At the Women's Pro division in Beijing on Sept. 12, Wietrzyk experienced a sudden loss of bowel control but was permitted by organizers to continue competing despite feces on her body and the track. She completed her race with a winning time of 1 hour, 1 minute and 23 seconds, Marca reported.

The incident quickly went viral on social media, sparking criticism from Hyrox fans and specialized media outlets of the sport. Many argued that the organizers gave Wietrzyk special treatment because she is an elite athlete sponsored by Puma, a brand that also serves as one of Hyrox's official sponsors.

The controversy grew when the format of Hyrox competitions requires athletes to share the same course and equipment, including rowing machines, weighted sleds and exercise mats. Wietrzyk's decision to continue competing after the incident raised hygiene and public health concerns among other participants.

Following the race, Wietrzyk posted a photo on Instagram showing herself on a medical stretcher.

"Go hard or go home...a win is a win," she wrote under the caption.

Joanna Wietrzyk's post after winning the Hyrox Beijing on Sept. 12, 2026. Photo by Instagram/@joannawietrzyk

She then deleted the post after receiving hundreds of comments criticizing her sportsmanship and arguing that she should have stopped competing to avoid affecting the health of the venue staff and fellow athletes.

Hyrox, the global fitness racing company, issued a formal statement on Sept. 14 confirming it would review and adjust its regulations following the controversy, adding that the affected area was isolated and sanitized, while the equipment was removed from the competition zone and replaced to minimize risks to other athletes.

"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," it wrote.

Hyrox also strongly condemned the online harassment directed at Wietrzyk, confirming it is investigating the matter and will ban those responsible from participating in future events.

A female athlete who competed alongside Wietrzyk told Spanish news agency EFE that the Australian athlete suffered the accident less than halfway into the race. She confirmed that feces were left on the track and on the shared equipment, unlike Hyrox's claims about prompt sanitization.

"The cleaning was not carried out at that moment, but rather at the end of the day, and there were people who got soiled and even slipped on the feces," the athlete said.

A spectator, identified only as Zhai, told the South China Morning Post that Wietrzyk started her race at 2:40 p.m. on Saturday and that feces was visible on the track 30 minutes later, causing several runners to slip.

"Think about how disgusting it is, especially when we use the exact same track," another participant on the following competition day said.

Sports commentator Zhu Meng told Chinese newspaper Global Times that true sportsmanship is knowing where to draw the line, because competition should never continue at the expense of public health and the rights of other athletes.

Joanna Wietrzyk set a world record in the Women's Solo Pro category at the Warsaw Major in April 2026. Photo by Instagram/@joannawietrzyk

Chinese netizens questioned why the medical team failed to intervene and demanded that organizers refund participants who were exposed to the health risk after paying US$150 to enter.

Before transitioning to hybrid endurance competitions like Hyrox, Wietrzyk had an extensive background in CrossFit, functional bodybuilding, and track and field. She competes in Women's Pro, a division for high-level athletes at Hyrox.

Wietrzyk currently holds the world record in the Women's Solo Pro category after achieving a time of 54 minutes and 25 seconds at the Warsaw Major earlier in 2026.

In addition to competing, Wietrzyk works as an online fitness coach and personal trainer, focusing on Hyrox race preparation, hybrid endurance and strength training.

Hyrox is a sports competition created in 2017 that combines 8 km of running with eight strength exercises, with the goal of finishing it in the shortest time. It is held in more than 20 countries. According to Forbes, the franchise was valued at more than €600 million ($692 million) by the end of 2025.