“Everybody says, ‘OK, this is an old geezer and so he’s gotta go easy,’ and I’m in here shouting quietly, ‘No, I’m not going to put up with that. I’ve gotta get in shape.’”
Dick Ross suffered extreme injuries to his legs when they were crushed under the weight of boulders during a hiking trip in the Sawtooth Mountains. After more than 12 hours, Ross was taken to the nearest hospital by helicopter where doctors were able to successfully operate on his legs.
Determined to get stronger, Ross began working with co-owner of Arbor CrossFit Maria Gonzales.
“He came in and said, ‘I’m old. I know I’m old, but I know I can do what everyone else is doing,’” Gonzales says.
And with Gonzales’ help, Ross did just that.
At 71 years old, Ross is moving in ways he was told he shouldn’t, and is building strength in the gym to be able to stay healthy and active as he ages.
“I just want to be strong,” Ross says. “I want to be able to go skiing, and fishing, and backpacking, and bikepacking, and just bike riding, and taking the dog out for a hike and the park. I mean, it’s so important.”
Stay active like Ross at any age. Join www.crossfitarbor.com in Idaho or drop in at another affiliate near you: map.crossfit.com.
Dick Ross Decides To Be Strong at 71 — Arbor CrossFit