Joanna Wietrzyk has broken her silence after winning a HYROX race in China while suffering an apparent bowel accident, as the fitness competition’s co-founder admits the organization “made a mistake” by letting her keep competing.
Wietrzyk, an Australian HYROX champion, crossed the finish line first in the women’s solo Pro event last weekend with a time of 61 minutes and 23 seconds. The victory was overshadowed when spectators noticed what appeared to be fecal matter running down her legs during the race, sparking debate about whether officials should have removed her from competition.
Mo Fuerste, co-founder of the German fitness racing brand, addressed the controversy directly on Instagram. “I need to address all of you directly concerning the recent events in China,” he wrote. “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. HYROX made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race.”
Fuerste continued: “In the end it is my job to foresee these potential incidents – and I did not. Of course, we started improving event processes, plus making rulebook changes immediately,” He added that “new rules and procedures” are already in place to prevent similar situations.
The incident prompted a full cleaning operation, with a team of workers spending the night scrubbing contaminated areas of the course. Many viewers had questioned why Wietrzyk was allowed to finish after the accident became apparent.
HYROX had previously issued a statement noting the company maintains “clear biocontaminant and medical procedures in place.” The organization explained that “an unforeseen situation arose in which protocols designed for elite competition and mass participation became blurred, creating ambiguity in how they were applied and understood.”
The company has also defended Wietrzyk against a wave of online harassment that followed the race. “There is no place in our community for threats of violence,” HYROX stated, warning that anyone identified making threats “whether through comments, direct messages or social media – will be permanently banned from all Hyrox events.”
The organization emphasized the demands placed on elite competitors. “We ask our athletes to push themselves to the highest levels,” the statement read. “At times, they will go beyond what even we thought was possible. That courage, resilience and refusal to give in are precisely what makes elite athletes so extraordinary.”
Wietrzyk herself initially responded with defiance, posting a photo to Instagram showing herself on an intravenous drip after the event. “Go hard or go home … a win is a win,” she wrote. “In all seriousness, thank you for all the support. I’ll be back soon x.” That post has since been deleted.
The Australian athlete’s victory came in the HYROX Pro women’s division, the elite tier of the competition that combines running with functional workout stations. The China event was part of the growing global series that has drawn both mass participation racers and professional athletes competing for prize money.
Fuerste closed his statement with a pledge of improvement: “We learn and try to get better everyday.”
HYROX’s next scheduled event is the World Championships in Nice, France.