Netizens questioned whether HYROX incontinence players' refusal to withdraw from the competition was related to sponsorship. Sponsor PUMA became the focus of public opinion.

Abstract:

Recently, in the HYROX Beijing Station Women’s Elite Group, an Australian player suffered from fecal incontinence. Later, a player stepped on a contaminated area and slipped. The on-site referee did not stop the game. In the end, the Australian player won the championship.

This handling method quickly triggered a strong sense of uneasiness about the health and safety of the contestants. What made public opinion even more angry was that the official did not explain the disputes about pollution risks and penalty scales afterwards. Instead, it praised the contestant for his "fighting spirit" and announced a permanent ban for the cyberviolent.

It is worth noting that the Australian player Joanna Wietrzyk who finally won the championship was no ordinary contestant. Public information shows that she is the single world record holder in the women's elite group and Australia's fastest female athlete. She won the Warsaw Championship with a record-breaking time of 54 minutes and 25 seconds in April this year.

Some netizens discovered the sponsorship relationship behind her. In October 2025, she was signed by PUMA into its HYROX athlete lineup. In addition, PUMA also used Joanna's world record performance to promote HYROX customized running shoes. In addition, PUMA is not only the official apparel and footwear partner of HYROX, but also the exclusive title partner of the HYROX World Championship.

On social media, some people believe that one of the reasons why Joanna did not withdraw from the competition is because of the sponsorship she carries, but this statement has not yet been officially verified. As a result, the incident caused huge controversy, and the sponsor PUMA also became the focus of public opinion. Some netizens posted, "Puma training has closed ins comments."

Public information shows that on September 11, 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation unconditionally approved Anta’s acquisition of Puma’s equity. This cross-border merger and acquisition that lasted for half a year has finally settled. Anta acquired 29.06% of Puma's shares for 12.3 billion yuan, becoming the largest shareholder of this German sports brand with a history of nearly 80 years.