There’s a long history of athletes pooing themselves mid-race – why, and how can you avoid it?
Since the ancient Olympics, athletes like Hyrox competitor Joanna Wietrzyk have experienced runner’s diarrhoea. What does the science say about extreme exercise’s ‘mechanical jostling of the intestines’? Soiling yourself in public sounds like a bad dream. But the Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk has now apologised for doing just that at the Hyrox games in Beijing on Saturday. Wietrzyk won the…
Athletes have historically experienced gastrointestinal distress during races, such as runner’s diarrhea. This phenomenon, also known as runner’s trots, can range from mild bloating to severe cases of losing control over bowel movements. Hyrox competitor Joanna Wietrzyk recently faced public embarrassment after soiling herself mid-race at the Hyrox games in Beijing. However, runner’s trots are more common than many people realize, potentially affecting up to 90% of endurance athletes.
The exact causes of this issue are not entirely clear, but researchers believe it may be linked to the mechanical jostling of the intestines during high-intensity exercise, dehydration, intolerance to certain foods, and altered pH levels. In addition, the digestive system is diverted away from the gut due to increased blood flow to the skeletal muscles, which can exacerbate the problem in hot conditions.
Some notable instances of runner’s trots include Catherina McKeirnan, who suffered from diarrhea during the 1998 London Marathon, and Paula Radcliffe, who had to relieve herself due to too much gluten-free pasta and grilled salmon the night before the 2005 London Marathon. More recently, Taylor Knibb won the Dubai T100 while needing to relieve herself, and Davis Clarke crapped his pants during the 2024 Boston Marathon.
While runner’s trots are more prevalent in women, men are not immune. In a 50km race walk at the 2016 Olympics, French world record-holder Yohann Diniz suffered stomach pain and was seen bleeding from his leg. Swedish runner Mikael Ekvall, who ran a half-marathon in 2008 with severe stomach cramps, earned the nickname "bajsmannen" (poop man). Despite experiencing these issues, these athletes still managed to finish the race.
Prevention strategies include avoiding unfamiliar foods before a competition, staying well hydrated, managing heat exposure, and gradually building tolerance to carbohydrates and fluids while exercising. Personalized approaches are essential, as triggers can vary between individuals. It is also recommended to treat the gut like any other part of the performance system and train it accordingly.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
