BEIJING, Sept 18 — An Australian Hyrox athlete who continued racing after soiling herself during a Beijing event has apologised and forfeited her win following a wave of criticism over hygiene and safety standards.

The incident drew widespread attention after photos and videos of Joanna Wietrzyk competing with visibly soiled legs circulated online, prompting debate over how organisers handled the situation and whether other competitors were exposed to contamination, according to a report by the New York Times.

Wietrzyk said in an Instagram post yesterday that she “regret(s) the decision to not have stepped off the track,” adding, “I want to offer my sincere apology to the people of China, my fellow competitors, the spectators and the Hyrox organisers for what happened during the race in Beijing.”

She wrote that she “felt completely fit and healthy at the start of the race” and acknowledged that she “should have made a different choice,” saying she was “deeply sorry for the discomfort and disruption it caused.”

Wietrzyk announced that she would retroactively withdraw from the race and forfeit the points she earned for finishing first in the 16-24 age Pro category on September 12.

Her apology followed Hyrox’s introduction of new rules on September 14 allowing race directors to remove athletes on medical grounds if “blood, vomit, urine or faeces poses a welfare or contamination risk” to themselves or others.

Participants who raced between 2.40pm and 8.40pm during the Beijing event were later told they would receive full refunds, with some saying they had come into contact with contaminated equipment.

The controversy intensified after Hyrox confirmed it had launched a “major cleanup operation” at the Beijing venue, including sanitising shared equipment and replacing sections of carpet used during the race.

Hyrox co‑founder Moritz Furste later apologised, saying, “Hyrox made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race,” and acknowledged “shortcomings” in procedures that prevented judges from intervening.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV criticised what it called “regulatory flaws that not only harm the participants’ health but also undermine the very foundation of fairness in any competition.”

Wietrzyk’s identity was initially not disclosed, but once revealed online she faced threats of violence, prompting Hyrox to warn that anyone issuing such threats would be permanently banned from future events.

Hyrox said its team was actively identifying individuals responsible for abusive messages and stressed that “frustration should never be directed towards the athletes themselves.”

Some online users accused Wietrzyk of issuing a public‑relations apology, noting that her earlier now‑deleted response had stated, “a win is a win.”

Her primary sponsor, Puma, subsequently removed her clothing line from its online store.

The Beijing incident also reignited debate over hygiene risks in endurance sports, with some pointing to past examples such as British marathoner Paula Radcliffe stopping to relieve herself during the 2005 London Marathon.

Hyrox has grown rapidly in China, with more than 500 affiliated gyms offering training for the indoor fitness race, which combines running with functional workout stations using shared equipment such as sleds, rowers and sandbags.

Wietrzyk said she would “take some time to recover, reflect and look after myself and my family away from the noise,” thanking those who had shown her “kindness and support.”

The rule changes have been welcomed by many in the Hyrox community, including competitors preparing for the upcoming Singapore event at the Singapore Expo from November 26 to 29, which is expected to draw more than 14,000 participants.