The 2024 CrossFit Games, a prestigious event that annually crowns the “Fittest on Earth,” took a tragic turn on August 8th when Serbian athlete Lazar Dukic passed away during the competition. Dukic, known for his prowess in extreme fitness challenges, disappeared in the waters of Marine Creek Lake in Texas while competing in an event that combined a 3.5-mile run and an 800-meter swim.
Footage from a live stream posted on social media showed Dukic visibly struggling in the water before he failed to cross the finish line. His team quickly alerted the event organizers when he went missing. The Fort Worth Fire Department responded to a drowning complaint and launched a search that lasted an hour before his body was recovered.
In a statement, CrossFit CEO Don Faul expressed deep sadness over Dukic’s death, saying, “CrossFit is deeply saddened by the death of one of our athletes in the swim portion of our event this morning. We are collaborating, we are working very closely with the authorities with the follow-up investigation.”
The organizers immediately canceled the remainder of the day’s activities and have yet to confirm if the competition, scheduled to continue until August 11, will resume.
Who Was Lazar Dukic?
Dukic, a 28-year-old athlete who had earned international recognition for his achievements in CrossFit, had been a consistent presence at the Games since 2021. He placed ninth in both the 2021 and 2023 seasons and eighth in 2022. Before joining CrossFit, Dukic was an accomplished water polo player, winning six national championships for Serbia. He was introduced to CrossFit by his roommate during a trip to the United States as a student, which marked the beginning of his journey in this demanding sport.
Dukic’s death sent shockwaves through the CrossFit community and beyond, sparking an outpouring of grief on social media. Fellow competitor Bastin Fritz paid tribute to Dukic on Instagram, saying, “May your brave spirit and passion for the sport live on forever in our hearts. May your legacy inspire all of us who practice CrossFit to move forward with determination and dedication, honoring your memory in every lift, every run, every competition.”
However, Dukic’s tragic passing also ignited a debate over the safety of such events. On X (formerly Twitter), users criticized the organizers for allowing non-professional swimmers to participate in open-water swimming. One user remarked, “Stop making non-professional swimmers do open water swimming. It’s dangerous for professionals and it’s exponentially more dangerous for non-professionals.”
Others expressed outrage at the perceived lack of immediate action to assist Dukic. “Interesting statement to put out after your staff did nothing while a competitor died. Well to be fair apparently they did stop a spectator from rendering aid,” wrote one user. Another added, “If Dukic was indeed drowned (and not suffered a cardiac arrest) the fault is 100% on the CrossFit Games organizers as they have failed to protect their athletes.”
As the CrossFit community mourns the loss of a dedicated athlete, questions linger about the safety protocols and future of such high-stakes competitions.