CrossFit Games to continue despite death of competitor

Lazar Đukić, 28, died Thursday morning
He went under while swimming in competition
Event will go on to 'pay tribute' to Đukić

Updated: Aug 9, 2024 / 08:59 AM EDT

Athletes participate in a crossfit competition during the 6th edition of the Bop Games, at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, on September 9, 2023. The multi-sport festival Bop Games, brings together more than seven thousand athletes in 30 different sports. (Photo by Douglas MAGNO / AFP) (Photo by DOUGLAS MAGNO/AFP via Getty Images)

(NewsNation) — The CrossFit Games will continue despite the death of a Serbian competitor Thursday morning. Events were canceled for the remainder of the day but will resume Friday morning.

Lazar Đukić, 28, died while competing in the swimming event at Marine Creek Lake in Fort Worth, Texas. A cause of death has not yet been determined by the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office.

CrossFit announced Thursday night on X it would be continuing with the annual global competition as a means of paying tribute to Đukić.

“The first instinct is to shut down. To isolate. To mourn. But the only cure for grief is to grieve. And the best way to grieve is together. In our community, coming together to do hard things is how we pay tribute,” the statement read.

“In this spirit, we have decided to move forward with the 2024 CrossFit Games. This weekend is dedicated to Lazar Đukić.”

Competition begins at 10 a.m. CT at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. The CrossFit Games praised Đukić’s impact on the event, as well as his being in the statement.

“We are shattered by the loss of Lazar Đukić along with the entire CrossFit community. 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 practically everyone who knew him. Fiercely competitive, incurably joyful and uncommonly kind, Lazar was the sun of any room he was in. The loss of his light is inconceivable.”