India, Sept. 17 -- At the HYROX event in Beijing on September 12, an unprecedented situation saw an Australian athlete losing bowel control mid-race, but winning at the finishing line. Footage of Joanna Wietrzyk showed her continuing high-intensity routines like running, rowing, sled pushes and wall balls, with faecal matter visibly running down her legs. The incident drew global attention, triggering a social media debate about the event's hygiene standards, and how athletes should react in such situations.

While the event's rules have since been updated, athletes and fitness enthusiasts cannot run away from the fact that intense exercise can actually affect the gut, say experts.

"Bowel leakage during intense exercise is multifactorial...