Hyrox has offered full refunds to competitors affected by a controversial incident at its Beijing event after Australian elite athlete Joanna Wietrzyk soiled herself during a race but was allowed to continue and eventually win.
Hyrox China said in a notice to participants on Tuesday that all athletes affected by the incident would receive a full refund of their entry fees. The organiser also apologised for failing to remove Wietrzyk from the course in time.
The incident occurred during the women’s pro race at Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval. Wietrzyk, a Hyrox women’s world record holder, continued competing after soiling herself, with images and videos circulating online showing visible faecal matter on her legs and shoes.
The incident sparked controversy because Hyrox races are held indoors on shared courses, with competitors moving repeatedly between running sections and functional workout stations. Athletes who followed Wietrzyk subsequently used the same mats and equipment, raising concerns over hygiene and how the event handled the contamination.
Hyrox China initially said the affected areas were isolated and disinfected, while the relevant equipment was removed and the venue’s flooring replaced.
Beijing-based sports commentator Zhang Bin told the Global Times that gastrointestinal distress was not unusual in endurance sports, but said contamination of shared equipment turned the incident into an event-management issue.
The controversy has also affected interest in upcoming Hyrox events. Multiple Chinese fitness enthusiasts who had registered for races in Shanghai and Sanya, Hainan, have reportedly decided to withdraw.
In its latest notice, Hyrox China acknowledged that it had failed to respond properly during the incident, saying the operational oversight meant affected participants did not receive the event experience they deserved.
The organiser said its on-site team disinfected the affected areas immediately after the incident and replaced the race-course carpet on the same day.
Under the refund arrangement, all athletes who were still competing between 2.40pm and 8.40pm will be eligible for a full refund.
The incident has also prompted Hyrox to revise its global rules. Co-founder Moritz Fürste apologised on Monday to those directly or indirectly affected and admitted the organisation had made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race.
Under the updated rules, race directors can now withdraw an athlete on medical grounds if blood, vomit, urine or faeces creates a welfare or contamination risk to the athlete or other competitors.
