▲ Australian HYROX athlete Joanna Pietrzyk attempting douzhi
An Australian female athlete has become a global sensation after winning an international HYROX event in China despite suffering a sudden bathroom accident during the race.
Online speculations have emerged suggesting that her upset stomach might have been caused by drinking "douzhi," a traditional fermented beverage often described as "bizarre food," prior to the competition.
According to Hong Kong's Sing Tao Daily and other media outlets on September 16, elite athlete Joanna Pietrzyk participated in the HYROX international competition held in Beijing on September 12 and completed the race even with feces visible on her legs.
A hygiene controversy erupted as footage of her race spread across social media, where she finished with a time of 1 hour, 1 minute, and 23 seconds to win the women's 16-24 pro division.
The issue also snowballed into criticism directed at the organizers for their handling of the situation, failing to stop the race.
As the controversy grew, HYROX issued an apology on September 14, stating that it had begun improving its operational procedures.
Following the circulation of the rather shocking footage, online speculations regarding the cause of the accident continued.
Amid this, it was revealed that Joanna had visited Beijing's traditional alleyways, known as hutongs, during her preparation for the event and tasted douzhi.
While the exact amount she consumed has not been confirmed, netizens pointed to douzhi as the culprit behind her upset stomach.
Sing Tao Daily reported that the beverage, which emits a distinct sour odor, could irritate the stomachs of foreigners unaccustomed to it.
However, a direct causal relationship between douzhi and acute diarrhea has not been verified.
Douzhi, a beverage made by naturally fermenting the liquid leftover from extracting starch from mung beans, is notorious even among Chinese people for its unique smell and taste.
Nevertheless, some Beijing residents are fond of douzhi.
Previously, when NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang visited China in May, he was also seen tasting douzhi handed to him in Beijing, making a heavily grimacing face that drew significant attention.
At the time, Huang asked, "What is this?" and subsequently bought and drank a different beverage, local media reported.
(Photo: Captured from Weibo, Captured from Taiwan's United Daily News, Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.