Hyrox Issues Apology Following Incident at Beijing Competition
Outrage sparked after a professional athlete was allowed to continue racing at the Hyrox event in Beijing.
Following widespread debate after professional athlete Joanna Wietrzyk was allowed to continue and win the international indoor fitness competition Hyrox in Beijing despite soiling herself during the race, an apology came from a co-founder of the organization.
The Controversial Race in Beijing
At the indoor sports competition held in Beijing, professional athlete Joanna Wietrzyk completed the event, which consisted of running and high-intensity exercises, to finish in first place.
Footage showing the athlete continuing to compete with feces on her legs and using shared fitness equipment generated widespread public backlash.
Apology Message from the Co-Founder
Hyrox co-founder Moritz Fürste released a statement on social media apologizing to everyone directly or indirectly affected by the incident.
Fürste stated that the organization made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race and that it was his duty to foresee potential incidents.
New Rules and Procedures
Following the incident, the Hyrox management announced changes to event rules and procedures to prevent similar situations from happening again.
The company pointed out that rules need to be made clearer in such environments where athletes push their limits.