CrossFit Games announce changes to safety measures after Lazar Ðukić's drowning
By Jon Healy
Topic:Drownings
Lazar Ðukić was 28 when he drowned at this year's CrossFit Games.
In short:
Lazar Ðukić drowned during the first event at the CrossFit Games in August, prompting an investigation.
CrossFit released a summary of its actions going forward, but said it would not publish the full report "based on privacy and legal considerations".
Ðukić's brother and fellow competitor Luka said CrossFit "does not value human life", while two-time Games champion Annie Thorisdottir said she does not think the information released "says or means anything".
CrossFit has announced its plans to allay safety concerns after the drowning death of competitor Lazar Ðukić, but the announcement has been met with scepticism by a number of athletes.
Ðukić died during the first event of the multi-sport CrossFit Games in August when the 28-year-old drowned during an 800-metre open-water swim in a lake, which followed a 5.6-kilometre run.
Events for the rest of the day were cancelled, but the Games continued, with a handful of competitors, including Ðukić's brother Luka, withdrawing from competition.
CrossFit commissioned a third-party investigation into the matter, including "dozens of interviews with eyewitnesses and event staff".
CrossFit said it would not publish the full report due to "privacy and legal considerations", but released a summary of some of the actions set to be taken at future CrossFit Games.
Luka Ðukić expressed his anger on social media, saying the organisation "does not value human life".
"No investigation can reveal anything other than the fact that there was no reaction when it was needed," he wrote on Instagram.
"Shortly after CrossFit Inc announced their 'third-party investigation' I was informed by a source that they would not be sharing the results.
"This was merely a 'let's buy some time' move until the community forgets and it's time to cash in on them again."
Lazar Ðukić was towards the front of the field during the swim leg and struggled in the water before going under.
There were event staff on stand-up paddleboards in the water, but none reacted to his struggles.
Among the actions set to be taken by CrossFit is an indefinite suspension of open-water swimming events.
"If a future CrossFit Games includes a swimming component, it will take place in highly controlled environments, such as pools, where safety teams can closely monitor every athlete," a statement read.
A safety advisory board "composed of medical professionals, independent safety experts, and athletes" will be established, there will be more pre-event rehearsals, an expansion of mental health resources, and an athlete council will be established.
CrossFit said it would create a new senior leadership role responsible for safety at the Games. This person reports to chief executive Don Faul and controversial sport organisation director Dave Castro, who has been widely criticised since Lazar Ðukić's death.
The decision to continue the Games was touted by Castro as having the "blessing" of the Ðukić family, which later turned out to be untrue, with Castro admitting he made a mistake.
There were calls from the Professional Fitness Athletes Association (PFAA) to remove Castro from his role as a chief organiser of the CrossFit Games in the aftermath.
The most recent moves from CrossFit, primarily not releasing the investigation's findings, have been met with more disapproval from many in the community, including two-time Games winner Annie Thorisdottir
"I don't feel like this says or means anything," she wrote on CrossFit's Instagram page, adding a broken-heart emoji.
Three-time Games athlete Cody Anderson said CrossFit should release the full findings of the investigation.
Thorisdottir was on the board of the PFAA when it called for more transparency regarding the investigation in the immediate aftermath of Lazar Ðukić's death.
Nine-time competitor and PFAA president Brent Fikowski said at the time that he did not believe CrossFit was truly committed to athlete safety.
"When they say 'safety is our number one priority', I simply have not believed this to be true for a long time," he wrote on social media.
"I believe their top priority has always been their subjective definition of 'the test.'"
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