August 9, 2024, will be remembered as the day everything changed for CrossFit, after witnessing the death of a high-performance athlete during the sport's premier event of the year.

The Saddest Day at the CrossFit Games

What is usually a celebration of the fitness community turned into tragedy. It was Event 1 in the individual category, consisting of a 3.5-mile run followed by an 800-meter open-water swim. In the final stretch, Lazar Ðukić lost his life in the last 100 meters.

“CrossFit is deeply saddened by the death of one of the competitors in the 2024 CrossFit Games,” the event organizers announced shortly after, amidst a sea of uncertainty as one of the competitors was missing.

The statement also informed that CrossFit was cooperating closely with authorities: “We are working in full cooperation with the authorities and doing everything we can to provide support to the family during this difficult time.”

By this point in the competition, several attendees reported seeing Ðukić struggling in the water. During the live broadcast of the CrossFit Games, it was also noticeable from a distance that the Serbian athlete was having trouble staying above water.

Lazar Ðukić’s Last Words Before His Death

Months later, more details about Lazar Ðukić's death were revealed following the release of the documentary Tragedy at the CrossFit Games, produced by the Buttery Bros.

The documentary begins with never-before-seen footage of the Serbian athlete just before the start of Event 1, where he tragically passed away just a few meters from the finish line. These could be considered his last words before the tragic events unfolded.

In an interview with Sevan Matossian, who spoke with him for the last time, Ðukić explained his strategy, the instructions given, and confirmed that he had swum in the same lake where he would later lose his life just days before the event.

"Last night, they told us to stay to the left... Now they said don't think about that, just go from here to there however you want, so yes," Ðukić said.

"I'm so scared, I mean stressed. Normally, when the event is good for you, you're more stressed than when it's not, so I'm pretty stressed," he added, continuing to explain his plan to capitalize on the challenge.

“Stay close to the lead group in the race, but try not to exhaust yourself, because even if you're 20 seconds behind, 20 seconds in 800 meters is nothing, because I think I'm a much better swimmer than the rest of them. But try to stay ahead of Fikowski and Sprague, because they're good swimmers, and Ricky,” he said.

“Luka and I actually came here on Wednesday and checked out the exact course, so it will be fine,” he added, referring to the route mapped out by the CrossFit Games organizers.

As we mentioned earlier, Ðukić and his brother had already "measured" the test they would face days later.

The documentary details the competition’s progression as normal, until athletes started crossing the finish line, and there was no sign of Lazar Ðukić. It became clear that something was wrong, as the Serbian athlete was in a lead group, and it was unlikely that he had placed further down the ranking.

It was Sevan Matossian, the creator of the documentary, who revealed that a staff member tried to jump into the water to help one of the athletes, but was stopped, without further explanation, until the worst was confirmed: the death of Lazar Ðukić.

CrossFit Keeps Silent and Announces Changes

CrossFit has announced plans to address safety concerns following the tragic death of Lazar Ðukić, but the announcement has been met with skepticism from several athletes.

The organization said it would not release the full report due to "privacy and legal considerations," but has shared a summary of some of the actions that will be implemented in future CrossFit Games.

Luka Ðukić, Lazar's brother, expressed his anger on social media, accusing the organization of "not valuing human life."

"No investigation can reveal anything other than the fact that there was no reaction when it was most needed," he wrote on Instagram.

"Shortly after CrossFit Inc announced their 'third-party investigation,' a source informed me that they would not share the results. This was just a 'buy some time' move until the community forgets and it's time to profit off them again."

Who Was Lazar Ðukić?

Lazar Ðukić was a Serbian athlete known worldwide for his ability to compete at the highest level in the "fitness" events that push the human body to its limits.

Since 2021, Ðukić had never failed to qualify for the CrossFit Games, consistently placing in the Top 10.

In the 2021 season, he finished ninth, eighth in 2022, and repeated ninth place in 2023. In 2019, he qualified as the national champion of Serbia, but declined the invitation to the event and decided to make his debut two years later.

In his career, he became a six-time national champion of Serbia, and before CrossFit, he was a water polo player. However, during a student trip to the United States, he discovered this new discipline, thanks to a roommate who was already familiar with it.