Having competed at the CrossFit Games in 2022 and 2023, German athlete Moritz Fiebig hoped the third time would be the charm when he arrived in Fort Worth, TX, in early August for the 2024 CrossFit Games.
- He was in the best shape of his life, feeling more prepared to compete than he ever had.
The elite competitor and owner of CrossFit Sankt Pauli in Hamburg, Germany, had come to Texas with his crew — his partner Lydia, his manager Carmen, his coach John Singleton, and fellow Progrm athletes.
- The CrossFit Games began early on the morning of Thursday, August 8, but by that afternoon, everything had been turned upside down in the most heartbreaking way possible.
In an incredibly vulnerable and honest YouTube video, Fiebig shared his experience preparing for the Games, the days leading up to it, and his perspective on the nightmare that unfolded when his friend Lazar Ðukić died during the first event.
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Upon learning of the tragedy, Fiebig was forced to quickly decide whether or not to continue the weekend while in a state of sorrow and confusion.
He chose to keep competing at the moment but soon withdrew after the Friday Night Lights event, “Track and Field.” He shared his thoughts on social media the next morning:
- “The competition floor has always given me the energy to achieve extraordinary performances. Yesterday, for the first time, it drained my energy. I tried everything, but right now, I feel neither the physical nor the mental strength to succeed in the coming days. I will use the upcoming time to recover. RIP Lazar, we miss you and you will always be in our hearts.”
Recovery
Immediately after the CrossFit Games ended, Fiebig traveled throughout the United States before returning home to Germany.
He went from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon, where he took a helicopter tour, and then to Las Vegas. The next stop was Joshua Tree National Park, where he found the peace he had been looking for.
- “That was the best time on the whole trip. It helped me to get through so many things because I meditated every day for hours and spent the other hours (hiking) through the desert,” Fiebig said.
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He continued on to Los Angeles, Malibu, and Hollywood Hills.
- “All the fun stuff, (it) was a very good time,” Fiebig recalled.
Upon returning home, he thought about quitting CrossFit or, at the very least, taking a break, like so many of his fellow competitors did.
But things changed once he arrived back in Hamburg.
Finding His “Why”
When Fiebig returned to Germany, he took part in his gym’s annual Sankt Pauli Battle. It was a cathartic experience for Fiebig as waves of fans gave him some much-needed love and support throughout the competition.
- “I then went to Switzerland for ToughNRough and to Mainz for the German Throwdown, and it was the same experience,” Fiebig said. “I was able to find the fire and the ‘why’ again.”
At the German Throwdown, not only did Fiebig reignite his fire, but he won the competition — the hometown hero in a pool of steep competition.
What’s Next for Moritz Fiebig?
Next on Fiebig’s schedule is the Belgrade Games in Serbia in November, or as he calls them, “The Lazar Games.”
He will be competing alongside fellow Games and Progrm athlete Jacquline Dahlstrom, as well as Elisa Fuliano and Matilde Garnes, among others.
Additionally, as Fiebig continues to stoke the fire, he has qualified for the Dubai Fitness Championship in December, taking third place behind Lazar’s brother Luka, who won the qualifiers, and fellow Games competitor Giorgos Karavis, who finished second.
This will be Fiebig’s fourth time competing in the event, and he’s very much looking forward to returning.
- “I love to be in Dubai because I’m able to skip the dark season in Hamburg. Last year, I used it to travel to Sri Lanka afterward. [It] was the best trip in my whole life,” Fiebig recalled.
The event itself and its programming also stand out for Fiebig as incredibly memorable and worth the trip to the UAE.
- “The stadium is always great, plus they kick off the event with an off-site event – running up the Burj Khalifa, going into the snow dome, or doing the obstacle course run is just awesome,” Fiebig said.
After Dubai, his schedule remains full.
Just days ago, Fiebig accepted his invitation to compete at TYR Wodapalooza in Miami, FL, in January. Beyond that, he isn’t looking too far ahead, simply saying, “We’ll see what the season has in store for me.”
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Featured image: Lydia Stadthoewer
