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Australian HYROX athlete Joanna Wietrzyk has apologised for continuing to compete after soiling herself during a race in Beijing, China, last weekend
The apology came five days after the incident, following widespread backlash on social media.
In a statement posted on 17 September, Wietrzyk said she regretted her decision to continue competing after she began experiencing what appeared to be a gastrointestinal issue during the race.
"I recognise that I should have made a different choice. I take responsibility for my decision to continue and am deeply sorry for the discomfort and disruption it caused," she wrote.
Wietrzyk was captured on video continuing the indoor endurance race on Saturday, 12 September, with faecal matter visible on her legs
She completed all the stations, including the sled push, rowing machine, and wall balls, before finishing first in the women's HYROX Pro event.
Her decision to continue competing drew criticism from members of the public, fellow participants, and others in the fitness community, particularly over concerns about hygiene and the potential impact on other competitors.
The athlete also announced that she has decided to "retroactively withdraw" from the Beijing race, forfeiting the points she earned from the event
Wietrzyk said she understood that her actions had affected people beyond herself and that she would learn from the experience.
"I want to offer my sincere apology to the people of China, my fellow competitors, the spectators, and the HYROX organisers for what happened during the race in Beijing.
"I am learning from this experience and will carry those lessons with me, including remembering that there is more to life than racing and knowing when it is right to step away," she said.
Wietrzyk added that she would be taking some time off to reflect.
Following her withdrawal, HYROX World has also removed its post featuring the women's Pro leaderboard from the Beijing race, which previously showed Wietrzyk in first place.
Meanwhile, some participants who competed at the same HYROX event have reportedly received emails from the organisers regarding refunds
HYROX China has not publicly announced the refunds on its official social media platforms. However, several social media users have shared screenshots of emails they claim were sent by the organisers.
According to the purported email, the organisers apologised for the incident and said athletes who competed on the same day would receive a refund.
"We failed to promptly remove the involved athlete from the track. We sincerely apologise that this operational oversight meant we were unable to provide you with the race experience you deserved," the email reportedly read.
SAYS has reached out to HYROX to verify the email and the reported refunds.
