FORT WORTH, Texas — The CrossFit Games will continue in Fort Worth on Friday and through the weekend after the death of an athlete during the first day of competition, even organizers said.
Lazar Đukić, 28, of Serbia, died during the swim portion of the event's opening competition Thursday morning at Marine Creek Lake.
Đukić's death stunned the CrossFit community and put all competitions and events on hold for the rest of the day. But after "careful thought" and conversations with athletes and Đukić's family, CrossFit officials on Thursday night announced that the games would go on, beginning Friday with a 10 a.m. ceremony honoring Đukić.
The ceremony will be held at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, the main event site for the CrossFit Games.
A 10 a.m. tribute to Đukić will be followed by an 11 a.m. team event, and then a full slate of events throughout the day.
Updates CrossFit Games schedule
- 10 a.m.: Special tribute honoring Lazar Đukić
- 11 a.m.: Team Event
- 12:20 p.m.: Individual Event
- 4:50 p.m.: Team Event
- 5:35 p.m.: Individual Event
- 7:55 p.m.: Team Event at Farrington Field
- 8:35 p.m.: Individual Event at Farrington Field
- 10 p.m.: Competition Ends for the Day
The full event schedule through the weekend can be found here.
Lazar Đukić death: What happened?
Cole Learn, a CrossFit athlete from Ontario, Canada said he witnessed Đukić drown Thursday.
"Absolutely devastated, not sure what to think, and almost in denial," Learn told WFAA.
Learn said he witnessed the moments Đukić went under the water during the swimming event.
"I saw him sort of start to scramble he started doing small turns and he was trying to get his head out of the water," Learn said. "It was at that time we started screaming to the lifeguard he needed help and in a few seconds he was under, he never came back up.”
The CrossFit Games had a safety plan in place and safety personnel on-site at the event, CrossFit CEO Don Faul said. All of the details of how the event and drowning unfolded Thursday will be part of a review with law enforcement, Faul said.
“The safety of our community is of paramount concern to CrossFit, and we have rigorous protocols in place for each event at the CrossFit Games. We have initiated an investigation, which will include an independent third-party review of yesterday’s tragic event. We will share information as appropriate," Faul said in a statement to WFAA.
Fort Worth Councilmember Carlos Flores released a statement saying in part:
"As the City Council representative of District 2, where Marine Creek Lake is located, I want to express my deepest condolences to Mr. Đukić's family and loved ones. Any loss of life is always tragic and traumatic, and our hearts go out to those affected during this difficult time. Mr. Đukić was a remarkable individual, known for his achievements as a four-time CrossFit Games athlete."
Former CEO of CrossFit Dave Castro expressed his condolences to Đukić’s family in a video online.
“It’s been an incredibly difficult day with the incident today with Lazar, and I’m mourning just like our community is. Just like the family is. And trying to focus on what we can do for them and how we can make it better with what we’re able to do with this small thing we have,” Castro said.