Hyrox competitor who soiled herself mid-race offers 'sincere apology'
Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk has apologized and withdrawn from a Hyrox competition in Beijing after continuing to race despite a hygiene incident. The event sparked significant online backlash regarding health risks and the organizer's decision to allow her to finish.
Why it matters
The incident raises questions about professional sports ethics, health protocols, and the influence of social media on athlete accountability.
<p>Australian Hyrox competitor Joanna Wietrzyk has offered an apology — and retroactively withdrawn from the race and forfeited her points — after <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/09/15/hyrox-apologises-after-australian-athlete-soils-herself-mid-race/" target="_blank">soiling herself</a> during the event in Beijing. </p> <p>The incident went viral on social media, with videos and images shared of her continuing the race - which she went on to win in the 16-24 age Pro category - sparking backlash from many online. </p> <p>The day of the event Wietrzyk posted a now-deleted Instagram post, saying: "Go hard or go home… a win is a win. In all seriousness, thank you for all the support. I’ll be back soon x."</p> <p>Now, she posted a new statement to her Instagram account offering a "sincere apology to the people of China, my fellow competitors, the spectators and the HYROX organizers for what happened during the race in Beijing".
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