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By Megan Cartwright
Associate News Editor
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Joanna Wietrzyk's coach, Chris Bayens, has spoken out against online abuse targeting the athlete after her controversial Hyrox Beijing win, where she was permitted to finish the race following a bowel incontinence incident.
Newsweek reached out to Bayens via email on Tuesday.
Images and videos from the race circulated widely online, triggering criticism from some athletes and spectators who questioned why officials allowed the race to continue.
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Attention intensified after Wietrzyk later shared—and then deleted—a social media post thanking supporters and writing: "Go hard or go home ... a win is a win."
The controversy has prompted Hyrox to update its rulebook and clarify when athletes can be withdrawn for health and hygiene reasons.
...
Coach Calls Out Backlash
Bayens, whose comments were shared through The Bayens Method social media account, described the situation as "extraordinary" and said those involved were dealing with circumstances nobody could reasonably have anticipated.
"What happened was an extraordinary set of circumstances that were unforeseen, rapidly evolving and almost impossible to fully comprehend in real time," he wrote.
Bayens argued that athletes, judges and officials were forced to react under pressure while events unfolded around them.
"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," he said.
While acknowledging discussion around the incident, Bayens drew a distinction between criticism and abuse.
"Discussion is legitimate. The hatred and personal attacks that have followed are not."
Arnold Schwarzenegger Responds
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the actor, professional bodybuilder and former governor of California, responded to the incident on Instagram.
His post was in collaboration with Arnold's Pump Club, a health, fitness and wellness brand Schwarzenegger created.
It showed a graphic poster with the header "Unofficial Community Notice" and said, "Days since a member pooped themselves: never."
It continued: "We don't track this. Please don't make us."
The post's caption said: "Train hard. Be kind. Keep your shit together."
The post has been liked over 20,000 times as of reporting. Many commenters appeared to be finding out about the Hyrox incident for the first time, with some writing, "I don't understand" and "What happened?"
Others responded humorously, with one social media user saying, "Can just imagine how @schwarzenegger would say 'keep your s*** together' and I'm wheezing."
Sporting Medical Rules
The controversy has also raised questions about whether Wietrzyk could have been removed from the race under Hyrox regulations.
Section 12.3 of its rulebook covering "Did Not Finish" rulings states: *"*If a participant does not finish a station they will not receive any results data and will be excluded from all rankings and awards. However, they may continue with the race [without a final time]. If a racer’s blood, vomit, urine, or faeces poses a welfare or contamination risk to the racer or to other racers, a Race Director may withdraw the racer from the race on medical grounds, in line with HYROX’s medical and hygiene SOPs. Any such withdrawal is recorded on the leaderboard as Did Not Finish [DNF]."
Notably, the rule says officials "may" withdraw a competitor rather than requiring automatic removal in every case.
Hyrox Responds
Following days of criticism, Hyrox acknowledged mistakes in how the incident was managed.
Co-founder Moritz Fürste said via Instagram that the organization should have reacted sooner and apologized to people affected by the situation. He also confirmed that new rules and procedures had been introduced to prevent similar scenarios from occurring in future events.
"Hyrox made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race," part of the statement read.
Organizers said contaminated equipment was removed, affected race areas were sanitized and additional cleaning measures were carried out at the venue.
Hyrox separately warned that anyone directing threats or abusive behavior toward athletes could face bans from future events.
What Is Hyrox?
Founded in Germany in 2017, Hyrox is an indoor fitness racing competition that combines endurance running with functional workout stations.
Every race follows the same format worldwide. Competitors complete eight 1-kilometer runs, with a workout station after each run. Those stations include:
- SkiErg
- Sled Push
- Sled Pull
- Burpee Broad Jumps
- Rowing
- Farmer's Carry
- Sandbag Lunges
- Wall Balls
Because all events use the same structure, athletes can compare finishing times globally and compete for rankings across the sport.
Hyrox has grown rapidly in recent years, attracting both elite athletes and recreational competitors.
What Is Runner's Diarrhea?
Runner's diarrhea, sometimes called "runner's trots," is a recognized condition among endurance athletes.
According to the Mayo Clinic, "runner’s diarrhea is characterized by frequent, loose bowel movements during or immediately after a run. Runner’s diarrhea is most common in long-distance runners."
The website states that while its cause "isn't clear," contributing factors include "the physical jostling of the organs, decreased blood flow to the intestines, changes in intestinal hormone secretion, increased amount or introduction of new food, and pre-race anxiety and stress."
Incidents involving bowel incontinence have previously occurred in marathon running and other endurance events, but the Beijing controversy drew particular attention because Hyrox races use shared indoor equipment and competition areas, bringing hygiene concerns into sharper focus.
Joanna Wietrzyk's Social Media Following Surges
The controversy has coincided with a sharp increase in attention for Wietrzyk on Instagram.
According to Social Blade tracking data, the athlete's account had roughly 76,600 followers on September 8 before growth accelerated over the following week. Daily gains climbed from dozens of new followers to hundreds, then thousands as discussion of the Beijing race spread across social media platforms.
The largest jump came on September 14, when Wietrzyk gained more than 13,000 followers in a single day. By September 15, her Instagram audience had risen to approximately 94,900 followers, representing an increase of more than 18,000 followers in one week.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn
here.
Update 9/17/26, 5:33 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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