Lazar Dukic - R.I.P.

Lazar Dukic's death is a tragedy and I can't imagine what his family and close friends are going through.

The CrossFit methodology is no different from any other endeavor (running, driving a car, mountaineering) in being infinitely scalable and in appropriate doses great, but at extreme ends maybe not so great.  Professionals in athletic and non-athletic disciplines have died and had serious injuries due to the inherent danger of their profession as well as random sequences of events.

Greg Glassman often said "men will die for points" and that was still published in the L1 Training Guide published in 2020.  With the early adopters including first responders and military members, the baseline culture was certainly geared towards the tail of the population distribution.  I believe in the methodology, and I support amateur and professional competition.  

I did not know that the original intent of the CrossFit Games was as a marketing event.  It certainly makes sense.  It is hard not to be inspired by open athletes, age group athletes and adaptive athletes.

On a personal note, my first open water swim after Lazar Dukic's death was mentally taxing for me.  I typically swim 3 consecutive laps on a 275 yard course but decided to take a breather after 2 laps and then finished my last lap.  The quiet of open water swimming can be a blessing or a curse depending on my mindset when I enter the water.  I still think I will be ready for my fall triathlon.  However, I have also come to terms with the fact that at some point in my athletic career, I may DNF an event and that will be OK.  There is no shame in taking off my swim cap and waving it in the air for help for any reason whatsoever mental or physical.

Much has been discussed and posted following the death of Lazar Dukic.  I have given it some thought, but was inspired to write on it after a friend sent a yahoo news article.  I will continue to follow the news on whether there will be changes for the CrossFit Games in the future and whether the tragic event was preventable.