Ðukić is being remembered in his dwelling nation throughout the competitors.
Final up to date on November thirteenth, 2024
The 2024 Belgrade Video games, held in Belgrade, Serbia, had been initially set to happen September 6-8, lower than a month after the 2024 CrossFit Games.
Shortly after the demise of Serbia’s personal Lazar Ðukić, although, organizers selected to postpone the occasion out of respect for the Ðukić household and the higher Serbian neighborhood.
- “Lazar Ðukić left a profound mark on our neighborhood and was an important a part of this competitors,” the Belgrade Video games workforce posted on Instagram in August.
In the identical assertion, organizers requested for endurance and understanding because the occasion was rescheduled for November 15-17.
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The Lazar Ðukić Memorial Competitors
Because the competitors inched nearer, it was introduced that the 2024 occasion could be devoted to Ðukić “with nice respect and sorrow.”
- “Lazar was a task mannequin for all our rivals and proudly represented our nation, Serbia, on the worldwide stage. Due to his extraordinary achievements, Serbia has discovered its place among the many nice sporting nations,” the Belgrade Video games posted on Instagram. “His onerous work and dedication impressed us and confirmed {that a} small nation can obtain nice issues.”
- The submit continued: “Our event was and stays the place the place Lazar was meant to showcase his power and love for the game. It’s now our privilege to dedicate this competitors to him, as an enduring tribute to all that he represented.”
For most of the athletes who competed on the Video games, this occasion will function a approach to honor Ðukić and his household, to face alongside each other, united of their grief and their hope that his demise was not in useless.
The 2024 Belgrade Video games Roster
Many elite European athletes have landed in Belgrade for this weekend to participate within the occasion — some as a contest, many as an exhibition.
Moritz Fiebig, Elisa Fuliano, Camilla Salomonsson Hellman, Bronislaw Olenkowicz, Jacqueline Dahlstrom, and Matilde Garnes are amongst these on the roster.
- “I really feel very honored getting the invitation and probability to compete for Lazar this weekend… it’s probably the most significant competitors, not solely this 12 months however in my profession,” Garnes advised Morning Chalk Up.
She went on to share reminiscences of Ðukić and reminisce on her time spent as his buddy.
- “He was an athlete I appeared as much as in so some ways, each for the way he competed onerous but additionally the individual he was off the competitors ground. He was humorous, at all times pleased and welcoming,” Garnes stated.
She additionally shared that when she was simply starting her profession in aggressive CrossFit, she was shy and not sure, intimidated by most of the high-level athletes. She stated that Ðukić was at all times there with a welcoming smile and immense kindness, which stood out to her enormously.
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Elisa Fuliano additionally shared her sentiment and that from her viewpoint, her presence on the Belgrade Video games shall be a real approach to honor Ðukić, as she felt she wasn’t ready to try this on the CrossFit Video games.
- “An entire occasion shall be devoted to him and his reminiscence proper in his dwelling nation. I’m positive it will likely be particular, and I’ll be so honored to be there,” Fuliano advised Morning Chalk Up.
For as soon as, she stated, it will likely be good to step onto the competitors ground with no expectations or stress. She isn’t targeted on her efficiency as a lot as she is concentrated on collaborating within the occasion to expertise it, be current, and embrace every part that Ðukić’s life meant.
The Occasion
Because the occasion edges nearer, the Belgrade Video games workforce makes preparations with grateful hearts filled with emotion.
They acknowledge that this 12 months is especially particular, not only for the neighborhood who shall be on-site however for anybody who has determined to take part in any approach — these watching the live stream hosted by Brian Good friend, these checking in on scores all through the weekend, and people liking and sharing social media posts.
- “Lazar was really somebody our neighborhood noticed as a task mannequin; he achieved what everybody right here dreamed about,” the workforce advised Morning Chalk Up. “We’re very honored to (have identified) him and to dedicate this competitors to him as a gratitude for what he has completed for our neighborhood.”
They went on to clarify that planning the occasion was very tough for them, as he was purported to be on the competitors ground together with his brother, Luka.
- “We hope that we did sufficient to honor him and his legacy and that everybody who comes will see how a lot he meant to us as an athlete, a buddy, and a member of the family,” the workforce stated.
The weekend shall be filled with tributes to Ðukić.
One shall be a gap ceremony with a video compilation with submissions from GORUCK, the Buttery Bros, and Speaking Elite Health, in addition to a memorial wall of pictures despatched in from folks all through the world.
Garnes stated that the expectation for the weekend forward is that each one the athletes compete in the way in which that Ðukić did and “deal with one another like he did… that we’re doing this for him, not for ourselves. I hope all rivals this weekend will honor him in one of the best ways doable, that he actually deserves.”
- “I want he was there with us, however in spirit, he shall be,” she concluded.
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Featured picture: @belgradegames / Instagram