipment. The race result stood.

Competitors use the same running course and functional workout stations during a HYROX event, which explains why the episode prompted questions about venue procedures and potential contamination.

The company has not publicly released a detailed timeline of officials' decisions during the race.

HYROX urged the public not to turn criticism of its handling of the event into abuse directed at Wietrzyk. It said: 'Frustration should never be directed towards the athletes themselves. They are the people who put themselves on the line, compete at the highest level and make competition what it is.'

Wietrzyk Addresses Online Reaction

Wietrzyk later appeared to address the reaction in a now-deleted Instagram post, sharing a hospital selfie and writing: 'Go hard or go home they say... a win is a win. In all seriousness, thank you for all the support. I'll be back soon.' The post did not establish why she was in hospital or attribute medical treatment to the race incident.

The athlete is a Puma global brand ambassador and has competed in footwear designed for HYROX. Her association with the sportswear company became part of the online discussion, with users posting 'Pooma' comments under Puma content and calling for a response.

Puma had not publicly commented when Marketing-Interactive said it had contacted the company for a statement. The outlet also reported that Wietrzyk set a Women's Solo Pro HYROX world record of 56 minutes and three seconds at the 2026 CENTR HYROX Phoenix in February while wearing Puma Deviate NITRO Elite HYROX footwear.