PUMA Wipes HYROX Champion's Name From Its Website After Viral 'Poo' Scandal

PUMA has removed Australian HYROX star Joanna Wietrzyk's named clothing range from parts of its online store, days after her Beijing victory became one of the fitness world's biggest viral controversies.

The sportswear giant has removed the 'Joanna Wietrzyk x PUMA' clothing range from some of its online stores, according to current reports. The move comes after Wietrzyk continued competing after losing control of her bowels during the 12 September race, eventually crossing the finish line as the winner.

But while the timing has fuelled speculation about the future of the PUMA HYROX star collection, there is an important line between what has been seen online and what PUMA has actually confirmed.

There has been no public confirmation that PUMA has terminated Wietrzyk's wider relationship with the brand. PUMA's own media hub previously described Wietrzyk as a PUMA athlete, while some PUMA regional pages have continued to show a 'Joanna Wietrzyk x PUMA' collection.

Wietrzyk's PUMA Collection Suddenly Vanishes

Before the controversy, Wietrzyk was closely associated with PUMA, promoting its training gear and appearing in material connected to the brand.

Her PUMA relationship had been a major part of her profile, with the athlete previously describing becoming a PUMA HYROX ambassador as a 'dream come true'.

Now, that association looks very different online.

Reports found Wietrzyk's named clothing range had disappeared from some PUMA online stores, while some promotional material featuring her was also removed. However, some other videos and content featuring the athlete have remained visible, meaning the company has not completely erased every reference to her.

That distinction matters.

The evidence currently shows PUMA has removed Wietrzyk's named clothing range and some branded material from parts of its online presence. It does not establish that the company has formally dropped her as an ambassador or ended every aspect of its relationship with her.

'Poo-Ma Pants' Jokes Add Fuel

The disappearance has unfolded as social media has piled on the bizarre controversy.

After footage from the Beijing event went viral, Wietrzyk became the target of a wave of jokes, including the pun 'Poo-ma pants' aimed at PUMA.

The athlete had been competing in the HYROX Pro event when she lost control of her bowels. Rather than stopping, she carried on through the race and ultimately won, triggering fierce debate over hygiene, athlete welfare and why officials allowed the competition to continue. Reuters confirmed that Wietrzyk, described as the women's world record holder, was permitted to finish the race and win.

Wietrzyk later deleted a victory post carrying the words 'a win is a win' and has not publicly addressed the controversy in detail.

HYROX Changes Its Rules

The backlash has also landed squarely on HYROX.

Co-founder Moritz Fürste apologised after the organisation acknowledged that it had failed to react appropriately during the incident. HYROX has since changed its procedures and rules following the Beijing race.

The changes mean the controversy is no longer simply about one athlete's decision to keep racing. It has also raised questions about how fitness competitions should respond when an athlete's condition creates potential hygiene or contamination concerns.

Coach Hits Back at Online Attacks

Wietrzyk's coach, Chris Bayens, has also pushed back against the torrent of personal abuse directed at the athlete.

Bayens urged people to stop the 'hatred and personal attacks', arguing that decisions made in the middle of an intense competition cannot always be judged fairly with hindsight.

'No one is perfect, not in sport, not on social media, not in real life,' Bayens said, describing the backlash as 'ugly'.

For PUMA, meanwhile, the most striking development is now visible with a simple search: Wietrzyk's once-prominent named clothing range has disappeared from some of the company's online shops.

Whether that is a temporary change to its digital storefront or signals a broader change in the partnership remains unconfirmed.

For now, the facts are narrower but striking enough: days after Wietrzyk's Beijing victory exploded across social media, PUMA has removed her named clothing range and some promotional material from parts of its online presence, while references to the athlete remain elsewhere.