It’s hard to believe it has been almost a month since the 2024 CrossFit Games in Fort Worth, Texas. The anticipation of new possibilities to find the fittest on earth filled the air, but no one was prepared for what was to come. As a Mental Health Professional and Mental Coach specializing in high performance, trauma, systems theory, and addiction, I work with athletes to sharpen their mental game—focusing on mindset skills, the mind-body connection, and overcoming mental blocks to optimize performance. While my role is to prepare the athlete for a number of scenarios and train to be ready for anything mentally, the last thing a coach anticipates is how to respond in the face of the unthinkable: an unforeseen traumatic loss. No one watching or participating in Event 1 of the Games was prepared for this tragic turn of events.

The tragic loss of Lazar Dukic cast a dark shadow over the Games, and as I looked around, I saw a variety of trauma responses unfolding. I vividly remember witnessing the different reactions, and a chilling realization hit me—I don't think anyone truly grasped the gravity of what was happening. It was like watching icebergs floating around on the competition floor, you could only see what they were presenting to the crowd but you had no idea the turmoil they were going through underneath it all. Having a trained eye and understanding of the psychology of humans was like a blessing and a curse in these moments as I, like many, felt powerless.

Trauma is fickle, and so is its companion, grief. When a traumatic event occurs, our bodies and minds react in complex and automatic ways. These are not conscious decisions but primal, innate responses aimed at survival. During a traumatic experience, the reptilian part of the brain takes over, and the body shifts into survival mode. The sympathetic nervous system is activated, releasing stress hormones throughout the body, shutting down all non-essential functions, and pushing individuals into fight, flight, freeze, flop, or fawn responses (Levine, 1997). We witnessed these responses among the athletes as they faced the choice to continue competing or not. Some chose to "fight" by staying in the competition, others "fled" because they couldn’t cope with their bodies, unable to perform no matter how hard they tried (flight). Some followed a routine to just get through the event (flop), while others sought to not let Lazar down and honor him (fawn). 

These varied responses depend on many factors, including an individual's foundational mental health, coping mechanisms, and influences like culture, age, and beliefs to name a few. The challenge arises when the body perceives ongoing threats, pushing it back into fight, flight, freeze, flop, or fawn mode, leading to an overwhelming sense of paralysis or emotional flooding. This is extremely taxing emotionally and physically. It is crucial to avoid making major decisions and to actively manage stress to reduce the risk of developing PTSD symptoms (van der Kolk, 2014). Given the circumstances, the athletes simply responded the best way they knew how and what would make them feel “safest” at the time when asked to make the decision.

The community also responded from a different layer of trauma and loss, displaying a mix of sadness, admiration, empathy, and a protective instinct toward the athletes. It felt as though a comforting blanket of support had wrapped the arena. You could see the collective grieving process beginning as athletes completed events and approached young attendees taking pictures, signing autographs, and giving out memorabilia to fans. You could feel these moments of connection and relief throughout the weekend that brought temporary comfort.

When experiencing a loss, it's also important to be mindful of the grief process, as many of its symptoms can mimic those of PTSD. Symptoms such as anger, irritability, depression, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, and dreams are common. These can also lead to feelings of bargaining, shame, and guilt, among others. Now that the athletes and community have returned home, the greatest challenge is how to create a safe and calm environment where their bodies can process what they feel, and their minds can come to terms with what they know (van der Kolk, 2014). 

There are many trauma-informed approaches that can assist in the healing process, and finding the right resources is crucial. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of trauma is important for both those who experienced the event and their loved ones, who may be able to recognize these signs in them. The response to compartmentalize will be common due to the nature of the typical competitors mindset  of “pushing through” and being “mentally strong”. However, this can prolong the healing process and have other mental and physical ramifications creating the opposite of the goal to achieve awareness and capacity to improve the window of tolerance. Healing is not a linear process, and awareness is the first step. Grief will look different for everyone with random entering and exiting denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, as will the healing journey but it is a necessary part of developing mental resilience and strength. Some basic everyday steps to begin the process include:

- Moving your body

- Getting enough rest

- Nourishing your body with whole foods

- Being gentle with yourself and allowing thoughts without judgment

- Taking walks to get fresh air and sunlight

- Connecting socially with a friend or family member each day

It’s also important to recognize that delayed onset of grief is a realistic expectation. As mentioned, there is no set timeline for grieving, so it’s vital to be mindful and supportive of the professional athletes, volunteers, coaches, and the entire community, offering support when they are ready. If someone you know is struggling with symptoms and showing signs of difficulty, please reach out to the CrossFit Medical Society for assistance. Licensed Mental Health Professionals are available to help.

The 2024 CrossFit Games sheds light on opportunities for change in both mental and physical protocols and validates the reality of how crucial the mind-body connection is to our wellbeing. Furthermore, this highlights the urgent need to stop marginalizing or stigmatizing mental health particularly in CrossFit. The body functions in conjunction with our mental and emotional well-being, and I firmly believe that incorporating mental training into competition and performance routines will enhance overall performance. You cannot simply outthink the science; it is clear that as complex beings, we need both physical and psychological safety to thrive. We must take action to advocate for, educate about, and implement mental health practices within our sport and communities to ensure true well-being as mental health is an intricate part of CrossFit.

Resources:

van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking. (For information on trauma and stress response.)

Levine, P. (1997). Waking the tiger: Healing trauma. North Atlantic Books.