Serbian Athlete Drowns at CrossFit Games Competition

Twenty-eight-year-old Lazar Dukic of Serbia drowned in Marine Creek Lake in Fort Worth, Texas during a CrossFit Games competition on Thursday.

First responders were called around eight in the morning, but Dukic’s body was not recovered until hours later. Some video footage reports say first responders pulled him from the water at 10 a.m.

According to SwimSwam.com, spectators reported that they yelled for lifeguards to intervene when they noticed Dukic struggling in the water. Some spectators said they tried to get in the water to help, but were prevented from doing so. “Two lifeguards on paddle boards were observing the general area around Dukic, but they did not appear to act,” one athlete said. 

Dukic was no stranger to CrossFit Games. According to the organization’s website, Dukic has ranked in the top five of all Serbian male Crossfit athletes for the past seven years. And, he has ranked in the top 100 of all European male Crossfit athletes for several years.

The 2024 CrossFit Games were supposed to run from Aug. 8-11, but all events were postponed after Dukic went under the water on Thursday morning. CrossFit Games later released a statement on social media late Thursday evening, announcing that competition would continue for the rest of the weekend. The decision was met with heavy criticism in the comment section of the post.

"We're doing everything in our power. During this tragic time to support the family, to support our community. We are collaborating and working very closely with the authorities on the follow-up investigation," said Don Faul, the CEO of CrossFit.

The mayor of Fort Worth also released a statement alerting spectators and athletes that grief counselors would be made available. She said, “We are profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of a CrossFit athlete during a CrossFit Games swimming event this morning. Our hearts go out to the athlete’s family, friends and the entire CrossFit community.” 

At the time of Dukic’s death, he was competing in a run-swim event where athletes ran 3.5 miles, followed by an 800-meter swim, inverting the traditional triathlon events. None of the competitors or audience members reported anything wrong with Dukic prior to getting in the water.