CrossFit games press conference | Officials give update on athlete who died during swimming event

A CrossFit Games athlete died after a reported drowning in a Fort Worth lake on August 8, 2024, during the first day of competition in the multi-day event, officials said.

CrossFit officials in a news conference confirmed that a CrossFit athlete drowned in the swim portion of the CrossFit Game's first event. The event was held at Marine Creek Lake, near the Tarrant County College Northwest campus.

The victim was identified as Lazar Dukic, 28, of Serbia, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office. Dukic was pronounced dead at 10:24 a.m., the medical examiner records said.

A cause of the death was not initially listed Thursday afternoon.

The rest of the CrossFit Games events were canceled for Thursday. Officials have not decided whether they will cancel the remainder of the games, which are scheduled to run through the weekend, CrossFit CEO Don Faul said at the news conference.

“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,” Faul said.

Cole Learn, a CrossFit athlete from Ontario, Canada witnessed the drowning from the shore of the lake Thursday morning.

"Absolutely devastated, not sure what to think, and almost in denial," Learn said.

[memjay]

Don’t let the kids be in charge of these events

[arashirinian]

The organizers don't know how to create a safe competition and their negligence is responsible for this

[LindsaySmith-prvd]

WTF Crossfit? This seems like pure negligence.

[AshababyO]

My heart is heavy for the family and all involved. May the soul rest in peace.

[christyheiliger]

Very very very poor rescue efforts made to this individual. Very unfortunate.

[JoseLuis-ixpb]

One learning from this tragedy to be implemented right the way is the use of buoy for all participantes. It doesn't affect the performance they can be removed very fast once you are out of water and the most important, it can save a life in these type of accidents.

[guam]

Isn't Dave Castro the one that develops these events? Did they do a trial run? Not just to see if the athlete can complete it, but if the safety protocols do what they are supposed to do.

[davelis]

There is reason why in triathlon swimming is always first.

[lillyhsn]

Shame on the organisers!!!! SHAME ON YOU!

[VETERANLM]

Welp, Cultfit finally sacrificed one of their own.

[BravoRecs]

CrossFit is why I need a hip replacement at 38. Nothing happened to me at all and suddenly I have necrosis and am at risk of a hip collapse. I also have 3 broken disks. Don't do CrossFit. Yes, it got me into exercise HOWEVER, no one should be deadlifting heavy weight that often or especially doing heavy squats. The coaches lie to you and tell you the people so say it's unsafe are exaggerating or don't understand. The CrossFit marketing team makes members feel like they are a part of a "family" even encouraging owners to have many events to create group bonding. At the end of the day, CrossFit targets people who don't like working out or former military or police men and women and non binary individuals by creating an infusion of inclusiveness when in actuality it's just there to take your money and will ultimately leave you crippled.