KEELIN RUSSELL

Kéelin grew up playing pretty much every sport she could, and in high school excelled in track and field, field hockey, and dance. She went on to become a ten time All-American track athlete in sprints and jumps, specializing in the 400m and the triple jump. While in grad school, she was a member of the competitive dance team. Professionally, Kéelin competed as a track athlete in the Diamond League circuit. She also continued to dance, performing on stage in a variety of genres, from No Doubt, Sean Paul, with Opera Theater of St. Louis, and various aerial performances. She placed Top 15 in her first appearance at the Aerial Olympics. After retiring from track and field, Kéelin competed in the Ninja Warrior circuit and as an elite obstacle course athlete, and then turned her focus to rock climbing, in which she turned pro in 2024.

Kéelin has over ten years experience as a track and field coach, being the head coach of both the cross country and track and field team at St. Joseph’s Academy and then the assistant cross country coach and head sprints and jumps coach at Francis Howell North. She taught dance and dance workshops both locally and nationally. In her twelve years as a personal trainer, Kéelin has programmed the strength and conditioning programs for state champions in track and field, field hockey, volleyball, dance, cheer, soccer, lacrosse, and football. Kéelin is also the strength and conditioning coach for the Arch City volleyball club.

Kéelin has served as the strength and conditioning coach, mobility coach, and secondary rehabilitation coach for professional athletes in track and field, dance, combat sports, the NHL, NFL, and figure skating.

Kéelin has been appointed the strength and conditioning coach and rehabilitation specialist for individuals with severe medical conditions such as cancer, childhood leukemia, amputees, spinal injuries, ALS, Parkinsons, intellectual disabilities, Marfan syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Kéelin’s work with individuals with intellectual disabilities was featured in Mike Bush’s “Making a Difference” on KSDK.

Fun Fact: 

When Kéelin isn’t busy training, her other passion is in the creative arts. She founded the non-profit In Elementum, which uses creative arts as a therapy tool for individuals who have suffered trauma and educates individuals in creative personal expression. Kéelin has led panels discussing phenomenological therapy, taught fabric arts to people of minority populations, and helped develop community and therapy gardens and plant care workshops in the community. Kéelin works as a freelance music reviewer for local music venues and is a member of the Libretto Committee for Opera Theater of St. Louis, writing historical commentaries on operatic productions.