One Year Later – Remembering Lazar Ðukić

August 8th, 2025

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Good morning and welcome to the Morning Chalk Up.

In today’s edition:

  • 🙏 One year gone, never forgotten — remembering Lazar Đukić.

  • ⏱️ Why coach development needs a smarter strategy.

  • 📺 The 2025 livestream delivered, mostly. Here's our at-home Games review.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
❝

[He was] the heart of Europe and the heart of European CrossFit. He was representing all of us.”

Alex Kotoulas, at the 2024 Belgrade Games, about his friend, Lazar Ðukić.
PROFILE

One Year Gone –  Mourning the “Heart of Europe,” Lazar Ðukić

Credit: Enrique Villaseñor

There are moments in history that mark a profound transformation.

A tragedy happens that affects everything and everyone moving forward. You can look back and clearly see the “before” and the “after.” 

The morning of August 8th, 2024, at approximately 7:38 a.m. CST was one of those moments.

One year ago today, Lazar Ðukić died. 

Many of us left Marine Creek Lake that day broken. And we flew home from Fort Worth, TX, forever changed.

  • Continue reading as we remember and honor Lazar Ðukić.

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SPEED READS

🎓📚 New Hybrid Level 2 Launch: CrossFit now offers a flexible path to your CF-L2 — complete the online coursework at your own pace, then attend a one-day, in-person practical focused on coaching skills. Same content, new convenience.

🥇🎙️ 2025 Games Recap with Champ, Jayson Hopper: On the Boys Interrupted podcast Tuesday, James Sprague joined hosts Dallin Pepper, Justin Medeiros, and 2025 champ, Jayson Hopper for a no-holds-barred Games recap.

📱🏃 HYROX Hub Launches in pliability App: Athletes can now access a new library of quick recovery and mobility routines built for HYROX. Led by pros like Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr and Jake Williamson, the Hub targets key muscle groups to boost performance and prevent injury all season long.

💪 📊 Inside the 2025 Games Programming: Check out this movement-by-movement breakdown of the 2025 CrossFit Games on the Misfit Podcast. It reveals that elite fitness still centers on foundational skills pushed to the limit. With 67% of events under 10 minutes, the programming favored intensity, precision, and pacing over novelty.

🚨🎙️ Not For Time Live Episode: In case you missed it, a new episode of the Not For Time podcast dropped earlier this week. Hosts Sean Woodland and John Wooley recapped their 2025 Games experience with producer Stephen Stover.

ICYMI: 🎁 Games hangover? These 5 moments keep playing in our heads.

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE

The Coaching Mistake That’s Hurting Your Gym

Credit: @besthouroftheirday / Instagram

Every affiliate owner will eventually encounter a key challenge that can determine their business's success or failure: developing high-quality coaches.

As I recently discussed with Chris and Matt from CrossFit 696, who run a seven-figure facility, the quality of your coaching staff is one of the most significant risk factors in any service-based business.

When members who have been with you for years suddenly get a new coach who doesn't meet their expectations, you face a serious problem.

The Coach Development Dilemma

Most affiliate owners use a flawed time-based approach to coach development.

  • As Chris explained, "We put them through an eight-week gym internship program. But obviously, they're not gonna learn 20 years of experience in eight weeks."

Accepting this truth creates a profound disconnection.

Your veteran members expect a certain level of service quality, but your new coaches are not yet equipped to deliver it.

THINGS TO…

…GET

2025 CrossFit Games Winner’s Shirts from Velites

Velites, the Official Apparel and Footwear Partner of the 2025 CrossFit Games, has two new additions to its lineup. Pre-order your Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr and Jayson Hopper winner’s shirts now!

…PRACTICE

Connecting Your Bar Muscle-Ups with Rebecca Fuselier

In this fast and fun tutorial, fan-fav Fuselier breaks down how to progress from doing bar muscle-up singles to stringing together reps like a pro. The key? Fall into hollow, hit that arch, and dial in your tempo — no castaways, just clean connections.

…UNDERSTAND

CrossFit’s New Marketing Strategy Under CMO Jenna Hauca

Ahead of the 2025 Games, CrossFit CMO Jenna Hauca shared how the brand is leaning into its gritty origins — while doubling down on long-form content, local influencers, and global authenticity to reignite growth and loyalty.

CROSSFIT GAMES

A Review of the 2025 CrossFit Games – At-Home Spectator’s Edition

Credit: Scott Freymond

Last Saturday, an “on this day” picture popped up on my phone. 

  • It's a photo of me from 2011 in Carson, CA, at the CrossFit Games. I’m smiling in the stands with my coach, the Killer Kage is behind me. 

Oh, what a journey the Games have been on.

Not only have I been a relatively average CrossFit athlete since 2011 (and, I hope, an above-average coach), but I have also attended or watched every CrossFit Games since that year. 

For the years I've streamed the event from home, I’ve watched both as a fan and as someone who works in show business. 

  • For the past 15 years, I’ve worked in television production in Los Angeles, so I understand the amount of work that goes into the entire project.

Here's my review of the 2025 CrossFit Games from a couch spectator's perspective.

HIGHLIGHTS

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