A MEDIA STORM has blown up after organisers of a global indoor fitness competition, Hyrox allowed an Australian athlete to finish and win an event in Beijing despite soiling herself mid-race.

The world record holder, Joanna Wietrzyk was filmed progressing through punishing exercises while using communal equipment in an indoor arena, with faecal matter running down her legs.

Predictably, the incident has gone viral on social media and caused a furious debate about Hyrox’s health and safety standards, specifically whether the athlete should have been allowed to continue to compete and what risks she posed to herself, fellow athletes, organisers and spectators.

The ‘win is a win’ results-driven culture of international athletics brand Hyrox has raised questions about the commercialisation of a sport where winning at any cost is what counts.

Joanna Wietrzyk competing in Hong Kong after her bowel incontinence.

Hyrox has issued an apology for allowing the athlete to continue to compete. After a wave of criticism, Hyrox co-founder, Moritz Fϋrste apologised to all those affected directly or indirectly by the incident and said the brand is working to make immediate rule changes

Winning at any cost is not okay. Health and safety has to be paramount – allowing any athlete to continue to compete while losing control over their bowel, disregards the health and safety of fellow competitors, as well as organisers and spectators that places them at high risk of debilitating illness.

Whatever about public decorum, this would seem obvious – it seems the rules must be explicit to ensure it does not happen again.

Hyrox is a fitness competition launched in Germany in 2017 that has exploded in popularity across the globe. It is an indoor fitness race with a mixture of treadmill running and strength exercises such as lunges, burpees and rowing using communal equipment. Its popularity in China has exploded in the last two years.

Runner’s........

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