Tragedy Strikes at CrossFit Games in Texas as Athlete Dies from Drowning

A sportsman perished during a swimming competition at a CrossFit contest in Texas on Thursday, as per the organization.

The fatality happened on the initial day of the CrossFit Games, which is taking place in Fort Worth until Sunday. CrossFit stated that the activities have been called off for the rest of the day.

Lazar Dukic, 28, from Serbia, was recognized as the deceased swimmer, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner.

CrossFit CEO Don Faul expressed during a press briefing that he is “devastated” by the passing of Dukic.

“We’ll remain focused on our community and the family through this tragic series of events,” Faul mentioned during a press briefing midday Thursday.

The occurrence transpired Thursday morning in Marine Creek Lake. The Fort Worth Fire Department reacted around 8 a.m. local time to a report concerning a CrossFit Games participant who disappeared in the water, authorities mentioned.

First responders utilized dive teams and a drone to locate Dukic, who was retrieved from the water about an hour after the dive team response, authorities stated.

The body of the sportsman was then transferred to the Tarrant County medical examiner.

“There’s a lot of individuals in the community that are suffering right now, that are truly sorrowful, that knew the athlete well, that cherished, respected this person,” Faul mentioned. “A lot of individuals are in mourning.”

Dukic was participating in his fourth CrossFit Games, alongside his brother, Luka Dukic. He secured ninth place in his debut CrossFit Games in 2021, then eighth and ninth again the subsequent two years.

Dukic played water polo for 10 years in Serbia before retiring from the sport and moving to the United States to study, according to the brand TYR