Kristóf and Laura Horváth, the 2023 CrossFit Games champion, have shared a new statement explaining why they decided to withdraw from the competition following the death of Lazar Dukic in Event 1.

In their statements, they assert that the company only cares about profits and that the response of some athletes was “inhumane.”

Kristóf Horváth wrote the statement on his Instagram, and his sister Laura Horváth, the fittest woman on earth in 2023, also shared it in her stories. They didn’t hold back in criticizing not only CrossFit but also their fellow competitors.

In the statement, in addition to saying that CrossFit’s “values” are those of a corporation whose basic instinct is “survival and profit,” the Horváths also discussed the PFAA’s demand for change and the removal of Dave Castro from his position. “I am not against change or the group that is trying to take steps toward it, but I have internal conflicts mainly because I’ve lost trust in most of my peers.”

The full statement:

Actions speak louder than words.

We stood up not because we’ve seen an opportunity, but because we wanted to mourn a friend and a fellow competitor and because our group believes that they’re directly responsible for his death and their response to it was inhumane and was driven by “values” of a corporation who’s basic instinct is survival and profit.

To “sacrifice” for the greater good was then and there! One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that: acting out of fear will move the masses into the direction of its “creator” and human greed is more powerful then I’ve ever imagined.

I am not against of change and the group that’s trying to take steps towards it, but I am conflicted within mostly because my trust is lost in most of my peers.

In a very primitive way I think it is truer then ever: You can’t have your cake and eat it too.

How did we get to this point?

During Event 1 of the 2024 CrossFit Games, Lazar Dukic lost his life just a few meters from the finish line, a fact that didn’t stop the organization from deciding to continue with the competition, despite some top athletes choosing to withdraw.

Subsequently, the Professional Fitness Athletes Association (PFAA) made several demands, including more transparency about Lazar Dukic’s death, the creation of an independent body to ensure athlete safety, and finally, the removal of Dave Castro from his position.