The 2024 CrossFit Games have been overshadowed by a series of unexpected athlete withdrawals, with many competitors stepping away from the competition after the tragic death of fellow athlete Lazar Dukic.
This brings the total number of withdrawals to nine, highlighting the profound emotional and psychological impact the event has had on the participants.
The athletes who are no longer competing at the 2024 CrossFit Games are:
Luka Dukic
Karin Freyova
Emma Tall
Elisa Fuliano
Victoria Campos
Sam Cournoyer
Guilherme Malheiros *
Among those who have exited the Games are some of the sport’s top competitors, including Swedish athlete Emma Tall, Italian competitor Elisa Fuliano, and Canadian Sam Cournoyer.
The emotional toll of Dukic’s death, coupled with various personal reasons, has led these athletes to prioritize their mental health and well-being over continuing in the competition.
Emma Tall
Emma Tall was ranked 3rd overall after completing the second event of the day, making her withdrawal particularly surprising.
Without any prior indication of injury or distress, Tall chose not to participate in the subsequent events.
Later, she released a brief statement on her social media, explaining her decision to withdraw but leaving the door open to share more of her thoughts at a later time.
Elisa Fuliano
Elisa Fuliano, on the other hand, was more forthcoming about her reasons. In a heartfelt and detailed social media post, she described a panic attack during one of the water-based events and her struggle to cope with the overwhelming emotions following Dukic’s death.
Fuliano expressed her disappointment in how the situation was managed by CrossFit and her ultimate decision to step away from the Games.
Sam Cournoyer
Sam Cournoyer’s decision was influenced not only by the emotional impact of the tragedy but also by his ongoing battle with a bacterial infection.
Cournoyer had been dealing with listeria, which he contracted just days before the Games began.
Despite pushing through the initial events, the combination of illness and grief led him to conclude that continuing was not in his best interest.
* Guilherme Malheiros
Two other athletes, Victoria Campos and Guilherme Malheiros, have also likely ended their participation, though neither has made an official statement.
Both Brazilians did not appear for their respective events on Friday, with Malheiros visibly emotional during his last appearance.
Given his close friendship with Dukic, his absence from the competition floor speaks volumes about the toll this tragedy has taken on him.
The CrossFit community has reacted with a mix of support and concern, with many calling for empathy toward the athletes and understanding of the difficult choices they have made.
However, there has also been criticism directed at CrossFit’s handling of the situation, with some questioning the organization’s preparedness for such an unforeseen event.
As the 2024 CrossFit Games continue, the focus now shifts not only to the competition itself but also to the broader implications of these withdrawals.
The decisions made by Tall, Fuliano, Cournoyer, and others may signal a shift in how athletes and organizations approach mental health, safety, and the pressures of elite competition.