Tributes Pour in For Rob Orlando, CrossFit Veteran and Innovator
The CrossFit community mourns the loss of Rob Orlando, who died this week from a rare form of cancer. Just days after lifting a personal best powerlifting total of 1,525 lbs, he was diagnosed with neck squamous cell carcinoma, affecting his jaw and the lymph nodes in his neck, and he endured months of grueling treatment.
His CrossFit Debut
He was known as the “Strongman of CrossFit” and founded CrossFit Hybrid Athletics, which he ran for 15 years. In a notable interview, he said, "Strength takes a lifetime to acquire and it’s this kind of long, slow process of just building that baseline of strength. And I believe that over years and years, and now it’s decades of lifting and moving heavy odd objects, you have that baseline [to build from].
He made his CrossFit Games debut in 2009 in the Individual division, qualifying three years in a row. He returned to the Games in 2016 in the Masters division. Always thinking outside the box, Orlando designed the infamous “Pig,” a large box, weighing between 300 and 500 lb, used at the CrossFit Games since 2013.
Notable Tributes from BoxRox Reporting
Dan Bailey: “Thanks for being so kind… You will be dearly missed.”
Chris Spealler: “All the love… you were one of the best.”
Annie Sakamoto: “Heart of gold… epitomized the CrossFit many… fell in love with.”
Rory McKernan: “Legends never die… you will be missed.”
Jason Khalipa: “Rest in Peace Rob. You’ll be missed!”