Overview
- Joanna Wietrzyk, an Australian elite competitor, suffered faecal incontinence during the HYROX Beijing course and continued to finish and win her Women's Pro division on Saturday.
- Event organisers say they immediately isolated the affected zones, removed contaminated mats and equipment, and carried out a deep clean and disinfection of the venue.
- HYROX issued a statement saying it has clear biocontaminant and medical protocols but that their application 'became blurred' in this unforeseen case and that it will review how rules are enforced.
- Fellow competitors and viewers complained that contaminated surfaces and equipment became slippery and that some athletes’ performance was affected after contact with the course.
- The incident has put pressure on HYROX’s global brand because races are standardized worldwide, and organisers face calls to clarify on-course hygiene rules while policing abusive online threats against the athlete.