About

San Diego native Nairobi Romero is an inspiring individual inside and out. The just-turned 18 year old athlete has some serious ambition and the skills to back it. Nairobi or Nairobatron as her friends call her at Crossfit Invictus, started crossfit about 7 years ago and became serious about weightlifting about 2.5 years ago.

Dedicated to training, Nairobi took her last year of high school online and studied abroad. Already familiar with the country’s language and culture from visiting as a child, Nairobi’s only concern outside of academics was locating a great gym. As fate would have it, there was a gym nearby in Beijing and the weightlifting/crossfit coach there just so happened to be friends with her weightlifting coach here in San Diego. Now graduated and back in San Diego, Nairobi just qualified for the US Open taking place in December and continues working towards her dream of being a part of the US Olympic Weightlifting Team.

We visited Nairobi during an off-day workout at Crossfit Invictus in Makers Quarter for a few questions and photos.

What does Maker mean to you?

To me, Maker means the ability to bring a vision to life despite one’s circumstances, difficulty, time it will take or what anyone says. To pursue and believe in a vision is to be in alignment with yourself and the universe.

What do you enjoy most about living and working in San Diego?

I love San Diego because of the energy that the people carry. The aspiring drive to make, create, and become.

Any advice or words of wisdom/hopes or dreams pertaining to your work or our City that you would like to share?

My advice would be to make connections with people. Don’t be nice to people just because you think you can get something out of them. Connect and become friends because you want to collaborate your creative energy to create something bigger. You never know who you are talking to, they could be a gift in your life.

Photos and article by Carly Ealey