last month, The CrossFit Games were temporarily suspended following the tragic death of Serbian athlete Lazar Djukic during the run-and-swim competition on the first day of competition. The games were then resumed following a statement from CrossFit CEO Don Fall. “After discussions with Djukic’s family and other athletes, we have decided to hold the 2024 CrossFit Games in memory of Lazar Djukic,” the statement read. Nevertheless, several athletes, including Djukic’s brother and fellow competitor Luka, withdrew from the competition.
Luka Djukic made no public statement after the tragedy beyond two posts on Instagram Stories that are archived on his profile. He broke his silence on September 5th, posting a lengthy statement on Instagram in which he expressed strong dissatisfaction with the way CrossFit and the event’s criticised creator, Dave Castro, handled things following his brother’s death.
Men’s Health We’ve reached out to CrossFit for comment on Luka Djukic’s post and the status of the independent investigation into Lazar’s death. (We’ll update this story if we receive a response.) Djukic’s post comes at a time when CrossFit is still battling criticism. The Professional Fitness Athletes Association (PFAA), an advocacy group for CrossFit athletes, has called for reforms from the sport’s governing body.
Luka Djukic remembers brother’s tragic swimming accident
Luca’s post details his brother’s final moments. He begins by outlining the strategy he and Lazar devised for the opening run-swim event of the Olympics: Lazar, the better swimmer of the two, would coast behind Luca during the run to save his energy for the swim, and then Luca would run behind him on the lake afterwards.
Eventually, Lazar passed Luca during the run, and the two separated during the swim. After finishing the race, Luca wrote that he could not find Lazar. He claims to have found race planner Dave Castro, who told him that Lazar’s chip had been registered as having completed the race (a statement that turned out to be false). Luca wrote that after he was sure his brother had finished, he left to recover from the swim and be interviewed.
“What I saw later on the video was that no attempt was made to save Lazar,” Luca wrote. “He resisted and collapsed near two ill-equipped volunteers (yes) who were on paddle boards, but who did not see Lazar swimming.” [sic] I passed him and got very close to the finish line.”
Luca’s statement detailed a later conversation he had with Castro in a hotel room, in which Castro told Luca he planned to continue with the CrossFit Games “out of respect for Lazar,” to which Luca responded, “I’m not in a good frame of mind, so this decision shouldn’t be left to me.” Castro responded, “Either way, it’s not up to you,” Luca wrote.
Luca also took issue with CrossFit’s response to the tragedy. He wrote that he had another conversation with Castro, this time about a planned memorial for Lazar. Luca said Castro told him, “You’re not going to tell me anything. [sic] “I was not given the level of privacy I needed at the time,” Luca wrote, adding that he didn’t want to be around the media or other CrossFit athletes, and didn’t want to be shown on screen as part of the tribute. “My wishes were not respected,” he wrote. After that, Luca refused to speak with Castro or anyone at CrossFit headquarters, and declined invitations to other tributes for his brother, he said.
Luca added that he’d been contacted by the coroner and informed that the autopsy determined Lazar did not die of a heart attack (a theory that has circulated online). “I do not intend to blame or shame anyone with this post, but I feel obligated, along with the family, to ask questions, to investigate this matter further to the extent that is legally possible, and to find out who is to blame for the lack of response from a well-funded organization whose job it is to make this weekend perfect,” Luca continued.
Luca ended his statement with a tribute to his brother. “My brother loved the sport and was one of the best athletes in the world,” he wrote. “He started from rock bottom and accomplished incredible things, but he was also the best human being with a heart bigger than a mountain.”
“And that’s how he should be remembered.”
Widespread reaction to CrossFit Games tragedy
Following Lazar Djukic’s death, other CrossFit athletes have also spoken out against the organization.
“The PFAA represents the interests of athletes competing in the CrossFit Games season,” the PFAA wrote. Instagram Posts“The sport is based on the principle that athletes do not know all the details of the sport they participate in, but we have always assumed that if something goes wrong, the athletes will help us out. But that has been a mistake.” The PFAA’s three demands are:
- There will be transparency between CrossFit and the PFAA regarding the third-party investigation and any subsequent changes made to protect athletes going forward.
- CrossFit will be forming an independent safety team to work with the PFAA on an ongoing basis.
- Removing Dave Castro from his position with the sports team.
The most controversial of these demands is the firing of Dave Castro, who had a stellar career with CrossFit since 2006. He is credited with starting the CrossFit Games in 2007 on his family’s ranch in Aromas, California. Since then, he has programmed 16 Games and served as CEO for a short time when founder Greg Glassman resigned in 2020 following allegations of racist and sexist misconduct. In 2021, Castro was fired. He stepped down from his role as CrossFit’s general manager of sport just seven weeks before the 2022 CrossFit Open (the only event in the Olympic season he did not program), only to be rehired in an affiliate-focused role in 2022 and eventually regain Olympic control in 2024.
Still, some notable Some people appear to be opposed to the call to break with Castro.Four-time Olympic champion Rich Froning Jr., YouTubers Andrew Hiller and Severn Matossian, etc. “It’s better to know your devil. [sic] “I wouldn’t do that,” Hiller wrote on Instagram.
Few details have been released about the independent investigation into Lazar’s death. On August 11, CrossFit announced Video Statement CEO Don Fall confirmed in a statement that an investigation would be conducted.
