Rob Manlove
 

Rob Manlove

Owner & Head Coach

I have been doing physical training since the age of 15 when I discovered that hard-work in the gym improved my performance in many different sporting arenas. I played Ice Hockey since age 8 and when I started boxing at age 15 I noticed a dramatic improvement in my performance on the ice. I put this down to conditioning and stamina I was gaining from the high-intensity interval training I was doing at boxing. I continued my off-ice training regimen and went on to play at The University of Georgia, USA, where I played in the ACHA Division III National Championship Tournament. When I moved back to the UK at 22 I joined Chelmsford Rugby club and went on to play for the 1st XV. I am also a keen wakeboarder and skier.

In 2008 I was selling financial analysis in London and a Zimbabwean colleague recommended I try CrossFit. I tried the workout of the day from CrossFit.com and was instantly hooked. I immediately noticed the benefits of the CrossFit workouts had on my performance on the rugby pitch. The concoction of heavy lifting and limited rest was more intense than anything I had ever done in the gym before. I could instantly see how this sort of training was similar to the demands placed on an athlete in a rugby or ice hockey game. My first ‘Fran’ (the name of a timed workout) was 12:35, 4-years later I can now complete Fran in 2:35. This kind of measurable improvement is my favourite part of CrossFit and what I am most passionate about sharing with others.

After CrossFitting for about 6 months on my own I made my first trip to a CrossFit affiliate, CrossFit Central London, where I trained for about a year before doing my CrossFit Level One and becoming a part-time coach. In 2011 I opened up CrossFit CM2!

When I first started CrossFit it was all about performance in sports but eventually CrossFit became my sport! I love the camaraderie and competitive atmosphere of the CrossFit community which is similar to the atmosphere on many of the sports teams I’ve played on. I haven’t talked about how CrossFit changed my body because I see this as a fringe benefit rather than as the goal, but I’ve been an athlete all my life and have never been as lean and muscular as I am as a CrossFitter.

Qualifications

  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

  • BWLA Level 1 Certificate

  • CrossFit Level 2 Trainer

  • CrossFit Gymnastics Certificate

  • CrossFit Olympic Lifting Certificate

Competitions

  • 2014 Tribal Clash: 1st Place

  • 2014 CrossFit Games Europe Regional: 28th Place

  • 2014 Battle of London: 5th Place

  • 2013 The Frontline: 4th Place

  • 2013 Nordic Showdown: 9th place

  • 2013 French Throwdown: 5th place

  • 2013 CrossFit Central Manchester Games: 3rd place

  • 2013 CrossFit Games European Regional: 15 place

  • 2012 CrossFit Games European Regional: 16th place

  • 2012 CrossFit Central Manchester Games: 7th place

  • 2012 SICFIT London Throwdown: 6th place