Arabic version: انتقادات لسباق هايروكس بكين بعد إكمال رياضية للسباق

According to ABC News, HYROX Beijing has faced backlash after Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk continued competing and won her event after suffering sudden faecal incontinence during the global indoor fitness race in the Chinese capital.

Videos and photos posted online showed Wietrzyk continuing through exercises and using communal equipment while visibly soiled. The incident went viral on Chinese social media, prompting debate over health and safety standards and athlete responsibility. A Weibo hashtag about the competitor not being punished had received more than 27 million views.

HYROX China said it closed off and isolated the affected area and track after the race, completed disinfection, removed relevant equipment and disposed of waste under municipal waste-management standards. Organisers also said they would replace flooring at the venue to protect future athlete health.

HYROX World said it had clear bio-contaminant and medical procedures, but that an unforeseen situation had blurred protocols for elite competition and mass participation. Other competitors questioned why Wietrzyk was allowed to finish, while Li Hongxin of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry said organisers should assess potential effects on other competitors, particularly at an indoor event where equipment is shared.