Serbian athlete Lazar Dukic has died after taking part in a swimming event at the CrossFit Games in Texas, event organisers have confirmed.
Dukic, 28, disappeared in the water during a live broadcast of the games, while competing on Marine Creek Lake near the city of Fort Worth in Texas on Thursday morning.
He was last seen about 100 meters from the end of the 800-meter swim leg in Fort Worth, Texas, according to Metro.
Emergency services were called after his team alerted organisers that he never left the water.
A body was recovered an hour later. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet determined the cause of death.
Lazar Dukic, 28, of Serbia, died while competing in a CrossFit Games swimming event on Thursday, August 8, 2024, in a lake in Texas.
The Fort Worth Fire Department responded to a possible drowning at Marine Creek Lake Thursday morning during a CrossFit Games event.
Dukic, 28, disappeared in the water during a live broadcast of the games, while competing on Marine Creek Lake near the city of Fort Worth in Texas on Thursday morning.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Thursday’s event included a 3.5-mile (5.6-kilometer) run followed by a 0.5-mile (800-meter) swim.
The newspaper said an estimated 10,000 people were in the area for the games, which began on Thursday and run until Sunday.
Kaitlin Pritchard told the paper she was standing by the finish line when she saw Dukic approaching. She said he was among the swimmers she noticed had changed their swimming form, which she thought might be because they were tired from the race.
Pritchard saw people he assumed were lifeguards on paddleboards on the lake, but he didn’t notice any of them jumping in to try to rescue anyone, he said.
A statement from the Games’ organisers said: ‘We are devastated by the passing of Lazar Dukic.
‘Our hearts go out to Lazar’s entire family, friends and fellow athletes.
‘Out of respect for the family and in cooperation with the Fort Worth Police Department, we will share updates when possible.’
The organisers of the sporting event also paid tribute to Dukic, saying: ‘Lazar was one of our sport’s most talented competitors, but he was much more than an athlete. He was a son, a brother and a friend to virtually everyone who knew him. Fiercely competitive, incurably cheerful and extraordinarily kind, Lazar was the sunshine of any room he was in. The loss of his light is unconscionable.’
The rest of Thursday’s events were called off and organizers said they were “fully cooperating with authorities,” according to a separate statement.
Dukic made his CrossFit debut in 2021 after being introduced to the sport by his brother Luka.
According to the CrossFit website, Dukic was ranked as the third best CrossFit athlete in Serbia this year.
Videos posted on social media appear to show a man struggling to swim during the race and bobbing in the water until he sinks.
A man appears to jump into the water to save a drowning person, a video shows.
CrossFit CEO Don Faul said during a press conference: ‘There are a lot of people in the community who are hurting right now.
“There are a lot of people in mourning. We want to do everything we can to support the community and the family.”
He also said a “fully documented security plan” had been implemented and security personnel were on site throughout the event.
Dukic made his CrossFit debut in 2021
A GoFundMe campaign to support Dukic’s family that began with a goal of $200,000 has already raised $264,425.
According to the fundraising site, Dukic made his CrossFit debut in 2021 after being introduced to the sport by his brother Luka.
According to the CrossFit website, Dukic is ranked third as the best CrossFit athlete in Serbia this year. He is also ranked 88th worldwide in the men’s category.
Dukic had said he hoped to finish on the podium this season.
The CrossFit Games is an annual athletic competition in which athletes compete in a variety of events including fitness, weightlifting, swimming, and cycling.
