The video shows that it was barely afloat and that no one was saving it. One of the CrossFit Games’ favorites has died

The CrossFit Games are the world’s most important competition of this popular sport. This year was the 18th edition, in the hot American Texas. Four days of fitness competitions, athletes from 33 countries of the world in different disciplines that change every year.

However, many athletes, including Slovakia, withdrew from the event after the first day because of the tragedy that occurred during the first day’s swim.

The CrossFit Games began with an aquathlon, which is a combination of swimming and running. On the first day, the competitors started at seven in the morning with a distance of 5.6 kilometers. According to the fans, it was hot since morning. It’s forty degrees in Fort Worth these days. After the run, the runners jumped into Marine Creek. They had to overcome 800 meters in it.

Several had problems, swimming patterns indicated fatigue. “After a run, you already have lactate and your legs are full of blood. Jumping into the water also changes your body position. I can imagine that for some, for example even less experienced swimmers, it must be a big burden. Cramps come from exhaustion or breathing problems,” said the Slovak triathlete Richard Varga, otherwise a multiple world champion in aquathlon.

The athletes had to cross the lake and that was the end of the first day of the four-day event. The other competitions were supposed to keep him inside. Just before the finish line, the fans started shouting at the rescuers who were checking the runners. They moved on the water on paddle boards.

They marked one of the best from the starting list. The Serbian Lazar Dukić fought the most of the tired athletes. You can also watch it on unpleasant video. Finally, he sank and never swam again.

“When I realized that the lifeguard didn’t see him go below the surface, I knew there was nothing we could do. They were only looking at the ones who got out of the water,” said athlete Cole Learn, who watched the events at the finish line.

Dukić was 28 years old and a question arises as to why he died. Why didn’t rescuers or organizers save him? And what does the order of subjects have to do with it?

“It has become a topic of much discussion, which is amplified by social networks. It didn’t help that it happened live, so people literally see it with their own eyes,” said Pavol Červenka, who runs Crossfit Proton in Bratislava with his wife.

In this text, we also talk to Jiří Dostal, a sports doctor from the Sports Medicine Center in Prague.

Who is to blame?

CrossFit has been around for years