ATHLETE DIES WHILE COMPETING AT CROSSFIT GAMES
A 29-year-old athlete competing at the CrossFit Games in Texas, USA has died.
Lazar Dukic from Serbia drowned in the Marine Creek Lake near the city of Fort Worth this morning while he participated in a swim.
The event was broadcast live on YouTube and comments showed that viewers could see Dukic struggling to stay above the water before finally disappearing.
Emergency services were immediately called to the scene at about 08:00 and a body was recovered about an hour later.
Organisers of the event suspended the rest of the day’s events, with the games resuming on Friday again.
On their official X account, the Crossfit Games said: “The first instinct is to shut down. To isolate. To mourn. But the only cure for grief is to grieve. And the best way to grieve is together.”
“In this spirit, we have decided to move forward with the 2024 CrossFit Games.”
This decision was met with criticism from several commentators, calling it insensitive to resume the games the following day.
Don Faul, the CEO of CrossFit shared a statement with the BBC saying the safety of the community was of “paramount concern to CrossFit”.
There are a lot of people in the community who are hurting right now. A lot of people are mourning. We want to do everything we can to support the community, to support the family.”
Tributes have been pouring in for Dukic.
Image credit: 101.5 KNUE