On Friday morning, a memorial was held at Dickies Arena to honor Lazar Dukic, a CrossFit athlete who tragically drowned during a run-swim event in Fort Worth the previous day.
During the inaugural event on Thursday morning, Dukic experienced difficulties while swimming and was seen slipping underwater. The Fort Worth Fire Department responded around 8 a.m. to search for the missing swimmer. After about an hour, they recovered Dukic’s body. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as 28-year-old Lazar Dukic from Serbia, though the cause of death is still pending.
Following the incident, CrossFit paused the day’s competitions but announced that Friday’s events would proceed with a special tribute at Dickies Arena in Dukic’s honor.
CrossFit shared, “Today marks a profoundly sad moment in CrossFit history. We are heartbroken over the loss of Lazar Đukić, who was not only a talented competitor but also a cherished friend, son, and brother. His vibrant spirit and kindness left a lasting impression on everyone he met. While we are mourning, we believe that coming together to continue with the Games is the best way to honor him. The 2024 CrossFit Games will go on, with this weekend dedicated to Lazar. We will start tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.”
A crowd gathered at Dickies Arena at 10 a.m. Friday for a brief service to remember Dukic.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Lazar Đukić. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fellow athletes during this difficult time. We will provide updates in cooperation with the Fort Worth Police Department as they become available,” said a statement from CrossFit Games.
Attendees at Friday’s event reflected on the impact of Dukic’s death. Jacob Caddy, who traveled from the UK, remarked, “When something like this happens, it unites us all, regardless of which athletes we support or where we come from. It’s a reminder that we need to ensure all safety measures are in place to prevent such tragedies in the future.”
Dotri Deo, visiting from Utah, expressed her hope that the incident prompts a review of the event’s conditions. “It’s hard to make sense of what happened. We hope lessons are learned to prevent similar occurrences,” she said.
The CrossFit community is united in grief, remembering Dukic’s contributions and the void his loss has left.
