Courtney Keys

Courtney was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia on November 5, 1985 to Stephen and Julie Keys. She grew up there spending her summers with close friends and brother, Adam, at Lions Park swimming for the Bedford Beavers swim team where she excelled in backstroke. Winters were spent with the neighborhood kids building snow forts, sledding, and skating on the pond. Courtney moved to Whitehall, Pennsylvania when she was nearly thirteen and began there as one of the new kids to the school in seventh grade. Throughout high school she found interest in art and science. She served as president of the Key Club and secretary of the German Club. Courtney was also a member of the ski club where she took up snowblading and the London Club where she and other members took a two week educational trip around Europe. She played two years on Whitehall High School's soccer team as a goal keeper until a game related injury prevented her from playing further.

She also swam one year for the school’s swim team. Upon graduating high school in 2004, Courtney attended The Pennsylvania State University where she majored in Biobehavioral Health. During her four years at Penn State, Courtney enjoyed hanging out with her new friends, going to football and hockey games, going out dancing, and spending time in her apartment playing Dr. Mario and watching movies and the show Friends with her roommates.

Once arriving in California Courtney had a tough time finding employment in the down economy and decided to study more anatomy and physiology to become a personal trainer. After becoming certified, she began training clients at a local gym and teaching swim lessons there during the summers. She also started her own training business, Keys to Fitness, and trains there as well. Outside of work she still enjoys swimming and participates in open water long distance swim events. She recently completed her first half marathon, and plans to do more endurance events as the years go on. Other interests of Courtney’s include traveling, mostly locally to see all that California has to offer, and also back to the east coast to visit family.