HYROX Changes Rules After Joanna Wietrzyk Won 8km Beijing Race Amid Mid-Race Incontinence
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 17
HYROX Changes Rules After Joanna Wietrzyk Won 8km Beijing Race Amid Mid-Race Incontinence
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 17
Summary
HYROX said it has already changed its rulebook and event procedures after Joanna Wietrzyk continued racing through fecal incontinence and still won the Sept. 12 Beijing event.
Moritz Furste, the fitness series' co-founder, apologized and said officials "made a mistake" by not reacting immediately, after criticism that the incident exposed other competitors to a potential biohazard.
Wietrzyk's coach, Chris Bayens, defended her and race staff, calling it an unforeseen situation unfolding in real time, while condemning the personal attacks that followed online.
8 kilometers of running and 8 workout stations make HYROX a prolonged, high-intensity format that can trigger gastrointestinal distress, dehydration and fatigue, according to a trainer who said clear removal and contamination protocols are essential.
Founded in 2017, HYROX says it has grown to more than 1.4 million competitors globally, raising the stakes for how the fast-growing fitness series handles athlete medical incidents.