CrossFit Games is slammed by brother of Lazar Dukic after athlete drowned during live-streamed event in Texas
The CrossFit Games have been criticized by the brother of Lazar Dukic, 28, who disappeared into the water and drowned during the swimming portion of the event.
Luka Dukic, another CrossFit athlete, posted a lengthy statement on his social media on Thursday, nearly a month after his brother died during the competition.
Luka, 25, described in detail the moments surrounding his brother’s passing and the days afterward, when the CrossFit Games continued as a tribute to Lazar.
After Luka completed the same swim portion of the CrossFit Games where his brother drowned, he went to the event’s director and creator, Dave Castro, looking for Lazar, but couldn’t find him.
Luka confirmed his bib number and was told that Lazar had already completed the race. He was later told that this was a mistake and that his brother was missing. Luka eventually saw the live stream of his brother going underwater, with lifeguards nearby who were unresponsive.
Luka Dukic posted a lengthy statement on his Instagram a month after his brother drowned
Lazar Dukic died during the swimming portion of The CrossFit Games in Texas
Luka shared a photo of him and Lazar on his social media from when they were much younger
“What I saw later on the video was that there was no attempt to save Lazar. He was fighting and he went down right in front of two very poorly equipped volunteers (yes) on the paddleboard, who didn’t see him and very close to the finish line,” said Luka.
Luka says Castro came to his hotel that night and approached him about considering the rest of the CrossFit Games as a tribute. Dukic said the decision was not his.
Castro’s alleged response: “It’s not up to you.”
CrossFit went ahead with the tribute to Lazar, but Luka had a hard time with that too. He said he asked not to appear on camera, a request that was not granted.
Local authorities had to search for Lazar’s body after it went missing and disappeared underwater
Luka’s lengthy statement attacks CrossFit for not doing more to save his brother
Castro reportedly attempted to meet Dukic twice more during the event, but Luka refused both times.
About a month after the event, Luka still doesn’t know how to deal with the sudden death of his older brother.
“Even if I wanted to go into this conversation in more depth, I wouldn’t because it just distracts from where it should be, which is: how could this happen at a match of this magnitude, how could this happen during a live stream and to someone who was very easy to follow, as he was one of the few people in the lead,” Luka said.
Official pages for CrossFit, the CrossFit Games, Castro, and CrossFit CEO Don Faul have not responded to Luka’s lengthy message.