CrossFit Games athletes are starting to withdraw from the competition after CrossFit HQ decided to continue with the event following the death of fellow athlete Lazar Đukić.

Đukić’s death has shaken the entire CrossFit community, including elite athletes who are still in Fort Worth, TX, to compete. It was unclear if the Games would continue following the incident; however, CrossFit HQ announced late Thursday that it would resume competition on Friday. 

Since then, several athletes have taken to social media to announce that they are withdrawing from the 2024 CrossFit Games.

Kara Frey shared on Instagram that she was “very disappointed with the way the CrossFit Games organization behaved towards the athletes” and would be withdrawing from the event. 

Separately, Elliot Simmonds and veteran Games athlete Jamie Simmonds have decided to withdraw from the rest of the competition. They were on a team with Kristóf Horváth and Mia Hesketh. 

“We have engaged with CrossFit and the alternative paths forward for competition this year did not align with our personal views,” Elliot and Jamie wrote in a co-authored Instagram post. 

It’s obviously a very difficult decision for athletes still reeling from Thursday’s horrible events, and some are unsure of what to do about the remainder of the Games. 

Jacqueline Dahlstrøm, a returning Games athlete from Norway, shared that she’s undecided on her plans for the rest of the weekend. 

“Personally I am still unsure how to proceed with the weekend. Mentally and emotionally I am not fit to compete. However, do I best show my respect and honour Lazar and his family by stepping on that competition floor or do I show it my [sic] NOT stepping on the floor? I don’t know,” Dahlstrøm wrote in an Instagram post. 

“Lazar, I miss you. We all miss you.” she continued. 

One big thing: At a meeting with members of the press, Director of Sport Dave Castro announced that athletes who choose not to compete this morning will be allowed to return to the competition at any point during the week.

CrossFit Games 2024 Withdrawals

Below is the list of athletes who have chosen to withdraw from the competition. We will update this list if there are any further developments: 

Kara Frey 

Jamie Simmonds

Elliot Simmonds 

Kristóf Horváth

Mia Hesketh

Featured image: Dave Shenton

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