CrossFit announced drastic adjustments following the tragic drowning of Lazar Dukic in an open-water swimming event that took place during the August 2024 CrossFit Games in Fort Worth, Texas.
The 28-year-old athlete drowned during the event held at Marine Creek Lake, and the organization had to question some of its security measures.
Open-Water Swimming Banned Indefinitely
(Photo: Conor Rabbett from Unsplash)
In an early report by TMZ, CrossFit is immediately prohibiting open-water swimming events at the Games. Swimming competitions going forward will take place in closed environments, such as pools, where safety teams can monitor all the athletes closely. CrossFit said this move was to ensure such tragedies are prevented in the future.
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New Safety Measures to Protect Athletes and Participants
CrossFit is also taking further steps to enhance event safety. These efforts include a dedicated Safety Leader who will head safety protocols on competitions. There will be a safety advisory board. The board will be composed of experts who will ensure that competition events meet the highest safety standards.
To prepare better for eventualities, rehearsal protocols will also be heightened. Apart from that, medical and rescue people will be on standby at the event in question.
Furthermore, CrossFit is expanding its mental health and emotional support resources for athletes and staff.
In a public statement, CrossFit recognized how much the situation was going to leave a permanent mark and reaffirmed its commitment to athlete safety and well-being. It is now concentrating efforts on the 2025 season by trying to make competitions safer while at the same time paying homage to athletes such as Lazar Dukic.
Still, some people can't easily get over Lazar Dukic's tragic death. Some believed that CrossFit should be accountable for this while others said that the org was insensitive by restarting all of the games.
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