Perhaps the most famous name in the Latin American CrossFit world since the 2011 Regionals has been Noe Orlando Trejo, a 23-year-old Peruvian whose performance shocked all of the spectators at the 2011 Latin America Regional. His gains ever since have brought excitement and pride from his coaches, peers, and students at Reebok CrossFit Peru, and for the region as a whole.
Finding CrossFit
Trejo began boxing and tae kwon do at an early age until somebody recommended he should try Olympic lifting, where he rapidly gained ground, winning several national competitions. When he discovered CrossFit only two months before the 2011 Open began, he was challenged and hooked. No longer having to do one-max lifts, but instead 30 clean and jerks or snatches for time, he quickly took to this new approach to fitness and went all in.
During the 2011 Open, he remained in contest for the top spots, as if he had been a natural for CrossFit all along. At the 2011 Latin American Regional, he still had to “face the challenging run, the box jumps and other movements I still had little experience in.” Nonetheless, he took 2nd place in the Regional. Latin America only sent one athlete to the Games, so Trejo ended up missing the Games by just one spot.
2012 Preparation
After one week of rest, he began prepping for the 2012 CrossFit Games season with a low but efficient volume of, “six WODs per week, competed in some national Olympic lifting meets in Peru, and even ran a marathon to cover the endurance part” that he believed he still lacked. He won the local Reebok CrossFit Peru meet, which was open to other countries, and had a few Argentineans and others participating as well.
He says he has “always eaten clean and now a little more so, but I do not follow a specific nutrition plan or diet per se.” He has only had a mild back injury in these past months and feels he is ready physically and mentally to take the title he nearly obtained by surprise last year.
A Top Contender
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this young CrossFitter’s 2012 Open prep is the fact that he managed to make 3rd place in the Again Faster – Beat the Team competition, putting his name out there on an international level, among CrossFit’s elite. All odds indicate he will be a very hard opponent. The public in Latin America consider that if he can hang with the top in the Again Faster series, he can most likely win the Regional and do great damage to the CrossFit Games men´s ranking this July.
Trejo knows, “the fight will be hard again this year, I do not feel the battle is won because you can never know what is thrown at you, but I am very enthusiastic for the battle.”
He says he is eager to step to 1st place. His objective is clear. “I am physically prepared, I am mentally prepared, and the 2012 season is already here.” Watch out for Orlando Trejo; he will not let go of the chance to snatch that ticket to the 2012 Games.
Noe Orlando Trejo's Stats
Age: 23
Height: 1.62 meters (5’4”)
Weight: 71 kg (157 lbs)
Fran: 2:16
Cindy: 32 rounds
Deadlift: 210 kg (462 lbs)
Squat: 200 kg (440 lbs)
Press: 80 kg (176 lbs)
Overhead Squat: 135 kg (297 lbs)
Clean and Jerk: 150 kg (330 lbs)
Snatch: 120 kg (264 lbs)