© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

1 dead after swimming during CrossFit Games competition in Fort Worth

A photo of Lazar Dukic, who died on Thursday during the individual swimming portion of the 2024 CrossFit Games.
Courtesy of CrossFit Games
A photo of Lazar Dukic, who died on Thursday during the individual swimming portion of the 2024 CrossFit Games.

A CrossFit athlete died while swimming in a lake in Fort Worth, Texas, while competing in the very first day of the 2024 CrossFit Games.

The athlete, identified as 28-year-old Lazar Dukic, was taking part in the individual swim portion of the annual fitness competition at Marine Creek Lake in Fort Worth — a site that a city website says is a "250-acre no wake lake which makes it calm, accessible and ideal" for a host of activities including swimming.

Game organizers cancelled the rest of the day's events, saying in a statement that they are "deeply saddened" by the loss. "The well-being of competitors is our first priority and we are heartbroken by this tragic event."

Dukic hailed from Serbia. His identity was confirmed by the Tarrant County medical examiner's office, which also said his death occurred at 10:24 a.m.

It's unclear what officials will do for the rest of the weekend, as the contest was supposed to continue until Aug. 11, according to the event's website.

This marks the 18th edition of the CrossFit Games where athletes compete for the title of "Fittest on Earth," according to the organization. Individual competitors are fighting for a chance at more than $300,000.

Each year, athletes battle it out without knowing beforehand what events they will have to take part in. The event organizers say it's designed to test an athlete's fitness and readiness to compete.

Copyright 2024 NPR

Corrected: August 10, 2024 at 5:06 PM EDT
An earlier version of this story misspelled the first name of Lazar Dukic.
Jaclyn Diaz is a reporter on Newshub.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Related Content