Kelly Starrett

Kelly Starrett is an American physical therapist, coach, and author renowned for his work in mobility training, injury prevention , and human performance optimization. Holding a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, he has developed science-backed methods that bridge rehabilitation and peak athletic performance, influencing athletes, military personnel , and everyday individuals worldwide. As co-founder of The Ready State alongside his wife Juliet Starrett, he provides online and in-person programs serving over 10,000 clients annually, emphasizing foundational practices like daily movement and recovery to build durable, pain-free bodies.

Starrett's career began in competitive sports, including as a member of the U.S. men’s whitewater rafting team at the 2000 World Rafting Championships, where he met Juliet, whom he married in 2003. In 2005, the couple opened San Francisco CrossFit , the 21st CrossFit affiliate globally, where Starrett pioneered the integration of mobility work into fitness training. He later founded MobilityWOD (now part of The Ready State), a platform that revolutionized how athletes approach movement mechanics, drawing from his experience treating elite competitors in the NFL , NBA, NHL, MLB, and U.S. Olympic programs, as well as special forces and first responders.

Starrett is a three-time New York Times bestselling author, with key works including Becoming a Supple Leopard (2013), which focuses on functional movement and injury avoidance; Ready to Run (2014), targeting running mechanics; Deskbound (2016), addressing sedentary lifestyles; and Built to Move (2023), promoting essential vitality practices like walking 8,000 steps daily and prioritizing sleep. His contributions extend to a popular podcast , The Ready State , co-hosted with Juliet, which explores health fundamentals backed by research , and speaking engagements for Fortune 500 companies and professional teams like the San Francisco 49ers . Through these efforts, Starrett has impacted over 100,000 people by making advanced physical therapy principles accessible and actionable.

Kelly Starrett was born on September 28, 1973, in the United States. He was the only child of a single mother, an American-born professor , with his father estranged and absent from his life. Raised primarily in a small Bavarian hamlet near Garmisch-Partenkirchen in southern Germany , Starrett experienced a childhood immersed in the rugged Alpine environment, where outdoor exploration was a daily norm.

His mother's circle of friends, including passionate whitewater kayakers, played a pivotal role in shaping his early interests, introducing him to thrilling outdoor activities amid the dramatic landscapes of the Partnach Gorge . This exposure ignited Starrett's fascination with physical challenges and human movement, as he observed the athletic prowess and resilience required in these pursuits within his community. The family dynamics, centered on his mother's adventurous spirit and academic background, fostered an environment that encouraged risk-taking and self-reliance from a young age.

During high school, the family relocated back to the United States , settling in a dynamic West Coast setting that continued to emphasize active lifestyles. This move exposed him further to diverse physical environments, reinforcing the foundational sparks of interest in athletics that had begun abroad. By early adolescence , these influences transitioned into more structured athletic endeavors.

Kelly Starrett entered the world of competitive kayaking at the age of 12, inspired by his family's deep connections to water sports; his mother's friends were passionate enthusiasts who helped him bypass the official age minimum of 15 to join a kayaking camp. This early immersion fueled his rapid rise in the sport, where he developed into a junior athlete competing at national levels as a member of the U.S.