An Australian HYROX champion who sparked widespread controversy after suffering a bout of severe diarrhoea during a race has made an impressive return to competition. Joanna Wietrzyk won the Elite 15 event in Hamburg, Germany, nearly seven weeks after the incident.
The 24-year-old finished first in the women's race on Friday, 30 October, clocking 56 minutes and 10 seconds to beat American competitor Lauren Weeks, who crossed the finish line in 56:24. Vivian Tafuto claimed third place in 57:55, giving Wietrzyk a winning start to the 2026–27 Elite 15 season.
Her victory marked her first competitive appearance since the 12 September race in Beijing, China, where she continued competing despite suffering severe diarrhoea. The incident attracted widespread criticism online and left the Australian athlete questioning whether she wanted to continue her career in the sport.
Joanna Wietrzyk Considered Returning to a 'Normal Job' After HYROX Backlash
In an interview with the BBC ahead of her comeback, Wietrzyk revealed that the criticism following the Beijing controversy had pushed her to consider walking away from competitive fitness altogether. She admitted there were several moments when she wondered whether returning to a conventional job and leaving social media behind would be the better decision.
'I've gone through moments and weeks of "maybe we should just stop" and just go back to doing a normal job and just remove myself from social media entirely,' she said. The athlete described going through a 'very, very low period mentally and emotionally' but credited her family with helping her get through the experience.
She said being able to isolate herself from the outside world and spend time with loved ones gave her some relief from the intense scrutiny. Wietrzyk also acknowledged that she had made the wrong decision by continuing to compete in Beijing, although she was surprised by the extent of the online backlash.
The world-record holder said the experience made her realise how powerful social media could be, particularly for a 24-year-old athlete competing in the public eye. 'Yes, I did make the wrong decision but I don't believe I should have received such backlash and such scrutiny online,' she told the BBC.
What Happened During Joanna Wietrzyk's HYROX Beijing Race?
The controversy erupted during the 12 September competition after Wietrzyk reportedly suffered a sudden bout of severe diarrhoea. Despite the incident, she continued through the remaining running sections and workout stations, with photographs and videos showing faecal matter running down her legs as she completed the course.
NEW: Hyrox competitor Joanna Wietrzyk sparks a debate after shitting herself mid-race and continuing to compete
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) September 15, 2026
Wietrzyk went viral after photos and videos showed her suffering fecal incontinence during a HYROX race in Beijing, but she continued competing and went on to win… pic.twitter.com/U79uRMw1bu
Wietrzyk initially crossed the finish line in first place, but her decision to continue racing sparked criticism among fellow competitors and spectators. Concerns were raised about the hygiene of the course and shared equipment, which were reportedly contaminated for more than 1,000 participants who followed her.
The athlete initially celebrated her victory on social media with a now-deleted post reading 'a win is a win' but later issued a public apology. She subsequently withdrew her Beijing result and forfeited the points she had earned.
'Looking back, I regret the decision to not have stepped off the track,' she said in her apology. 'I recognise that I should have made a different choice.' Wietrzyk also apologised to the people of China, fellow competitors, spectators, and HYROX organisers for the incident.
She said she had felt completely fit and healthy before the race and had no reason to expect that she would become ill. Her apology followed criticism over the potential hygiene risks to other competitors who used the same equipment and course.
HYROX Changes Rules After Controversial Incident
The incident also prompted HYROX to review its health and safety procedures after co-founder Moritz Fürste acknowledged that organisers had made a mistake by failing to intervene immediately. The organisation subsequently amended its rules to allow race directors to withdraw competitors when bodily fluids, including blood, vomit, urine, or faeces, create a welfare or contamination risk to themselves or others.
Hyrox changes rules after athlete soiled herself in competition https://t.co/GARaPWOleu https://t.co/GARaPWOleu
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 15, 2026
Such withdrawals are recorded as a Did Not Finish (DNF). The changes give race directors greater authority to intervene when an athlete's participation could put other competitors at risk.
Wietrzyk, meanwhile, returned to the competition floor after taking nearly seven weeks away from racing. Ahead of her Hamburg appearance, she again apologised to those affected by her decision and thanked supporters who stood by her during the difficult period.
