Hyrox athlete who soiled herself in race tells BBC she put others at risk but says backlash was traumatic
Hyrox athlete Joanna Wietrzyk has apologized for continuing to compete after soiling herself during a race in Beijing. The incident has prompted Hyrox to update its safety rules, granting race directors the authority to remove athletes who pose health or contamination risks.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intersection of extreme athletic competitiveness and public health protocols in growing endurance sports.
Figure caption, Watch: 'I made the wrong decision,' Hyrox athlete Joanna Wietrzyk tells BBC
An Australian athlete has admitted putting others at risk by continuing to race after soiling herself during an endurance sports event.
Speaking exclusively to the BBC ahead of her return to the sport, Joanna Wietrzyk suggested her determination to win the Hyrox race in Beijing in September had clouded her judgement: "It was my decision to continue racing so I take full responsibility for that."
Challenged over why she carried on, she said: "I didn't really think about those around me… the decision that I made in hindsight was the wrong decision and I'm truly sorry for everyone that I did affect."
Image caption, Joanna Wietrzyk suggested her determination to win clouded her judgement
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