An athlete tragically lost his life after reportedly drowning in a lake in Fort Worth during the CrossFit Games on Thursday, which marked the beginning of the multi-day competition.
The victim, identified as 28-year-old Lazar Ðukić from Serbia, was confirmed by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office. The incident occurred at Marine Creek Lake, where a run-swim event was being held, separate from the main competition area located at Dickies Arena. In light of this incident, the remainder of the CrossFit Games was canceled.
Reports indicate that this is not the first time athletes have faced difficulties while swimming during the Games. Endurance coach Chris Hinshaw shared on the podcast Mark Bell’s Power Project his recollection of a near-drowning incident involving renowned athlete Matt Fraser during a similar event in 2017.
Hinshaw narrated Fraser’s experience, explaining that although he entered the water as the front-runner, he began to struggle against faster swimmers. To conserve energy, Fraser attempted to draft behind them but ultimately exhausted his aerobic capacity, leading to a dangerous situation where fellow competitor Brent Fikowski had to pull him to safety.
Fraser, known for being crowned the “Fittest Man on Earth” five consecutive times before his retirement in 2021, managed to complete the swim in fifth place.
Another notable incident in 2017 involved athlete Will Powell, who also experienced difficulties during a run-swim-run event on Lake Monona in Wisconsin. He was helped by fellow competitors who ensured he remained above water until he could be rescued.
In the wake of Đukić’s death, a GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to support his family.