A HYROX competition in Beijing just became the most talked-about event in the fitness world — and not for the reasons anyone expected.
Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk is going viral after videos emerged of her pushing through an extraordinarily difficult moment mid-race, ultimately crossing the finish line to claim first place in the women’s solo event.
The footage has sparked fierce debate online, with some calling it “disgusting” while others are hailing her as the ultimate symbol of athletic grit and determination.
But who exactly is Joanna Wietrzyk — and what do we actually know about the woman at the center of this storm?
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She Won the Race — and the Internet Can’t Stop Talking About It
During this past weekend’s HYROX event in Beijing, Joanna Wietrzyk soiled herself mid-competition.
Rather than withdraw, she kept going. She won the women’s solo event in the elite group’s 16–24 age category with a finishing time of 61 minutes and 23 seconds.
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Videos of the incident spread rapidly across social media, triggering a wave of reactions ranging from admiration to outrage. HYROX has since issued an apology, and the controversy has reignited broader conversations about athlete welfare and event regulations at elite endurance competitions.
A win is a win — but this one came with a lot of baggage.
From Melbourne to the Global HYROX Stage
Joanna Wietrzyk is 24 years old and hails from Melbourne, Australia. She’s widely regarded as one of the country’s fastest-rising stars in the HYROX world.
Her athletic background is as impressive as it is diverse. Before transitioning to endurance racing, Joanna competed in CrossFit, bodybuilding, competitive athletics, and was even a national-level tennis and netball player.
She first crossed paths with HYROX while working as a coach at F45 in Melbourne — and the sport clearly clicked. Her rise through the ranks since then has been nothing short of meteoric.
The First Australian Woman to Crack the HYROX Elite 15
Joanna made history by becoming the first Australian female athlete to qualify for the HYROX Elite 15 Series — one of the most prestigious tiers of competition in the sport.
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- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
That milestone alone tells you everything about her caliber as a competitor. She wasn’t just participating at Beijing — she was expected to be a frontrunner.
After an incredible first season in HYROX, I’m focused on building momentum and pushing my performance even further this year. That means going beyond what I’ve done before and partnering with teams that truly support the way I train, recover, and compete.
She Also Holds the HYROX World Record
Here’s a detail that often gets buried beneath the controversy. Joanna Wietrzyk isn’t just a rising star — she currently holds the world record in the HYROX women’s solo event.
She set that record in Warsaw earlier this year with a blistering time of 54 minutes and 25 seconds — nearly seven full minutes faster than her Beijing finish.
That context matters. The Beijing race, despite its messy circumstances, was never going to be her best performance — yet she still stood on top of the podium.
Joanna’s Response After the Race Said Everything
Following the competition, Joanna shared a since-deleted Instagram Story showing herself hooked up to an IV drip — the image of someone who had clearly left everything on the course.
Go hard or go home … a win is a win. In all seriousness, thank you for all the support. I’ll be back soon x.
Short. Defiant. Entirely on-brand for an athlete who just refused to quit under the worst possible circumstances.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Fitness Coach, Brand Partner, and Influencer — All at Once
Outside of competition, Joanna works as a fitness coach and has built a growing presence online. She has nearly 100,000 followers on Instagram and an additional 5,000 subscribers on YouTube, where she shares a mix of HYROX event recaps, day-in-the-life vlogs, marathon footage, and travel content.
Her platform has attracted partnerships with notable brands including Puma, Dr. Hydrate, The Feed, and various fitness apps — proof that her influence extends well beyond race day.
With the entire internet now aware of her name, that following is almost certainly about to grow significantly.
What Happens Next for Joanna — and for HYROX?
The scandal has put real pressure on HYROX as an organization. Critics are demanding clearer protocols around athlete welfare and event management, while the apology issued by the brand has done little to quiet the debate.
For Joanna, the path forward feels a little simpler. She’s a world record holder who just won an international event under unimaginable conditions. She said she’d be back soon — and given everything she’s already proven, there’s very little reason to doubt her.
