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Who was Lazar Dukic and how did the CrossFit Games competitor die?
The Serbian athlete had previously participated in the CrossFit Games four years in a row
A CROSSFIT Games competitor has tragically died after taking part in a swimming event.
Lazar Dukic sadly died while competing at Marine Creek Lake in Texas at the annual CrossFit Games.
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Who was Lazar Dukic?
Lazar Dukic was born in 1995.
He was a CrossFit athlete from Serbia.
In March 2017 and 2018, he was given the title of Fittest in Serbia after "performing better than all peers over five weeks of competition" at the Reebok CrossFit Games Open.
In May 2017, he posted on Instagram that he had gained his level one trainer certificate in CrossFit.
During the pandemic in 2020, Lazar and his brother Luka posted "fun and motivating" challenges online titled #BeattheDjukic to allow fans the opportunity to compete against them.
He won multiple individual and team events, most notably triumphing in the Crossfit Madrid Championships in 2022 and 2023.
The 28-year-old was also a talented water polo player and an athlete ambassador for FITAID, a sports drink brand.
Gijs Spaans, the general manager of FITAID, worked with Dukic for three years and became good friends.
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He described him as a driven athlete and a "guy who walks into a room and lights up the room".
He added that Dukic was "just a really, really good dude".
CrossFit Games star Lazar Dukic seen training with his brother in heartbreaking footage just days before drowning
When did Lazar Dukic die?
Lazar was taking part in the annual CrossFit event, in Fort Worth, Texas, when he tragically got into trouble in the water.
The competition seeks to crown ";the fittest man and the fittest women on Earth".
The event started at 7am on August 8, 2024, with competitors kicking off with a 3.5-mile run and an 800-metre swim.
However, as athletes started crossing the finish line, organisers quickly noticed that Dukic hadn't been seen for some time after he entered the water.
He had an incredible work ethic with his athletics career but, you know, always also made time to speak to people and make time for them
Gijs Spaans
Emergency services were called around 8am local time and dive teams along with drones were launched to try and recover Dukic.
Sadly, the athlete's body was found an hour after the first divers went into the water.
Police said he was declared dead at the scene.
Timeline of CrossFit Games drowning
6.58am - Fort Worth police officers were on the scene
7am - Run-swim event started
7.37am - Swimmer shown struggling for air and slowing down on the live stream
8am - Fire department received calls reporting drowning
10am - Body pulled from water and event's live stream suspended
12.48pm - CrossFit shared statement
How did Lazar Dukic die?
The cause and manner of Dukic's death is not immediately clear, according to The Washington Post.
The Serbian athlete had previously participated in the CrossFit Games four years in a row and also won the 2024 Europe semi-final, according to his CrossFit bio.
Dukic was ranked 88th worldwide in the male category and placed in the top three in his home country.
What have the CrossFit community said about Lazar Dukic's death?
After divers recovered Dukic's body the rest of Thursday's events were cancelled.
Don Faul, CrossFit's chief executive, said: "We're doing everything in our power during this tragic time to support the family, to support our community."
Don added that Dukic's death had deeply affected the other competitors.
He added: "CrossFit is in some ways like a family.
"People care a lot about each other, and there’s people in the community that are hurting right now, that are really sad, that knew the athlete well, that loved and respected this person."
Gijs Spaans said: "He had an incredible work ethic with his athletics career but, you know, always also made time to speak to people and make time for them."
He was the perfect combination of competitiveness, dedication, and excellence, coupled with kindness, humility, and respect for others
Madrid Championships
The Madrid Champs also shared a tribute saying: "If there was ever one person who embodied the spirit and essence of MAD, it was Lazar.
"He was the perfect combination of competitiveness, dedication, and excellence, coupled with kindness, humility, and respect for others."
They added: "Lazar will always be an example for everyone, and we will remember and admire him for that.
"Rest in peace, dear Lazar.
"Your smile and dedication to the sport will always be with us.
Dukic had taking part in the 2024 event with his brother Luka.
In a video shared to Instagram on Wednesday, Lazar said: "And I can’t let my brother beat me.
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"So, yeah, it’s just a great push to have him."
Dukic’s longtime sponsors and partners launched a to support the family of an athlete who they said was "known for his kindness, humor, and supportive nature".
What are the CrossFit Games?
The CrossFit Games are an intense sport competition designed to find the "Fittest on Earth.
- The competition began in 2007 in Aromas, California
- Events include track and field, gymnastics, weightlifting, decathlon, distance swims, obstacle courses, handstand walking, sled pushes, rope climbs, and object carries
- Each year, athletes must prepare for a variety of events that aren't disclosed beforehand
- Athletes must participate in the Open before moving on to the Games
- Only 40 men, 40 women, 140 masters athletes, 40 teenage athletes, 40 teams, and 30 worldwide athletes are invited to participate in the Games
- Athletes can participate with a team or as an individual
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