Joanna Wietrzyk, the current world champion in her category, experienced a sudden stomach upset on Saturday when she was less than halfway through the course. Nevertheless, she continued competing until crossing the finish line in first place.
The images of the incident have gone viral on social media and have sparked numerous criticisms from fans and specialized media, questioning why the athlete was not withdrawn from the competition. The controversy has also focused on the alleged differential treatment towards Wietrzyk due to her status as an elite athlete and being sponsored by Puma, one of Hyrox's official sponsors. S
ome participants have pointed out that the competition includes penalties even for actions like spitting on the track or pouring water over oneself. The athlete later posted a photo from a medical stretcher with the message "a victory is a victory," although she deleted it after receiving numerous critical comments.
Some participants also reported that the track and some equipment were contaminated, and that some athletes even slipped. Hyrox acknowledged on Monday that the incident highlighted certain shortcomings in the implementation of their protocols.