An Australian athlete who sparked an outcry when she kept competing despite soiling herself midway through an event in Beijing apologised Friday and forfeited her points from winning. Joanna Wietrzyk finished the Hyrox indoor fitness race last weekend with excrement on her legs and shoes, continuing to use the mats and equipment. It sparked backlash about potential health hazards posed to other competitors and went viral on social media."I want to offer my sincere apology to the people of China, my fellow competitors, the spectators and the Hyrox organisers for what happened during the race in Beijing," Wietrzyk said on Instagram.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/portugal-turkey-back-on-f1-calendar-as-fia-reveals-24-race-2027-season-1789644092231">Portugal, Turkey back on F1 calendar as FIA reveals 24-race 2027 season</a>"I felt completely fit and healthy at the start of the race, with no reason to expect any illness."Looking back, I regret the decision to not have stepped off the track. I recognise that I should have made a different choice."The 23-year-old world record holder said she had retroactively withdrawn from the race and would hand back the points earned from competing."I am learning from this experience and will carry those lessons with me, including remembering that there is more to life than racing and knowing when it is right to step away," she added."I will be taking some time to recover, reflect and look after myself and my family away from the noise."Hyrox, a popular fitness competition launched in Germany and held worldwide, features a mixture of treadmill running and strength exercises, such as lunges and rowing.Co-founder Moritz Furste apologised on Monday to "all who were directly or indirectly involved" as intense criticism swelled over its health and safety standards."Hyrox made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race," added Furste. "In the end it is my job to foresee these potential incidents -- and I did not."It has since updated its rules.They now state that 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".

The 23-year-old world record holder, Joanna Wietrzyk, said she had retroactively withdrawn from the race and would hand back the points earned from competing.

An Australian athlete who sparked an outcry when she kept competing despite soiling herself midway through an event in Beijing apologised Friday and forfeited her points from winning. Joanna Wietrzyk finished the Hyrox indoor fitness race last weekend with excrement on her legs and shoes, continuing to use the mats and equipment. It sparked backlash about potential health hazards posed to other competitors and went viral on social media. "I want to offer my sincere apology to the people of China, my fellow competitors, the spectators and the Hyrox organisers for what happened during the race in Beijing," Wietrzyk said on Instagram. Also Read - Portugal, Turkey back on F1 calendar as FIA reveals 24-race 2027 season "I felt completely fit and healthy at the start of the race, with no reason to expect any illness. "Looking back, I regret the decision to not have stepped off the track. I recognise that I should have made a different choice." The 23-year-old world record holder said she had retroactively withdrawn from the race and would hand back the points earned from competing. "I am learning from this experience and will carry those lessons with me, including remembering that there is more to life than racing and knowing when it is right to step away," she added. "I will be taking some time to recover, reflect and look after myself and my family away from the noise." Hyrox, a popular fitness competition launched in Germany and held worldwide, features a mixture of treadmill running and strength exercises, such as lunges and rowing. Co-founder Moritz Furste apologised on Monday to "all who were directly or indirectly involved" as intense criticism swelled over its health and safety standards. "Hyrox made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race," added Furste. "In the end it is my job to foresee these potential incidents -- and I did not." It has since updated its rules. They now state that 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".

The 23-year-old world record holder, Joanna Wietrzyk, said she had retroactively withdrawn from the race and would hand back the points earned from competing.

Australian athlete, who soiled herself during Hyrox race, apologises for continuing

On Thursday, a US citizen who previously worked for Chinese state media pleaded guilty to acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Beijing. According to court documents, 50-year-old Thomas Weir Pauken II, also known as Tom McGregor, operated under the "direction and control" of Chinese officials linked to the Ministry of State Security from at least 2019 until February 2026.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/from-london-to-washington-security-chiefs-sound-alarm-over-china-s-spy-recruitment-1780593138190/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/from-london-to-washington-security-chiefs-sound-alarm-over-china-s-spy-recruitment-1780593138190/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Pauken was directed by an individual using the English name “Cathy” to gather intelligence in the US on "American targets" and politicians. In return for his espionage efforts, Pauken allegedly collected approximately US$ 100,000. Cathy provided him with communication tools, including a laptop and a cellphone, identified specific targets for him to pursue, and instructed him to meet potential sources, deliver communication devices, and transmit reports back to China. Additionally, Cathy covered his travel expenses, funnelling around US 7,500 per trip through the bank account of Pauken’s wife.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-9-billion-ai-funding-spy-agencies-nvidia-chip-shortage-1779513472481">US spy agencies race for Nvidia AI chips under new $9 billion plan</a>&nbsp;Roman Rozhavsky, the assistant director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, stated that the case demonstrates the lengths the Communist Party will go to undermine American democratic institutions and degrade political freedoms, adding, “Let this plea serve as a clear warning.”&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fake-linkedin-job-ads-chinese-spies-pose-as-online-recruiters-to-hunt-for-state-secrets-1780555462927">Fake LinkedIn job ads: Chinese spies pose as online recruiters to hunt for state secrets</a>&nbsp;The documents filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia detail Pauken's extensive background with Chinese state media. He relocated to Hong Kong around 2010, initially working for China Radio International. He later worked for China Central Television and China Global Television Network, eventually becoming an editor for Xinhua in 2024.&nbsp;Following his guilty plea, Pauken faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. His sentencing is officially scheduled to take place on September 1.

A 50-year-old US citizen and former Chinese state media worker, Thomas Weir Pauken has pleaded guilty to acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Beijing's Ministry of State Security.

On Thursday, a US citizen who previously worked for Chinese state media pleaded guilty to acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Beijing. According to court documents, 50-year-old Thomas Weir Pauken II, also known as Tom McGregor, operated under the "direction and control" of Chinese officials linked to the Ministry of State Security from at least 2019 until February 2026. https://www.wionews.com/videos/from-london-to-washington-security-chiefs-sound-alarm-over-china-s-spy-recruitment-1780593138190/embed Pauken was directed by an individual using the English name “Cathy” to gather intelligence in the US on "American targets" and politicians. In return for his espionage efforts, Pauken allegedly collected approximately US$ 100,000. Cathy provided him with communication tools, including a laptop and a cellphone, identified specific targets for him to pursue, and instructed him to meet potential sources, deliver communication devices, and transmit reports back to China. Additionally, Cathy covered his travel expenses, funnelling around US 7,500 per trip through the bank account of Pauken’s wife. Also read: US spy agencies race for Nvidia AI chips under new $9 billion plan Roman Rozhavsky, the assistant director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, stated that the case demonstrates the lengths the Communist Party will go to undermine American democratic institutions and degrade political freedoms, adding, “Let this plea serve as a clear warning.” Also read: Fake LinkedIn job ads: Chinese spies pose as online recruiters to hunt for state secrets The documents filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia detail Pauken's extensive background with Chinese state media. He relocated to Hong Kong around 2010, initially working for China Radio International. He later worked for China Central Television and China Global Television Network, eventually becoming an editor for Xinhua in 2024. Following his guilty plea, Pauken faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. His sentencing is officially scheduled to take place on September 1.

A 50-year-old US citizen and former Chinese state media worker, Thomas Weir Pauken has pleaded guilty to acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Beijing's Ministry of State Security.

Paid $100K to spy on US politicians: How a former American Chinese state media worker got caught by FBI

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Australian athlete, who soiled herself during Hyrox race, apologises for continuing

US citizen pleaded guilty to acting as China’s foreign agent