‘A mistake’: CrossFit Games founder publicly apologizes to Lazar Đukić’s family
The CrossFit Games founder publicly apologized to Lazar Đukić’s family Friday for saying they “blessed” the decision to continue the competition after the 28-year-old athlete apparently drowned during the run-swim event in Fort Worth last month.
“This decision was made by CrossFit and I never intended to put the weight of this decision on Luka, the Đukić family or our CrossFit athletes,” Dave Castro said on Instagram. “I’ve never been in a situation like this before and I absolutely made a mistake. I sincerely regret any pain I’ve caused.”
Đukić, an accomplished CrossFit champion from Serbia, died in Marine Creek Lake on Aug. 8 during the first event of the four-day games. Witnesses reportedly saw him struggling in the water near the finish line and in the vicinity of people on paddle boards.
CrossFit officials canceled the remainder of the first day’s events but announced the weekend would be dedicated to Lazar Đukić, and the games would continue as planned.
Castro’s apology Friday appeared to be in response to a lengthy Instagram post made by Lazar Đukić’s brother Luka Đukić, also a CrossFit athlete, a day earlier.
“There is part of the community in this sport and people around me that deserve to hear my part of the story and some of my stands,” Luka Đukić posted.
According to Luka Đukić, Castro met with him in the hours following his brother’s death and said they wanted to carry on with the games “as a tribute” to Lazar.
Luka Đukić said he told Castro he wasn’t thinking clearly and the decision shouldn’t be left up to him. Castro then replied that the decision to continue the games or not isn’t “up to you anyways.”
“Later, decision to continue the Games was presented as ‘the wish of the family,’” Luka Đukić posted.
The CrossFit Games continued Aug. 9 and stared with a tribute for Lazar Đukić at Dickies Arena. Luka Đukić said he asked Castro to provide him a “level of privacy” at the tribute, which included not appearing on the screen and not having any media or athletes around him.
His wish wasn’t respected, Luka Đukić posted, and he declined an invitation from Castro to meet with him the following night. He also refused to attend the closing ceremony.
Luka Đukić described his older brother as his best friend, fellow competitor, training partner and idol.
“On Thursday 8th of August, I lost all of it, in the most traumatic and tragic way possible. While we were chasing our dream,” Luka Đukić posted.
The Đukić brothers were not able to participate in the 2023 CrossFit Games together because Luka Đukić had to withdraw from the European Semifinals due to illness. This year they both qualified, and a CrossFit Games social media post touted the news as “redemption” for the brothers.
Luka Đukić said he and his brother practiced for the CrossFit Games together, including the running and swimming event. They decided that Luka would be in front during the run to break the wind for Lazar, and Lazar would “break the water” for Luka during the swimming portion.
Luka Đukić ended up finishing the race behind Lazar Đukić, but the two entered the water for the swim at nearly the same time. Luka Đukić said that was the last time he saw his brother.
Luka Đukić described crossing the finish line and immediately looking for his brother. He thought it was strange he wasn’t out of the water yet. He asked Castro, and was told Lazar Đukić’s chip had already crossed the finish line.
He felt a “huge relief,” Luka Đukić said, and went to give an interview and chill out for a few minutes. A short time later a CrossFit staff member approached him and said there had been a mistake and they were still missing two chip timers.
Later, Luka Đukić saw his brother’s last moments on a video of the swimming event.
“There were no attempts to save Lazar,” Luka Đukić said. “He was fighting and went down close to two very unequipped volunteers (yes) on the paddleboard.”
CrossFit officials have initiated an investigation into Lazar Đukić’s death, which includes an independent third-party review, CrossFit CEO Don Faul said in an emailed statement to the Star-Telegram.
Lazar Đukić’s cause and manner of death are still pending on the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s website. Luka Đukić said in his Instagram post that the medical examiner told him there was no indication that his brother had suffered a heart attack.
This story was originally published September 6, 2024 at 3:14 PM.
