Nayeli Clemente, 24, tragically died after she collapsed at a CrossFit competition in Mexico last week but some spectators questioned the competition and the number of medics on-site
A young athlete tragically collapsed in the middle of a CrossFit competition and later died as horrified spectators watched on. Nayeli Clemente, 24, had been competing at the the Cholula Games, a licenced workout event in San Andrés Cholula, located in south-eastern Mexico.
Medical teams rushed to saved the 24-year-old’s life and a doctor, who was in the audience, helped before crews arrived but she was sadly pronounced dead on May 2 after being taken to a private hospital. Nayeli, a student, reportedly had a cardiorespiratory stoppage, but witnesses slammed the event and claimed there were not enough paramedics on-site.
Some people on social media have claimed that the medical team was slow to respond to Nayeli’s condition, according to local media. Medical crews were thought to have encountered issues when deploying a stretcher, and an oxygenation device reportedly was not connected when it was needed.
Cholula Games reportedly received further criticism for continuing the competition despite the tragedy, as the organisers reportedly did not postpone activities on the day that Nayeli died.
Cholula Games has assured people that they maintained close contact with the family of the young woman. A statement from the organisers said: “During the main event of the Cholula Games, an athlete developed a medical complication.
“She was treated by the event’s medical team and transported alive to a private hospital, where she sadly died the following day. The Cholula Games has been in constant communication with the athlete’s family since the incident.
“We remain in contact with them to provide them with all the support they need during this difficult time.”
Nayeli’s brother, Kevin Armando Hernández Clementem started a GoFundMe page on 2 May to “help us save Nayeli’s life”. He raised over £130,000 to cover his sister’s medical costs before she passed away.
The 24-year-old has tragically not been the only athlete to die during a sports event. A Russian businesswoman drowned whilst in the middle of an Ironman triathlon in Barcelona, in October last year.
Elena Smirnova, 41, got into difficulty as she swam in the Mediterranean Sea during the first leg of the competition. This endurance challenge is made up of three stages held in the following order without a break: a 3.86 kilometre swim, a 180.25-kilometre road bike ride and a 42.195-kilometre marathon run.
The 41-year-old unfortunately was not able to complete the full swim and her lifeless body was later pulled out of the waters near Calella Beach.
A horrifying video showed the moment another athlete drowned during a CrossFit competition in Fort Worth, Texas, in August 2024.
Lazar Dukic passed away but event organisers did not clarify how the struggling athlete was missed by so many officials while struggling in the water.