Joanna Wietrzyk wins Hyrox Beijing race amid controversy

Joanna Wietrzyk secured the Hyrox World Cup stage in Beijing despite suffering diarrhoea during the competition, turning her victory into a dispute over athlete welfare and the application of the rules. The Australian, who is also a world champion, completed the event with faecal traces on her legs.

Wietrzyk continued through the strength and fitness sections and reached the finish without an apparent interruption. The incident has drawn criticism from competitors and observers, who questioned why she was allowed to remain in the race when other actions, including spitting on the course or spraying water, are normally penalised. Some also alleged that her profile and Puma sponsorship may have influenced the decision, while witnesses claimed other competitors came into contact with the waste on the course.

The athlete initially treated the episode lightly, posting an image of herself on a stretcher with a humorous caption. Hyrox later acknowledged that the incident exposed uncertainty in its procedures for biological contamination and medical care.

The organisation said its existing protocols had not clearly addressed an unexpected case of this kind, particularly in an event combining elite competition with mass participation. It recognised that the situation could cause frustration and strong reactions, and said it needed to review how such cases are handled. Wietrzyk keeps the Beijing win, but the result has left Hyrox facing scrutiny over health risks and equal enforcement of its regulations.