Hyrox apologises after athlete finishes race in soiled state in Beijing

Hyrox has apologised after allowing Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk to finish a race in Beijing on Sept 12 despite soiling herself mid-event, sparking a social media outcry over hygiene concerns. Photos and videos showed Wietrzyk with soiled legs and shoes continuing to use mats and equipment, and she went on to win the competition without organisers intervening. Critics noted other participants had to touch the contaminated surfaces. Hyrox co-founder Moritz Furste admitted the franchise made a mistake by not reacting immediately and said new rules are in place to prevent recurrence. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV blamed regulatory flaws harming participants' health and fairness.