*This content was translated by AI.
After controversy over whether a shameful victory was acceptable, the champion voluntarily surrendered even the title. This followed an incident where she experienced fecal incontinence during the indoor fitness race Hyrox and used shared equipment.
The British outlet 'Daily Mail' reported on the 18th (Korean time) that "Joanna Vietrzik (24), an Australian athlete at Hyrox, publicly apologized for the incident of experiencing fecal incontinence during a competition in Beijing, China," and added that "she even announced she would forfeit both the championship title and all points earned at the event."
Vietrzik, a fitness star from Melbourne and world record holder in the Hyrox women's solo category, stated in her official apology: "I sincerely apologize to the Chinese people, fellow athletes, spectators, and the Hyrox organizers for what happened during the Beijing competition." She explained, "At the start of the race, my physical condition was excellent, and there were no signs whatsoever that suggested illness."
She continued, "Looking back, I deeply regret not withdrawing from the track at the time and realize I should have made a different choice. Taking responsibility for my decision to continue the race, I am truly sorry for causing significant inconvenience and confusion. After careful consideration, I have decided to withdraw from this competition and surrender both my ranking and points earned."
She also added, "I am grateful to those who offered their support during this time. I will take a short break from the noise to focus on recovery and caring for my family." It is reported that shortly after posting her apology, Vietrzik deactivated all comment sections on her social media service (SNS) account within an hour due to the overwhelming volume of comments.
The fallout was severe even before any official statement was issued. According to 'Daily Mail', Vietrzik's key sponsors immediately terminated their contracts and removed all mentions and photos related to her from their official websites in multiple countries.
Earlier, during last weekend's Beijing competition, Vietrzik continued running despite fecal matter flowing down both legs, performing burpees and sandbag lunges while sharing equipment with other participants, sparking global outrage. Immediately after the event, she posted a selfie from her hospital bed with the caption "A win is a win," inviting criticism for being shameless. Her coach, Chris Baynes, pleaded for an end to personal attacks on the athlete, stating, "It was an impulsive decision made in an unpredictable situation," but public opinion remained cold.
The organizing committee also faced intense backlash. While minor violations such as littering or spitting within the course were penalized, there were no immediate regulations specifically addressing fecal matter incidents. According to 'Daily Mail', Hyrox co-founder Moritz Fürste apologized, stating, "Failing to respond immediately was the organizing committee's mistake," and promised immediate rule revisions and measures to prevent recurrence.
In addition, while the event organizers took remedial actions such as blocking lanes at night for thorough disinfection and replacing carpets and contaminated equipment, they could not avoid criticism from participant Jo Ho and the medical community that they "neglected biological hazards, causing serious harm to other participants."
Ultimately, facing the loss of major sponsors and global public condemnation, Vietrzik's declaration of apology and title surrender brought the unprecedented defecation incontinence completion scandal to an ignominious conclusion.
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*This content was translated by AI.
