HYROX Beijing sparks backlash after Aussie athlete soils herself mid-race

The organisers of a viral sporting event in Beijing have faced backlash and criticism after an Australian woman was allowed to continue competing after soiling herself. 

Athlete Joanna Wietrzyk was participating in the global indoor fitness race HYROX in the Chinese capital at the weekend when she suffered faecal incontinence.

Wietrzyk was allowed to finish the course and won her event, with videos and photos posted online showing her continuing through demanding exercises and using communal equipment while visibly soiled.

The incident has gone viral on Chinese social media and sparked debate about HYROX's health and safety standards, as well as athlete responsibility.

"She's so selfish — she kept running the whole way even though she had diarrhoea," one user on Weibo questioned. "What about the runners behind her?"

Another wrote: "The host is ultimately unprofessional!" 

On Weibo, the hashtag #Hyrox incontinence female competitor has not been punished# has more than 27 million views. 

HYROX is a global fitness challenge in which participants race to complete often gruelling stations, including sandbag lunges, burpees, sled pushes and rowing.

An article on the Beijing incident was the most-viewed story on Chinese state media website, the Global Times, on Monday.

In a statement, HYROX China said the area was decontaminated after the race had finished.

"After the incident, the organising committee immediately closed off and isolated the affected area and track, and completed comprehensive disinfection," organisers said.

"Relevant equipment was removed from the venue, and waste was disposed of in accordance with municipal waste-management standards."

The organisers also said they would replace flooring at the venue to protect future athlete health.

HYROX World also issued a statement addressing the incident.

"HYROX has clear bio-contaminant and medical procedures in place," the statement said.

"In this instance, 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."

But social media users and other athletes at the event have attacked the response and questioned why Wietrzyk was allowed to finish the race, potentially risking the health and safety of other competitors.

"For people who were exposed to that situation, there could be genuine physical and psychological consequences," one competitor named johopalooza posted on Instagram.

"I paid HYROX to provide a professionally organised and safe event. So while I understand the athlete perspective, ultimately my contract and expectation is with HYROX.

"Protecting athletes is important, but showing the wider community that HYROX takes responsibility when its own procedures fail is just as important."

'Organisers should assess the risk'

HYROX has also been accused of double standards over its hygiene rules, which punish athletes with time penalties if they litter on the course, spit or clear their nose onto the floor.

HYROX has been contacted for comment.

Wietrzyk, who is a HYROX world-record holder, was invited to compete at the Beijing event.

She has been contacted for comment.

Li Hongxin, an associate professor of sports management at China's Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, said the athlete should not be criticised or judged for experiencing a physiological problem.

"I think her determination and sportsmanship are very understandable," he said.

But he said the incident raised questions about the responsibility of event organisers.

"Organisers should assess whether such a situation could affect the health or wellbeing of other competitors," he said.

Dr Li said this was particularly important because HYROX was an indoor event.

"Take a marathon as an example. If a competitor is menstruating, organisers would generally respect their decision to continue because a marathon is an outdoor event," he said.

"They don't share equipment with other competitors, so it generally doesn't pose a public safety concern.

"But HYROX is an indoor event, where competitors share equipment. In that situation, I think the organisers should have staff step in and adjust the event, or take appropriate emergency measures."