A fitness coach from Vienna, Austria, discovered that a man secretly took photos or videos of her while she was stretching at the gym. The incident was caught on her own camera, which she had set up to record content for her social media.
Elena McCarthy, an online fitness coach, was filming a stretching session for her Instagram followers. She placed a tripod on the studio floor to record herself, but her camera captured something disturbing happening behind her.
While Elena was focused on her workout, a man walked past the glass door behind her. The video shows him doing a double-take, quickly pulling out his phone, and appearing to snap a photo or video of her before walking away. Elena didn’t notice what happened at the time.
This incident highlights a serious problem with gym safety and respect
Elena spoke out about the incident online, making it clear that this wasn’t just uncomfortable behavior. “My body, my movement, my business,” she said. She explained that “there is a massive difference between being ‘in public’ and being ‘public property’.”
She stressed that secretly recording women during workouts is more than just creepy. “Recording women without permission while they are stretching or training isn’t just ‘creepy’ – it’s a violation of the safety we all deserve in this space,” Elena said. She called on people to “respect the athlete. Respect the person. Respect the consent.”
The online response to her video was mixed. Many people supported her and called the man’s actions “infuriating,” “disgusting and sad,” and “pathetic behaviour.” However, some people blamed Elena instead, criticizing her gym clothes or questioning why she was at the gym. This isn’t the first time people have been baffled over unexpected charges and situations in public spaces.
Elena firmly responded to those who blamed her. “If your first instinct is to critique my outfit instead of condemning the person holding the camera, YOU ARE THE PROBLEM,” she wrote. She pointed out that focusing on her clothing means people are choosing to “excuse predatory behaviour and silence women.”
Elena confirmed the incident was real and “definitely not staged,” despite some people claiming it was fake. She reported what happened to the gym management right after finding the footage. Similar incidents have left people shocked, much like when someone discovered surprising pricing at major retailers. The incident serves as a reminder that everyone deserves to feel safe while working out.
Published: Jan 20, 2026 07:57 am