Serbian athlete Lazar Djukic drowned during the CrossFit Games in Fort Worth, identified
9 august 2024 в 05:37
The athlete who drowned in the water during a CrossFit competition in Fort Worth has been identified as Lazar Djukic.
The Serbian athlete was participating in an event that involved running and swimming, and began to struggle during the final part.
After it appeared that Djukic was having difficulty swimming, he disappeared about 100 meters from the shore. His team noticed his absence and informed the organizers, noting that the athlete had not emerged from the water. This prompted an emergency search for the missing person, who had previously been reported as an unknown athlete who drowned during the swimming event.
Seven fire departments responded to a call about a possible drowning on the lake shore shortly before 8 a.m., the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. The first responders retrieved the body from the water around 10 a.m., but they did not immediately identify the body as Djukic’s.
Djukic, who has been competing in CrossFit for several years, ranks third in Serbia and 88th in the world in the men’s category.
The experienced CrossFit participant had hinted at his participation in the competition on his Instagram in the days leading up to the event. Late Wednesday evening, he urged his fans to watch the individual run-swim, which began with a 3.5-mile run and ended with an 800-meter swim.
Just a few hours ago, Djukic posted a link to the live stream of his event.
Video of the competition posted on social media appeared to show a man struggling with swimming during the race, swimming in the water until he disappeared underwater at the finish line. Later in the clip, a spectator appeared to dive into the water and run to where the person was last seen.
CrossFit CEO Don Faul confirmed the participant’s death and noted that the organization is «deeply saddened» by the incident.
«We are doing everything we can at this tragic moment to support the family, support our community», - he said at a press conference. The events were canceled for the remainder of the day.
The six-time Serbian champion started doing CrossFit during a student trip to the USA and said he hopes to place on the podium this season.
«It was a real struggle, starting in a small country where there was not a single CrossFit gym when I started», - the four-time CrossFit Games participant told More Than Fitness magazine in 2023.
«As I progress in the sport, the community and Serbia progress as well. I feel very blessed to be the one paving the way, making it easier for everyone else»
The Serbian athlete was participating in an event that involved running and swimming, and began to struggle during the final part.
After it appeared that Djukic was having difficulty swimming, he disappeared about 100 meters from the shore. His team noticed his absence and informed the organizers, noting that the athlete had not emerged from the water. This prompted an emergency search for the missing person, who had previously been reported as an unknown athlete who drowned during the swimming event.
Seven fire departments responded to a call about a possible drowning on the lake shore shortly before 8 a.m., the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. The first responders retrieved the body from the water around 10 a.m., but they did not immediately identify the body as Djukic’s.
Djukic, who has been competing in CrossFit for several years, ranks third in Serbia and 88th in the world in the men’s category.
The experienced CrossFit participant had hinted at his participation in the competition on his Instagram in the days leading up to the event. Late Wednesday evening, he urged his fans to watch the individual run-swim, which began with a 3.5-mile run and ended with an 800-meter swim.
Just a few hours ago, Djukic posted a link to the live stream of his event.
Video of the competition posted on social media appeared to show a man struggling with swimming during the race, swimming in the water until he disappeared underwater at the finish line. Later in the clip, a spectator appeared to dive into the water and run to where the person was last seen.
CrossFit CEO Don Faul confirmed the participant’s death and noted that the organization is «deeply saddened» by the incident.
«We are doing everything we can at this tragic moment to support the family, support our community», - he said at a press conference. The events were canceled for the remainder of the day.
The six-time Serbian champion started doing CrossFit during a student trip to the USA and said he hopes to place on the podium this season.
«It was a real struggle, starting in a small country where there was not a single CrossFit gym when I started», - the four-time CrossFit Games participant told More Than Fitness magazine in 2023.
«As I progress in the sport, the community and Serbia progress as well. I feel very blessed to be the one paving the way, making it easier for everyone else»
© Smirnova Olga
