Rob Orlando - Monday, April 13th, 2026

Rob Orlando

For many in the CrossFit community, that name means something. Not just because of what he accomplished, but because of how he showed up.

Rob was a longtime affiliate owner, running CrossFit Hybrid Athletics for 15 years. He was a fixture in the community. A coach, an athlete, and someone who helped shape a piece of what CrossFit became for so many.

In 2009, he made his CrossFit Games debut in the Individual division, qualifying three years in a row. He returned again in 2016 in the Masters division, but his impact went far beyond competition.

Rob had a way of bringing a different kind of strength into the conversation. He blended strongman work into CrossFit before it was widely embraced. Atlas stones, yokes, sleds, odd objects. The kind of training that challenges you in a different way. Not always clean, not always comfortable, but always honest.

He didn’t just do it himself either, he taught it.

Through the CrossFit Strongman specialty course, he introduced athletes around the world to a different side of training. One that leaned into variance, into learning, into stepping outside of what’s familiar. He helped people understand what it meant to “regularly learn and play new sports” in a real, tangible way.

We actually held the CrossFit Strongman specialty course here at CrossFit Indestri back in 2016.

I actually had the privilege of meeting Rob once. Back in 2016 at Regionals, he was on the side of the floor calling the events. The girls and I went down, introduced ourselves, and let him know we would be hosting the CrossFit Strongman course that summer at CFI. We asked if he would mind recording a quick video for us to help promote it.

He didn’t hesitate. He was beyond kind and generous with his time. The kind of interaction that sticks with you.

If you’ve ever seen “The Pig” at the CrossFit Games, that’s also a piece of his legacy. That heavy, awkward, unforgiving implement has been part of the Games since 2013. It represents exactly the kind of challenge Rob believed in.

There are also pieces of his story that speak to how he approached training.

Rob believed in being ready at all times. He used to talk about what he called the “cold bar.” He would wake up in the middle of the night, walk into his basement, and bench press a pre-loaded 315 lb barbell with no warm up.

Six weeks after surgery, where part of his tibia was used to reconstruct his jaw, he was back squatting 500 lb.

On January 19, 2025, he hit a personal best powerlifting total of 1,525 lb.
550 lb back squat. 370 lb bench press. 605 lb deadlift.

The very next day, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

Even in that, there’s something that feels very Rob.
Show up. Do the work. Give everything you’ve got.

His passing on April 6, 2026 is a loss to this community.

Rob was a true pillar. Not just for what he built, but for how he carried himself while doing it. There was a steadiness to him. A kindness. A genuine passion for what CrossFit could be, and what it could offer to others.

We talk a lot about strength in this space. Rob lived it in more ways than one.

There are a lot of old videos of Rob out there, and last week CrossFit HQ shared one to honour him. If you don’t know who Rob was, we’ll share that video again here. It’s worth watching. Take a few minutes with it, and let it sink in before you come in to train on Monday.

Our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and everyone who had the chance to learn from him, train with him, or simply be impacted by him.

Today, we’ll honour him the best way we know how. Through a workout.

And we’ll probably honour him again soon, when we can get outside and get our hands on the atlas stones.

Monday, April 13th, 2026

Focus:

Squat Clean
5 - 5 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 1

WOD:

In Honour of Rob Orlando
Every 90s x 10 set
1 Heavy Clean (Body Weight)
8 Jumping Lunges
4 Heavy DB/KB Push Press

Clean should be squat but stimulus is Heavy

Check back each night at 8pm for the next days WOD .
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