Melissa Gaffney

Melissa is a CrossFit Level 2 Trainer. She has also completed her Pendlay Level 2 Olympic Weightlifting certification, the CrossFit Strongman, Mobility, Kettlebell, Endurance, Aerobic Capacity and Culinary Ninja Trainer courses, and has participated in rowing and gymnastics seminars.

Melissa believes that if she can do CrossFit, anyone can do CrossFit. Melissa loves the sense of community that CrossFit fosters. For her fitness and nutrition form the foundation of balanced and happy, healthy life.

Melissa played high school and collegiate tennis. She played both singles and doubles for Georgian Court University, where she majored in English and Journalism.

Melissa is a writer, reporter, and a full time news editor.

Melissa, a self-proclaimed “foodie,” found a true passion for nutrition and food education after she was introduced to the Paleo and Zone diets when she started CrossFit in 2011. Her self-experimentation with food, cooking and nutrition has taken her on an incredible journey that she loves sharing with as many people as possible.

Melissa has competed in numerous CrossFit and Strongman competitions. She firmly believes that women should embrace and develop their strength, and that CrossFit provides an atmosphere for both men and women to embrace their inner athlete – and have a blast doing it.

Melissa Gaffney was a co-founder and owner of Beast River Fitness from 2013 to 2020.