Australian athlete wins another Hyrox competition after diarrhea scandal in Beijing race

Australia's Joanna Wietrzyk has won the Hyrox Hamburg event, marking her return to competition six weeks after a controversial hygiene incident in Beijing, where she faced backlash for soiling herself on the track but kept going.

At the opening leg of the 2026-2027 Hyrox Elite 15 series in Hamburg on Oct. 30, Wietrzyk finished first with a time of 56 minutes and 10.21 seconds. The 24-year-old Australian athlete narrowly defeated American competitors Lauren Weeks (56:24.37) and Vivian Tafuto (57:55.34).

The Melbourne native currently holds the world record in the women's professional Hyrox singles category. However, her recent victory is notable given that she had seriously considered quitting the sport following one of the most controversial incidents in the history of the sport.

On Sept. 12, during the Hyrox event in Beijing, Wietrzyk experienced severe diarrhea while competing. Rather than stopping, she continued to complete the physical challenges. Waste ran down her legs, contaminating the course and several pieces of shared equipment.

Footage of the incident quickly went viral across social media platforms. Wietrzyk finished first that day, but her victory made her the target of widespread criticism. According to the South China Morning Post, more than 1,000 other participants continued to compete on the course and in shared areas following her contamination.

Public outrage was fueled by her decision to keep competing under circumstances that posed a potential risk to others.

The backlash escalated when Wietrzyk initially posted a photo from her hospital bed, suggesting that athletes must push to the end and that a win is a win. She later deleted the post, issued a formal public apology, withdrew from the Beijing event and forfeited all earned points.

Hyrox organizers also acknowledged their failure to intervene in time. Co-founder Moritz Fürste stated that officials should have halted Wietrzyk's participation immediately when the incident occurred. The regulations was also updated. Officials are now have the right to disqualify any athlete whose bodily fluids, such as blood, vomit, urine, or feces, pose a hygiene risk to others.

Before returning to competition in Hamburg, Wietrzyk posted a video apology. In an interview with BBC last week, she admitted making the wrong choice and acknowledged that she failed to consider the people around her.

Wietrzyk revealed that the backlash led to a mental breakdown, prompting her to consider quitting, returning to a normal job and stepping away from social media. Family support helped her return to training.

Hyrox, originating in Germany in 2017, combines running with strength-based exercises. Competitions consist of eight 1km runs with physical challenge stations in between, such as weight pushing, weight pulling, machine rowing, burpees, weight carrying and throwing. Because multiple athletes share equipment, hygiene and safety requirements are the top priorities.

Following her Hamburg victory, Wietrzyk will compete in the Hyrox Elite Series in London from Dec. 3 to 6.