# Aussie HYROX Athlete Forfeits Win After Soiling During Race

> Hyrox athlete Joanna Wietrzyk forfeits Beijing win after soiling herself, sparking global backlash.
- Title: Aussie HYROX Athlete Forfeits Win After Soiling During Race
- Summary: Hyrox athlete Joanna Wietrzyk forfeits Beijing win after soiling herself, sparking global backlash. Australian HYROX athlete Joanna Wietrzyk forfeited her…
- Keywords: joanna wietrzyk, hyrox, australia, beijing, competition, forfeit, apology, soiling, news, entertainment, Aussie, Athlete
- Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/sport/othersports/article-16139105/Hyrox-athlete-apology.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss
- Published: 2026-09-17T12:16:19+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: joanna wietrzyk, hyrox, australia, beijing, competition, forfeit, apology, soiling, news, entertainment
## Joanna Wietrzyk
24-year-old Australian HYROX athlete won Beijing race despite soiling herself.

> I want to offer my sincere apology to the people of China, my fellow competitors, the spectators and the HYROX organizers for what happened during the race in Beijing.
## Soiling During Race
Wietrzyk continued racing after streams of faeces ran down her legs.
## Forfeited Win
Wietrzyk forfeited her victory and apologized to competitors and organizers.

> I take responsibility for my decision to continue and am deeply sorry for the discomfort and disruption it caused.
## Public Apology
Wietrzyk apologized for the incident on Instagram, stating she regretted continuing.

> Looking back, I regret the decision to not have stepped off the track.
## Rule Changes
HYROX co-founder Moritz Fürste pledged immediate rule changes after incident.
## No Fecal Rules
HYROX had no rules for faecal matter during competitions prior to this incident.
## Public Reaction
Commenters divided on whether Wietrzyk's apology was sincere or delayed.

> This apology is just not good enough, not least because it has come far too late.
## Coach Support
Wietrzyk's coach Chris Bayens defended her against criticism.

> The mental health of athletes is shaped far more by the community around them.
## Apology Timing
Wietrzyk delayed her apology for nearly a week after the incident.

> I regret the decision to not have stepped off the track.
## Sponsor Withdrawal
Puma removed Wietrzyk from its global websites after the incident.
## Forfeit Decision
Wietrzyk retroactively withdrew from the race and forfeited points earned.

> On reflection, I have decided to retroactively withdraw from the race and forfeit the points I earned.
## Public Backlash
Wietrzyk faced intense criticism for continuing the race despite soiling.

> True actions of a fighter, not many people understand the mindset of the best in the world.
## Coach's View
Bayens emphasized that decisions were made under pressure with no time to prepare.

> Decisions were made under competition conditions by an athlete, judges and officials, all responding to a situation none of them could reasonably have prepared for.
## What Happens Next
Wietrzyk will take time to recover and reflect after the incident.

> I will be taking some time to recover, reflect and look after myself and my family, away from the noise.
## Key takeaway

Australian HYROX athlete Joanna Wietrzyk forfeited her win after soiling herself during competition, apologizing for the incident that caused widespread criticism.