BEIJING — HYROX has changed its competition rules and event procedures after admitting officials made a mistake by allowing Australian world record holder Joanna Wietrzyk to continue racing after suffering bowel incontinence during the Women’s Pro event in Beijing.
The September 12 incident at Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval triggered criticism over athlete welfare, hygiene and the handling of shared competition areas. HYROX co-founder Moritz Fürste has now apologised and confirmed that changes were made immediately after the event.
“HYROX made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race,” Fürste said in a statement on social media. He added that the organisation had begun improving its event processes and changing its rulebook, with new rules and procedures now in place.
Wietrzyk was allowed to continue and won the race. Published Beijing results have continued to list her as the winner, with no announcement from HYROX that the result has been overturned or that she has been penalised.
Athlete Developed Diarrhea Right During the Competition
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 13, 2026
Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk was unable to control her bowels during a HYROX race in China. The mess ended up on her legs, clothing, the flooring, and the equipment.
The race was not stopped, so other participants… pic.twitter.com/XkEetocmSX
HYROX admits Beijing race officials made a mistake
HYROX’s latest response marks a significant change from the questions that followed the race. Rather than simply describing the incident as an unusual competition situation, the organisation has now explicitly acknowledged that officials should have acted during the event.
Fürste, a German Olympic field hockey champion who co-founded HYROX, apologised to everyone “directly or indirectly” affected by the incident.
He said HYROX had immediately started improving its event processes and making rulebook changes to prevent a similar situation from happening again.
HYROX has not, however, publicly detailed the exact wording of those new rules, including precisely when officials must stop an athlete experiencing a medical or hygiene-related issue. It has also not announced any retrospective sanction against Wietrzyk.
Shared equipment and hygiene became central concerns
HYROX races combine repeated one-kilometre runs with functional workout stations. Competitors move through shared racing areas and use equipment including SkiErgs, sleds and rowing machines, making hygiene concerns particularly important when bodily fluids contaminate competition areas.
According to ABC News, HYROX China said affected sections were isolated and disinfected after the race. Equipment requiring attention was removed, waste was handled according to local requirements and affected flooring was marked for replacement.
HYROX’s China competition terms already give organisers authority to exclude or disqualify a participant when their actions could endanger an event or other competitors, while athletes are required to follow decisions by officials concerning their ability to participate safely.
Wietrzyk result remains a separate question
The rule changes do not automatically mean Wietrzyk will lose her Beijing victory. As of September 15, HYROX has not announced that her result has been cancelled or that disciplinary action will be taken against her.
That distinction is important. Fürste’s latest statement places responsibility for the failure to intervene on HYROX rather than announcing wrongdoing by the athlete herself.
The organisation has also condemned threats directed at Wietrzyk. A medical incident during an endurance event does not justify harassment or abuse, even while legitimate questions remain over how race officials handled the situation.
HYROX has grown rapidly since being founded in 2017, with its standardised format combining running and functional workouts at indoor venues around the world. Its popularity means the Beijing controversy could influence how officials handle medical, hygiene and safety incidents at future races.
The incident follows wider scrutiny of safety decisions at major endurance competitions, including the recent deaths of two 25-year-old runners during the Great North Run. For HYROX, the immediate change is now confirmed: officials have been given new rules and procedures following an incident the organisation accepts should have been handled differently.
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