Don Faul, CEO of CrossFit, sent an email to athletes, coaches, and agents providing updates on several important topics, including the third-party investigation into Lazar Đukić’s passing, discussions with the community about the future of the sport, and mental health support for those affected by his death.
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In his message, Faul encouraged anyone who attended the CrossFit Games and had relevant information to share with the third-party investigator to come forward. Specific instructions on how to contact the investigator would be shared separately.
Faul also mentioned that he has engaged in numerous conversations with athletes and others within the community, addressing a wide range of issues concerning “CrossFit as a Sport.” He emphasized that these discussions are ongoing and that he aims to consult with all stakeholders—including athletes, partners, affiliate owners, and others—before making any decisions.
Additionally, CrossFit will offer free therapy services through Lyra Health to individuals who were present in Fort Worth and affected by Lazar’s death. Lyra Health, which specializes in providing mental health care in partnership with organizations, will extend its services to support those impacted by this tragic event.
The Email from Don Faul
Hello,
I’m writing to share a few important updates.
Third-Party Investigation
Over the last four weeks, we have had extensive dialogue with our athletes, affiliates, partners and teammates. We continue to mourn the tragic loss of Lazar’s life and the investigation is underway to identify the facts and circumstances surrounding his death. We encourage any individuals that were present at the Games and who desire to speak with the investigator about the swim and individual event 1 to do so; we will be following up directly with instructions on how to reach the investigator. We thank those of you who have already come forward to help with this process.
Community Dialogue
Separate and apart from the investigation, we’ve heard from many people in our community across a range of topics related to CrossFit as a Sport. Over the past three weeks, I’ve personally met with many of our athletes and other members of the community. These conversations have helped me better understand issues that are top-of-mind and the different points of view that exist.
Over the coming weeks, we will continue to engage through additional conversations with our athletes, partners, affiliate owners and other members of our community about the future of our Sport. Collecting this feedback will take time, but it’s important to ensure we hear from each important group before we make any changes. We look forward to sharing more in the coming weeks.
Mental Health and Trauma Support
As promised, we also want to share details regarding mental health and trauma support to those who attended the 2024 CrossFit Games and were affected by the death of Lazar Đukić. This resource will be serviced through Lyra Health, which offers several confidential support options including therapy, coaching, and unlimited access to self-care apps.
If you were on site in Fort Worth, CrossFit is offering access to eight free coaching or therapy sessions within a six-month period, starting today and ending on Feb. 28, 2025.
A sincere thank you for all of your engagement with our team in recent weeks. We look forward to moving forward.
-Don
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