Hyrox organiser: Anyone who threatens athlete who defecated herself will be permanently banned from events
Protocols designed for elite competition and mass participation became blurred during the Beijing race, the organiser said.
The organisers of the Hyrox competition have announced that anyone threatening violence against an athlete who defecated during the event will face permanent bans from future events. The incident occurred during the 2019 Hyrox competition in Beijing, when Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk experienced fecal incontinence while completing the course.
Despite the embarrassing situation, Wietrzyk went on to win the women's event. However, the incident sparked controversy on social media, with some criticizing her and the event organisers for hygiene concerns. In a statement, Hyrox acknowledged that the situation presented new and complex challenges for elite and mass participation competitions.
While the organisers expressed a willingness to review the incident and improve their procedures, they drew a clear line against violence or threats towards athletes. Anyone found threatening violence will be permanently banned from Hyrox events. The organiser also emphasized that athletes should not face threats of violence, and instead, should be apologising for any misconduct.
The incident has generated significant discussion among online users, with some calling for the athletes to be pulled from the competition and others questioning the distinction between elite and mass participation participants.
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