CrossFit Games Competitor Dies While Competing in Swimming Event

Doric SamAugust 8, 2024

DOUGLAS MAGNO/AFP via Getty Images

An athlete competing in the CrossFit Games died Thursday morning while competing in a swimming event in a Texas lake.

Per ESPN, CrossFit CEO Don Faul said during a news conference that they were “deeply saddened” by the death of the competitor. The company is working with authorities in the investigation into what caused the death.

Per Julia Falcon and Doug Myers of CBS News, the athlete was identified as Lazar Ðukić, 28, of Serbia by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office and Faul.

According to an official with the Fort Worth Fire Department, they received a call from police for assistance around 8 a.m. because there “was a participant in the water that was down and hadn’t been seen in some point in time.”

The official said the fire department was not at the scene when the call was placed. After responding for search and rescue, the athlete’s body was found about an hour later, per the official.

The remainder of Thursday’s events and activities were canceled.

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said the city has organized mental health and grief counselors to provide support for those in need.

“We are profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of a CrossFit athlete during a CrossFit Games swimming event this morning,” Parker said. “Our hearts go out to the athlete’s family, friends, and the entire CrossFit community.”

Faul, who said CrossFit had safety personnel on hand for the competition, noted that the CrossFit community is a tight-knit group, so Thursday’s tragedy is devastating.

“We’re doing everything in our power during this tragic time to support the family, to support our community,” Faul said.