The last four years have been filled with a lot of turmoil around the world. Covid, Vaccine injuries and death, the war in Ukraine, now the cusp of war in the middle east, and for the CrossFit community the death of a beloved competitor. As with most things in life, you don’t really know what you have until it’s gone. As many of us, who didn’t know Lazar personally, began to understand what an amazing human being he was as our social media feeds were filled in remembrance of him. And, as often happens, we find out how remarkable of a human being the family, and community just lost. I did not know him personally, but having competed at the games before you feel a small connection to every athlete that steps out on that floor and experiences that joy. It is a select few in this world and we are bonded by that experience.
Loss is never easy. It comes with an unfathomable amount of emotions that need to be processed. The tragedy that happened this past weekend is no exception, and probably had a greater impact on people than we'll ever be able to measure. CrossFit, at this point in time, has brought millions of people through its affiliates' doors. As every person who has done a CF class knows, this community is bonded tighter than most through a shared suffering the intensity of the workouts bring. While there is a major difference between the sport and a class, the general population knows exactly what a Games athlete is going through (for the most part) as they writhe on the floor in pain after finishing an excruciating workout. To wrap this point up, millions of people watched that tragedy live, and millions of people are now left with the emotions to deal with in the aftermath.
The hardest emotion to handle during this time is anger. It will come in sweeping waves ramped up by the thought that no one was held accountable (yet) for this lost life. It doesn’t make sense how something so black and white couldn’t have an immediate response for justice to that life. As more and more information comes out, more and more athletes speak out on the circumstances leading up to the death of Lazar, we don’t need a court of law to tell us that this was gross negligence. While this won’t stem the tide of the anger, sadness, depression, that will accompany thinking about that event or having to have lived through it as an athlete. We can expect that change is coming, and that we have to be patient.
People like Lazar come around once in a blue moon. He is different. Always with a smile on his face, he was happier for his brother's success than his own. He lived the mood in and out of competition, and was passionate about his sport. He gave more than he received. A giver is never meant to have a fair life. Their purpose in life is meant for others. While they can accomplish amazing things such as Lazar did ultimately they must continue to give, and in some instances, such as Lazar’s they must give the ultimate sacrifice. Their life.
I learned this lesson a few years back when an incredible young man, and brother, Dominick Hall passed away from cancer. I served with Dom, and when we got out he continued his life of service becoming a state trooper, and furthering his military career completed the SF pipeline. Dom was also a giver that had to give the ultimate sacrifice, so that others may live. Dom was exposed to multiple different radiations in the military. Through his selfless work with doctors he was able to help them establish a system, where they are now able to track radiation exposure in vets to better treat cancer in this population. He was the first one to do this, and while it did not save his life, the story is still unfolding on how many lives it will save.
Lazar’s life will also start a catalyst for change in the CrossFit Games. For more safety measures around athletes, better competition conditions, more information on the tests being performed and how to prepare. His life will have saved another, and countless amounts of pain. While this does not make this loss any easier, it is helpful to see that there is, was and always will be a bigger picture for this man. He is different, and carried a burn that only he could handle.
A lot has been said about Lazar in this post, but the thing that I hope people will not forget, is how much of a badass mother fucker this man was. He literally fought until his body gave up. A fighter and a giver are both traits of a warrior. If you have taken the time to read through this, I hope that you will remember this about him, and know that while his life was cut short, the outcomes of these events will be exactly what he would have wanted. He will continue to give even from beyond.
As I wrap this up, I don’t know what the future of CrossFit will hold. All though this would have been an admission of guilt, it is shocking to me that the CEO and “TDC” have not stepped down. From protecting the athletes on the floor to protecting their mental health in dealing with this tragedy, they failed them and the community on multiple different levels this weekend. This world lacks good leadership, and in the hopes of not ending this message on an angry note, there are already strong individuals taking a stand for the right things to be done in our community. If there is one thing that is constant in CF it is change, and change is coming.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, I don’t know if it will bring you solace or not, or if it helped you grieve, but such a great person deserves more than one memorial. It is the least we can do.
Rest Easy Brother, you earned it.
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