Hyrox poop athlete's coach issues fiery response as athlete's Instagram comments off
Hyrox poop athlete's coach issues fiery response as athlete's Instagram comments off
Matthew Neschis Wed, September 16, 2026 at 1:19 PM UTC
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Joanna Wietrzyk has been subject to personal attacks after having a mid-race accident (Image: Getty)
Joanna Wietrzyk's coach, Chris Bayens, revealed the HYROX competitor has been subject to "hatred and personal attacks" after coming down with a bad case of the runs mid-race.
In recent days, Wietrzyk has drawn widespread criticism for defecating mid-race, only to continue competing and win the Beijing title in the elite group of the 16-24 age category. The women's solo world record holder experienced severe digestive issues as early as the second kilometer of the event, with visible streaks of diarrhea on the backs of her legs as she completed burpee broad jumps, lunges and wall balls.
Taking to social media on the heels of the unfortunate incident, Bayens rushed to Wietrzyk's defense, clapping back at those who questioned her character. "Decisions were made under competition conditions by an athlete, judges and officials, all responding to a situation none of them could reasonably have prepared for," he wrote on Instagram.
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"It is very easy to construct the perfect response once the moment has passed. Hindsight gives people time, information and distance that simply did not exist for those actually living it.
"Those decisions can be reviewed and lessons can be taken from them. But judging someone's intent, character or morality through the clarity of hindsight is neither fair nor honest."
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Joanna Wietrzyk continued competing after defecating mid-race (Image: Getty)
Bayens later called for an end to the abusive remarks being directed at Wietrzyk, adding: "Sport occasionally produces moments that are imperfect and deeply human. Discussion is legitimate. The hatred and personal attacks that have followed are not."
In a since-deleted Instagram Story, Wietrzyk expressed little regret for her decision to continue competing. "Go hard or go home," she captioned a picture of herself attached to an IV drip. "A win is a win. In all seriousness, thank you for all the support. I'll be back soon x." Wietrzyk has now turned off comments on her Instagram page as a result of the abuse she's received.
Addressing Wietrzyk's sudden bout of diarrhea, HYROX said in an official statement, "As our sport continues to evolve, we are encountering new and increasingly complex situations that challenge us and where additional clarity is needed. This happened this weekend in China. We ask our athletes to push themselves to the highest levels. At times, they will go beyond what even we thought was possible.
"That courage, resilience and refusal to give in are precisely what makes elite athletes so extraordinary. Our role is to give them the right framework and the right boundaries within which they can compete, perform and express themselves at their very best."
HYROX further stated that it implemented measures to maintain proper hygiene standards, including removing contaminated equipment and closing down impacted race lanes. "HYROX has clear biocontaminant and medical procedures in place," the statement continued. "In this instance, an unforeseen situation arose in which protocols designed for elite competition and mass participation became blurred, creating ambiguity in how they were applied and understood.
"We recognize that this can understandably lead to frustration, questions and strong views within our community. Those concerns are legitimate and, as organizers, we must be prepared to hear them, examine what happened and take responsibility for continuing to improve."
Source: “AOL Sports”
