With a positive attitude, silly demeanor and badass work ethic, Kelsey Kiel is a fan favorite amongst CrossFit’s ubiquitous Instagram presence. Whether posting clips of her workouts, photos of her beloved French Bulldog Oliver, or a simple reminder that you aren’t the only one who loves a little whipped cream on their coffee, Kelsey is the epitome of the joy that’s found in hard work.
As the Director of Performance Nutrition for Black Iron Nutrition, a nutrition coaching program for lifestyle, performance and pregnancy/postpartum, Kelsey works not just as an athlete herself, but alongside them to help them perform at the highest level. Punching her ticket to the Games this year with team CrossFit OBA out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kelsey is a role model for anyone who has ever asked themselves “why not me?”
Browsing her Instagram page today, it’s easy to assume that Kelsey Kiel has always been an elite athlete. However, despite pursuing soccer throughout high school and college, CrossFit was only a hobby when, in 2015, she began a career in marketing.
“Someone I worked for sat with me one day at lunch and told me that he saw the joy emanating from me when I talked about CrossFit, and how that was not something to ignore. Eventually, after jumping around from job to job for a bit, I wound up working with Krissy Harclerode, first as my nutrition coach and then alongside her to build Black Iron Nutrition.” The rest, Kiel says, is history.
But before truly dedicating herself to a career as a nutrition coach and an athlete, Kiel was nearly unrecognizable. In a side-by-side comparison photo posted on Instagram in February of 2023, she shared how far she has come, physically and mentally, in 10 years. “2013 Kelsey was pretty lost,” she says. “I partied pretty hard, drank a lot, ate a lot and was pretty unhappy with who I was and my life choices.”
With a genetic predisposition for addiction, she realized that her life could be headed in a bad direction. “Fitness and nutrition weren’t anywhere on my radar, and neither were self love, therapy or self work.” 2023 Kelsey, however, has made some drastic changes. “I’ve channeled my obsessive personality into CrossFit and it saved my life. Yes, I am fitter and stronger now and know the difference between carbs, fat and protein, but the biggest shift I’ve had in the last few years is feeling grounded in doing what I do and doing it all for no one else but me. I understand that CrossFit is what I do, not who I am, and that my self-worth isn’t tied up in my performance.”
Now, her life is centered around training to be the best CrossFit athlete and nutrition coach she can be. “I thrive on being in routine,” Kiel says. “I have no shame in going to bed at 8:30 PM to ensure I get enough sleep to support my hours in the gym.” She also credits hydration, electrolytes (“especially in the summer!”), enough food, body work and physical therapy for keeping her at her best. And while she admits to occasionally choosing to indulge, she no longer allows those few and far between moments to make her feel guilty or unworthy of the life she lives. “I am more balanced,” she says, “so I can enjoy the time away from the gym and also enjoy the time in the gym.”
Despite her incredible work ethic, admirable CrossFit accomplishments and relatable Instagram content, perhaps the most important reason to keep Kelsey Kiel on your radar is because she is an incredible role model for female athletes, especially when it comes to body image. “The media loves to show us images of people that they want us to look like,” Kiel says, admitting that she still struggles from time to time with body image and self love. “I have realized that loving yourself is an endless practice, and I just repeat over and over that the way we look is literally the least important and cool thing about us. Our bodies do so many amazing things each and every day, and the more we celebrate that, the more freedom we will have.”
“A little piece of advice, too, is to unfollow [on social media] the people that trigger negative thoughts. It’s not worth it. Follow and surround yourself with people and profiles that encourage self growth, self love and beauty at every single size. We owe it to ourselves to love this body that takes us through life!”
With her positive attitude and a personality that doesn’t take herself too seriously, Kelsey Kiel is the epitome of how far joy can take you in life. From feeling lost to living a life centered around the sport she loves, Kelsey is living proof that when you follow what makes you the happiest, you will find success. Be sure to catch Kelsey competing with her CrossFit OBA team this August in Madison.
