Many of you will already have heard the tragic news.  The morning of Thursday August 7th marked the start of the CrossFit Games with a run-swim event. 

The CrossFit Games is a celebration of fitness with the fittest 40 male and female athletes coming together from around the world to compete.  Sadly, this year’s opening event would result in the loss of one of these amazing athletes, Serbian CrossFit competitor Lazar Dukic.

A CrossFit Games veteran, Lazar disappeared about 100 metres from the finish line during the swim event.  CrossFit discontinued the event the moment they were alerted to Dukic’s disappearance.  Rescue teams recovered his body an hour later. 

While this is the first CrossFit drowning, it is not uncommon in open water events.  Last summer two participants drowned during an Ironman competition in Ireland.  In that case, choppy waters appear to have been at play but that does not appear to be a factor in Lazar’s case.

At this point, with the investigation still ongoing, we can only speculate as to what happened and why Lazar was forced to stop swimming so close to the finish line.

CrossFit is a tight community and we feel the loss of one of our own very strongly.  Never before has a sanctioned CrossFit event suffered this kind of tragedy. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Lazar Dukic as we try to grasp the unimaginable loss they have suffered.

Presumably the 2024 CrossFit Games will continue tomorrow but it is hard to imagine there being any joy among athletes or spectators given today’s terrible loss.              

Friday Make Up Day

1) Empower Reset #22
1 min Breathing on Back
30/30 sec Head Nods/Rotations

5 mins
20 Crosstouch Dead Bugs
10 Egg Rolls

5 mins
20 Windshield Wipers
10 Rocking Chairs

5 mins
20 Crosstouch Bird Dogs
10 Sit Throughs

3 Rounds:
1 min Leopard Crawl
1 min Crab Walk
1 min Full Body Rock

4 Rounds
1 min KB Suitcase March Right
1 min KB Suitcase March Right

2) Run 2,500 meters
Swim 800 meters

3) 5 Rounds:
In 2 mins
5 Squat Clean & Jerks @70% 1 rep max
Max foot-elevated Ring Rows
1 min rest

Score = total ring rows completed