'Enormously confronting': The uncomfortable truth behind the HYROX defecation controversy

It was an incident that triggered international headlines. But while a HYROX athlete's mid-race bowel movement has raised questions about hygiene and fairness, the urge to go is a familiar reality for many endurance athletes.

HYROX is a fitness and endurance race that combines 8km of running with exercises such as rowing, sled pushes and wall balls, carried out in indoor exhibition halls.

The co-founder of the global sport, Moritz Fürste, apologised on Monday after Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk soiled herself during a race in Beijing over the weekend and went on to win.

Footage posted on social media showed Wietrzyk, who holds the sport's women's solo pro world record, competing at stations with faeces on her legs.

"I apologise to all that were directly or indirectly affected, as well as to everyone who felt like we did not handle the situation like we should have," Fürste's statement said.

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Fürste said the organisation had immediately begun improving its event processes and had introduced new rules and procedures to prevent a similar situation from occurring again.

The incident triggered significant backlash online, with some arguing it had affected other racers' ability to compete in a safe and hygienic environment.

"These competitors pay hundreds of dollars to participate and spend weeks, if not months, training for these events. Their health, safety, and ability to perform should matter just as much as anyone else's," read one comment which received thousands of likes.

Critics also questioned why officials did not intervene, given HYROX imposes penalties for other acts such as spitting and nostril clearing.

It's not unusual for endurance athletes to experience gastrointestinal symptoms during competition, nor is it unheard of for them to continue despite soiling themselves.

During the 2005 London Marathon, eventual winner Paula Radcliffe stopped and relieved herself in view of TV cameras.

She later explained she had been running through stomach cramps — likely affecting her speed — because of her reluctance to relieve herself in front of "however many thousands of people were watching on television".

French race walker Yohann Diniz experienced intestinal issues during the 2016 Olympics, but continued walking for many kilometres despite soiling himself.