A competitor in the CrossFit Games has died while competing in a swimming event Thursday morning on a Texas lake. The Tarrant County medical examiner’s office identified the athlete as 28-year-old Lazar Dukic of Serbia. The medical examiner’s office had not yet listed his cause of death.
An official with the Fort Worth Fire Department said they got called out around 8 a.m. to assist police because there “was a participant in the water that was down and hadn’t been seen in some point in time.” He said they responded for search and rescue and were not on the scene when the initial call was made. He said the athlete’s body was found about an hour later.
The incident occurred on the first day of the CrossFit Games, being held in Fort Worth through Sunday. The events have been canceled for the rest of the day, CrossFit said. The competition attracts hundreds of thousands of competitors who participate in CrossFit, a high-intensity fitness program that incorporates strength training and aerobics workouts. The competition started in February, as the fields narrowed down to the quarterfinals in April and the semifinals in May. The final round of the CrossFit Games were scheduled to conclude this weekend in Fort Worth.
Faul said CrossFit did have safety personnel on site at the event. Faul said CrossFit will be “regrouping” to discuss the remainder of the games.
The swimming portion of the event was being livestreamed on several platforms before abruptly stopping Thursday morning, according to Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA. Livestreams of the event are no longer available on CrossFit Games' platforms.
Dukic’s biography on the CrossFit website says he was the third-ranked CrossFit athlete in Serbia and the 88th-ranked worldwide. He had previously competed in the CrossFit Games, finishing 9th in 2023 and 8th in 2022.
The death of Dukic has sent shockwaves through the CrossFit community, with many expressing their condolences and disbelief on social media. The incident is a reminder of the inherent risks involved in high-intensity sports, and has prompted calls for increased safety measures at future CrossFit Games events.
This tragedy highlights the importance of safety in competitive sports. The CrossFit Games are a grueling event that pushes athletes to their physical and mental limits. While CrossFit has a robust safety plan in place, this incident underscores the need for continuous evaluation and improvement of safety measures. The CrossFit community is in mourning, and it will be interesting to see what changes, if any, are implemented in the wake of this tragic event.
The Legacy of Lazar Dukic
Lazar Dukic was a talented athlete with a bright future in the world of CrossFit. He had already made a name for himself, achieving a high ranking in both Serbia and internationally. Dukic’s dedication and passion for CrossFit were evident in his performances and in his interactions with others. His loss is a tremendous blow to the CrossFit community, but his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched.
Moving Forward
The CrossFit Games organization is now facing the difficult task of moving forward in the wake of this tragedy. They must balance the need to continue the competition with the need to honor the memory of Lazar Dukic and to provide support to his family and friends. It is a challenge that requires compassion, strength, and a commitment to ensuring the safety of all athletes.
The CrossFit community is coming together to mourn the loss of one of their own, and to offer support to those who are grieving. While this event is a reminder of the dangers inherent in high-intensity sports, it also highlights the power of community and the importance of supporting one another in times of loss.
