Hyrox apologizes after athlete allowed to finish race despite on-course accident

Hyrox, the international indoor fitness competition, issued an apology on Sunday after a Beijing event in which athlete Joanna Wietrzyk was allowed to finish the race despite a personal accident that left feces on her legs. Video and photographs showed Wietrzyk running and using shared equipment while the incident occurred. The competition, which combines kilometer-long runs with high-intensity stations such as sled pushes, burpees and sandbag lunges, awarded her first place; she also holds the women’s solo world record for the event.

Co-founder Moritz Fürste posted on social media, saying the organization “made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race” and that it is his responsibility to anticipate such incidents. He added that new rules and procedures have been implemented to prevent a recurrence, though specific changes were not disclosed.

Hyrox’s subsequent statement, later removed, acknowledged that evolving sport conditions can create “new and increasingly complex situations” and emphasized the need for clearer protocols. The company said it has “clear biocontaminant and medical procedures” and recognized that the incident could cause frustration among participants and fans.

Hyrox declined to comment on why the statement was withdrawn or on the details of the policy updates. Wietrzyk did not respond to requests for comment.