HYROX athlete Joanna Wietrzyk apologises for continuing race despite defecating herself
The HYROX athlete who soiled herself mid-race in Beijing has issued a formal apology and retroactively forfeited her win at the HYROX Beijing event last week.
24-year-old Joanna Wietrzyk posted a statement on Facebook on 17 Sept, announcing that she is “deeply sorry for the discomfort and disruption it caused”.
Source: Joannawietrzyk on Facebook
Apologises for her decision to continue race
In her statement, Wietrzyk first begins by offering her “sincere apology to the people of China, [her] fellow competitors, the spectators and the HYROX organisers” for what happened in Beijing.
During the race on 12 Sept, the world record holder athlete competed and completed the fitness competition with faeces running down her legs.
Source: Joannawietrzyk on Facebook
Despite winning the event, her decision to carry on despite her incontinence sparked debate.
Many raised concerns over the health and safety of competitors, as well as criticism against the HYROX organisers for not disqualifying Wietrzyk when.
“I felt completely fit and healthy at the start of the race, with no reason to expect any illness,” Wietrzyk said.
“Looking back, I regret the decision to not have stepped off the track.”
Source: Joannawietrzyk on Facebook
Withdraws from race and forfeits points
Beyond the apology, Wietrzyk also announced that she has decided to “retroactively withdraw from the race and forfeit the points” she had earned.
She had placed first in the 16-24 age Pro category race.
Source: Joannawietrzyk on Facebook
The apology comes after HYROX organisers announced new rules to the competition, allowing race directors to withdraw racers on medical grounds if if their “blood, vomit, urine or faeces poses a welfare or contamination risk” to themselves or other racers.
HYROX has informed some of the competitors via an email saying that it would provide refunds for the value of the event ticket for athletes who competed at certain times on the same day as Wietrzyk.
Wietrzyk stated: “I know my actions had an impact beyond myself, and I am genuinely sorry to everyone who was affected.”
Source: Joannawietrzyk on Facebook
She added that she is “learning from this experience” and will “carry those lessons” with her, including “knowing when it is right to step away”.
Wietrzyk then ends by thanking those who stood by her “both as an athlete and as a person” and said that she will be taking some time away to recover.
Puma reportedly removes sportwear collection associated with Wietrzyk
The formal apology also follows moves by her primary sponsor, Puma, who has reportedly removed a dedicated online sportwear collection associated with Wietrzyk.
The “Joanna Wietrzyk x Puma” page on the company’s online store now redirects to a generic HYROX fitness and training page, with no products linked to Wietrzyk currently visible.
Source: Joannawietrzyk on Facebook
Prior to the incident, the athlete has worked alongside Puma since Oct 2025 as part of a renewed long-term partnership with HYROX.
However, the company has not publicly announced that her sponsorship has been terminated, and it is unconfirmed that the removal was a result of the recent controversy.
Also read: 41-year-old South African fitness coach dies after collapsing at HYROX competition in Bangkok
41-year-old South African fitness coach dies after collapsing at HYROX competition in Bangkok
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Featured image adapted from Joannawietrzyk on Facebook.