Don Faul, the CEO of CrossFit, released a video statement on Facebook. In his message, Faul addressed the tragic death of Lazar Đukić during the 2024 CrossFit Games, expressing his condolences to the Đukić family and the CrossFit community. He emphasized the organization’s commitment to safety and transparency and outlined the steps being taken to ensure the well-being of athletes. Faul’s statement aimed to provide reassurance and support during this difficult time, while also addressing concerns raised by the community.
“In the wake of what happened this week, I wanted to share an update on the steps that we’ve taken and how we plan to move forward. We are all devastated by what happened on Thursday. We mourn the loss of Lazar, and our hearts ache for his family, his friends, and fellow athletes.”
“The safety of our athletes is our most important responsibility, and this tragedy happened on our watch. We must understand what happened and ensure we do everything in our power to make sure it doesn’t happen again. To this end, as we’ve shared, we’ve initiated an independent, third-party investigation to thoroughly understand the circumstances surrounding the event.”
“We appreciate your patience and support as we conduct this process. We will provide transparency around the investigation as it progresses, while respecting the privacy and wishes of those directly affected. I want to assure you that we are committed to implementing any necessary changes that are determined based on the results of this investigation.”
“Our goal is to enhance our protocols to protect our athletes so that they can safely and confidently compete in the sport that we all love. I also wanted to touch on the decision we made to proceed with the Games. After a number of conversations late Thursday night, we chose to continue with the 2024 CrossFit Games.”
“We understand that not everyone agrees with our plan to move forward, but we are doing the very best we can to navigate this tragic and unprecedented event in a way that best serves our community. We want to acknowledge that our decision put athletes in a very difficult position, and we recognize and respect the incredibly personal choices they had to make regarding whether to continue competing. Our athletes care deeply for Lazar and are devastated by his loss.”
“They are choosing to honor him in different ways, and we ask that you respect their decisions and show them the support and care that our community is known for. We will continue to provide updates as they become available. Thank you.”
You can view the video on Facebook to learn more about the tragic passing of Lazar Đukić. The video provides insights into the circumstances surrounding his death during the 2024 CrossFit Games and includes statements from CrossFit CEO Don Faul.
