Abbie Chatfield has recalled another Hyrox horror story after Australian fitness star Joanna Wietrzyk sparked controversy by continuing to race after suffering bowel incontinence during a competition in Beijing.
The former Bachelor star, 30, took to Instagram on Monday to share her disbelief at footage of Wietrzyk, 22, soiling herself during the gruelling event over the weekend. Wietrzyk continued competing as faecal matter ran down her legs, completing exercises including burpees, lunges and wall balls.
Chatfield admitted she had only heard of Hyrox 48 hours earlier, but the viral footage had already convinced her the fitness competition was not for her. "Was never gonna do it anyway, but really am not going to do it," she said.
Not the First 'Pooping' Story
Chatfield revealed that Wietrzyk's experience was not the first time she had heard of someone losing control of their bowels during a Hyrox event. Just days earlier, a friend had told her that someone they knew had also "s**t themselves" during the competition.
Chatfield then launched into a critique of the culture surrounding extreme fitness challenges, arguing that people could exercise well without pushing themselves to the point of incontinence. "Guys, to get a good workout, you actually don't need to s**t yourself," she said.
Chatfield's Critique of Hyrox Culture
She rejected the idea that continuing to compete despite the incident was an admirable display of competitive spirit. "I don't want to get it if I'm liquid s**ting myself and leaving a trail of liquid s**t behind me on an obstacle course," she added.
The podcaster was particularly horrified by the impact on other competitors, pointing out that those following Wietrzyk would have to contend with the remnants of the incident as they completed the course. She described the decision to continue as "a whole new level of optimisation culture turned peak selfishness."
"I'm so sorry. I don't find it inspiring," Chatfield said.
Hyrox's Growing Popularity
"I find it horrific that you were liquid pooing all over the Hyrox course, mate, dropping a little poo here and there, and you kept going," she said.
Chatfield also took aim at the pressure to constantly optimise every aspect of life, arguing that exercise did not need to become an extreme test of endurance. "Please, not everything has to be a war or optimisation," she said. "It can just be a nice little jog with your friends, you don't have to s**t yourself for exercise to count."
She concluded with a blunt dismissal of the situation: "You s**t yourself and you continue on, stop it."
Hyrox is a fast-growing extreme fitness competition in which athletes alternate between running and fitness exercises such as burpees, lunges and sled pushing. It has surged in popularity in recent years, especially among ageing millennials and office workers, and now stages events around the world.
