A competitor at the CrossFit Games died while participating in a swimming event on a Texas lake on Thursday morning.
CrossFit CEO Don Faul expressed deep sadness during a news conference regarding the death of the athlete at Marine Creek Lake in Fort Worth and mentioned that the organization is collaborating with authorities in the ongoing investigation.
The Tarrant County medical examiner’s office has identified the athlete as 28-year-old Lazar Dukic from Serbia, although the cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
An official from the Fort Worth Fire Department reported that they were called around 8 a.m. to assist police with a participant who had gone missing in the water. The athlete’s body was located approximately an hour after the initial report.
Faul confirmed that safety personnel were present at the event. Emphasizing the close-knit nature of the CrossFit community, he stated, “We’re doing everything in our power during this tragic time to support the family, to support our community.”
The CrossFit Games, which began in 2007, aim to identify the fittest athletes globally. According to the CrossFit website, the competition format changes annually, with specific details typically revealed shortly before the events begin.
Dukic was ranked as the third-best CrossFit athlete in Serbia and held the 88th position worldwide, according to his biography on the CrossFit website.