In a somber development at the CrossFit Games, Serbian athlete Lazar Dukic, 28, tragically passed away while competing in a swimming event on Thursday morning at Marine Creek Lake in Fort Worth, Texas.
CrossFit CEO Don Faul expressed deep sorrow during a press conference, stating that the organization is collaborating with authorities to investigate Dukic’s death. The Tarrant County medical examiner’s office has yet to release the cause of death.
Fort Worth Fire Department officials responded to an emergency call at approximately 8 a.m. after reports of a participant missing from the water. Firefighters, who were initially not on the scene, joined the search and rescue operations when notified that Dukic, last seen in the water, had failed to resurface.
CrossFit, which had safety protocols in place including on-site personnel, has not yet detailed the specifics of their safety measures. An inquiry from The Associated Press seeking further information on these protocols was not immediately answered.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that the day’s events included a 3.5-mile run followed by an 800-meter swim. Approximately 10,000 attendees were present for the games, which began on Thursday and are scheduled to continue through Sunday.
Dukic, a former water polo player and athlete ambassador for FITAID, was remembered fondly by Gijs Spaans, FITAID’s European general manager. Spaans described Dukic as a vibrant and dedicated athlete who had an infectious personality. Spaans was watching a livestream of the event and noticed Dukic’s absence when his name failed to appear among the finishers.
“I was looking for him among the swimmers and suddenly realized he was missing,” Spaans said. “He was always in the top five, so it was shocking to see him missing.”
The CrossFit Games, established in 2007, aim to identify the world’s fittest athletes. Each year, the games present a new set of challenges, with details often disclosed shortly before the event. Faul emphasized the tight-knit nature of the CrossFit community, stating that the organization is committed to supporting Dukic’s family and the community during this tragic time.
Dukic, who was ranked third among Serbian CrossFit athletes and 88th worldwide, had a notable competitive record. He placed ninth in his debut at the games in 2021, improved to eighth the following year, and returned to ninth place in 2023.
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