Kelyn Soong returns to The Post as a fitness writer for Wellness

Announcement from Wellness Editor Tara Parker-Pope:

We’re thrilled to announce that Kelyn Soong is returning to The Washington Post as a fitness writer for our expanded wellness desk.

In his new role, Kelyn will focus on fitness and exercise advice, trends and culture, connecting everyday athletes with the latest advice and science from the world of professional and elite sports. And of course, Kelyn will write about running, a topic he knows well after completing eight marathons, including a personal best of 3 hours, 58 minutes and 30 seconds at the 2019 Richmond Marathon.

Kelyn returns to The Post after a four-year stint as sports editor for Washington City Paper, where he launched a new sports section in June 2018. During his time there, he covered major sporting events such as the Stanley Cup finals and the World Series, wrote a cover story on the mystery of how professional runners make a living, and explored the niche, underappreciated side of sports in D.C. In 2020, Kelyn won a Dateline Award for overall sports coverage from the Society of Professional Journalists’ D.C. chapter.

Kelyn first joined The Post in May 2013, where he worked for five years as a news aide and high school sports reporter on the sports desk. He wrote about a variety of topics, including the cheating problem in youth tennis, the prevalence of eating disorders among runners, and “plogging” (running while picking up litter). Kelyn made friends across the newsroom by regularly helping out with weekend coverage of events including the Women’s March and March for Our Lives. He also contributed to Book World, Arts & Entertainment, Local Living, Education, and the Inspired Life and Retropolis blogs. Kelyn also organized running events with his colleagues; in 2018, The Post beat nearly 100 teams to win the overall team award at the ACLI Capital Challenge three-mile run.

Kelyn attended the University of Maryland, where he obtained a BS in kinesiological sciences and a master’s degree in multiplatform journalism, all while managing the university’s women’s varsity volleyball team. He’s currently an assistant cross country and track and field coach at Walter Johnson High School and serves as vice president of engagement for the Asian American Journalists Association’s D.C. chapter.

Kelyn was born in Brooklyn, the last four letters of which inspired his first name. He grew up speaking Mandarin and has a black belt in taekwondo. In addition to training for this year’s New York City Marathon, which he will run to fundraise for AAJA, he enjoys playing tennis, hiking and going to concerts.

Please welcome Kelyn back to the newsroom. His first day is July 18.