Officials at the CrossFit Games in Texas reported that one competitor had passed away while competing in a swimming event.
According to representatives from Fort Worth emergency services, Lazar Dukic, 28, of Serbia, was participating in a competition on Marine Creek Lake close to the city on Thursday morning when he vanished beneath the surface and did not come back.
After roughly an hour, a body was located, with emergency services being contacted at around 8:00 local time (14:00 BST). We’re grieved by Lazar Dukic’s passing, according to a statement from the games.
“Out of respect for the family and in cooperation with the Fort Worth Police Department, we will share updates when possible.”
A separate statement stated that the organizers are “fully cooperating with authorities” and that the remainder of Thursday’s events have been suspended.
Drones and a dive team from the Fort Worth Police Department were used in the search for Mr. Dukic’s remains. Mr. Dukic was a “loved and respected” part of the fitness community, according to CrossFit CEO Don Faul.
“There’s a lot of people in the community who are hurting right now,” he stated.
“A lot of people are mourning. We want to do everything we can to support the community, to support the family.”
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Additionally, he added that safety personnel had been present on site the entire time and that a “fully documented safety plan” had been put in place. With an aim of $200,000 (£157,000), a crowdfunder to support Mr. Dukic’s family has already raised more than $211,000.
According to the page, Mr. Dukic played water polo for years in his home Serbia before making his CrossFit Games debut in 2021.
“Known for his kindness, humor, and supportive nature, Lazar brought a breath of fresh air wherever he went,” it stated.
According to a CrossFit Games bio on their website, Mr. Dukic is ranked third in Serbia this year and was Serbia’s top CrossFit athlete from 2017 to 2021. Every year, athletes compete in a variety of events spanning multiple disciplines at the CrossFit Games.
Frequently, they are only informed about the specifics of each stage in the run-up to the competition. The installment for this year was supposed to end on Sunday, but it started on Thursday.
