Luka Ðukić Issues Statement on Brother's Death

September 6th, 2024

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

  • Luka Đukić issued a public statement via Instagram yesterday recounting the events leading up to and after his brother Lazar Đukić’s death at the 2024 CrossFit Games. Read the details below.

  • Handstand push-ups were first programmed at the CrossFit Games in 2009 and have come a long way since then. Learn more about the Games’ history of the movement today.

  • The 2024 Teenage CrossFit Games by Pit Teen Throwdown took place last weekend in Three Rivers and Kalamazoo, MI. Check out our results and recap.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“My brother loved this sport and he was one of the best in the world at it…but he was also one of the best people out there with a heart bigger than a mountain. And that is how he should be remembered.” - Luka Đukić via Instagram

CROSSFIT GAMES

Credit: Dave Shenton

Luka Đukić Issues Statement On Lazar Đukić’s Death at 2024 CrossFit Games

Frustration, pain, and sorrow were palpable in Luka Đukić’s Instagram post on Thursday regarding the death of his brother Lazar during the first event of the 2024 CrossFit Games. 

  • Just four weeks after the tragic drowning of his brother, Luka has released a statement on social media regarding the situation leading up to the death of Lazar and everything that came after. 

Since his death, fellow athletes, community members, and other prominent voices in the sport have spoken out regarding the lack of safety protocols surrounding the event and what ramifications there should be for CrossFit HQ. 

The details: Luka began his post with an emotional tribute to his brother and then laid out the days leading up to the Games, aiming to paint the picture from his point of view. 

  • “In Lazar I had everything. He was my brother, my best friend, my idol, fellow competitor, training partner, someone I went to when I didn’t know what to do and someone I ran to when I had good news,” Luka wrote. 

He goes on to say he doesn’t owe anyone an explanation or an update but wanted to share his side of the story. 

Luka described how he and Lazar ran the [presumed] course leading up to the Games and swam in the lake prior to the event. He said the two had a plan to tail one another and keep each other accountable in terms of pacing. 

  • “While entering the water, Lazar missed the entrance, which cost him [a] few seconds, so with me being very close to [the] lead group in which he was in, we ended up entering the water at [almost the] same time. That was the last time I saw him,” he said. 

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SPEED READS

💛 💪 “My Story of the CrossFit Games 2024”: Three-time Games athlete from Germany, Moritz Fiebig, was in the process of documenting his Games season when the unthinkable happened in Event 1. Check out his recounting of the events that followed.

😎🌴 TYR Wodapalooza Miami Is Back: The team at Loud and Live announced dates for the annual fitness festival and online qualifier yesterday.

  • TYR WZA Online Challenge & Qualifier

    • Week 1: October 17-21, 2024

    • Week 2: October 24-28, 2024

    • Week 3: October 31-November 4, 2024

  • TYR Wodapalooza Miami 2025

    • January 23-26, 2025

🚴 🚴 Rogue Introduces “The Milo”: Named for the Milo-Grogan neighborhood in Columbus, OH, where its headquarters are located, Rogue Fitness has introduced a new single-speed commuter bike.

  • In its launch announcement, Rogue noted the bike’s American-made steel frame and concluded, “In an era where most bikes are built overseas, The Milo stands out.”

💪📋 Rogue Invitational Update — “The Q”: Athletes can compete in this online qualifier to earn a spot in the Individual competition at the 2024 Rogue Invitational. Registration is open and the competition ends on September 9. Learn more here.

ICYMI: TYR Wodapalooza SoCal is coming to Huntington Beach, CA, September 20-22, and the inaugural TYR Cup rosters are set. Check them out and learn more about the new team competition.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

Credit: Carlos Fleury

The Handstand Push-Up, A CrossFit Games History

At the 2024 CrossFit Games, athletes underwent a test in “Push Pull 2.0” that required them to complete 45 Handstand Push-Ups (HSPUs), 30 Strict HSPUs, and 15 Free-Standing HSPUs. 

  • A total of 90 reps, coupled with two 80-foot sled pulls in a time cap of just 10 minutes.

It was a challenging test that required increasing skill for each HSPU progression. 

The fittest athletes in the world did not back down from this challenge, and 65 percent of competitors finished under the time cap. 

In 2024, athletes made this workout routine; however, when you compare "Push Pull 2.0" to previous years, it was a big step forward in the sport. 

The Early Days 

Handstand Push-Ups made their first appearance in the CrossFit Games in 2009 with an eight-minute AMRAP of four HSPUS, eight Kettlebell Swings, and 12 GHD Sit-Ups. 

The winners of the event, Kristan Clever and Patrick Burke, had no problem with the workout or the HSPUs as they completed 153 Reps (28 HSPUs) and 172 Reps (32 HSPUs), respectively.

CROSSFIT GAMES — TEENAGE

Credit: @pitteenthrowdowns / Instagram

The 2024 Teenage CrossFit Games by Pit Teen Throwdown, Results and Recap

The Teenage CrossFit Games by Pit Teen Throwdown has wrapped after a three-day competition over Labor Day weekend. 

  • This was the first year that the competition was held separate from the other divisions, with an event devoted solely to the young athletes. 

This year, in addition to the Teenage CrossFit Games, the Pit Fitness Ranch hosted the Pit Teen Throwdown and the Collegiate Throwdown — two competitions unrelated to the Games that allowed more teens and young people to compete in an event that hosted athletes from all over the world.

Four teens were crowned, two from each age division, after the leaderboards fluctuated all weekend. 

Here are some highlights:

Fittest Teens on Earth

Teenage phenom Keira McManus, out of the UK, took to the top podium spot in the Girls 14-15 division. While this age group hosts many Games rookies, as this is the youngest age possible to compete, McManus was a Semifinal, Age Group Quarterfinal, and Open rookie this year as well. 

Throughout the season, she took first place in every single stage. She ended the weekend with two event wins.

HIGHLIGHTS

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